How to grow Basil
Basil is a fragrant, leafy herb prized for its aromatic leaves used fresh in cooking, especially in Mediterranean and Asian cuisines. Home gardeners love it because it's fast-growing, incredibly productive, and transforms dishes with its vibrant flavor.
At a glance
🌱 Grow your Basil with GardenDex
- Reminders to water it, timed to your weather and whether it's in a pot
- Frost and disease alerts for your garden, the night before
- Follow it from seed to harvest, and see what your garden grew in $
- Point your camera at any plant or bug to identify it
🗓️ When to plant
Sow seeds or transplant seedlings after the last frost when soil has warmed, typically mid-spring. Basil thrives in warm weather and won't tolerate frost.
🌰 How to plant
- Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost, or direct sow outdoors after soil warms.
- Sow seeds shallowly (about 0.5 cm/¼ in deep) in moist seed compost and keep warm until germination (5–10 days).
- Harden off seedlings and transplant outdoors when 10–15 cm (4–6 in) tall and all frost danger has passed.
- Space plants 20–30 cm apart in full sun with rich, well-draining soil.
💧 Care
- Pinch off the top 1–2 cm of stems regularly to encourage bushy growth and delay flowering.
- Remove flower buds as they appear to extend the harvest season and keep leaves tender.
- Feed with a balanced, mild fertilizer every 3–4 weeks to maintain vigor and flavor.
- Provide consistent warmth and humidity; basil sulks in cold weather and drafts.
- Water at the base to keep foliage dry and prevent fungal problems.
🧺 Harvest
Pinch off leaves and stems regularly starting when the plant has 6–8 leaves; this encourages more growth. Harvest in the morning for the best flavor, and use fresh leaves immediately or preserve by drying or freezing.
🐛 Common problems
Powdery mildew: Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and spray affected leaves with a dilute milk solution or sulfur-based fungicide.
Aphids: Spray infested plants with insecticidal soap or a strong water spray to dislodge pests.
Spider mites: Increase humidity, mist leaves regularly, and use neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestation occurs.
🤝 Companion plants
💚 Good neighbours: Tomatoes, Peppers, Carrots, Marigolds
⚠️ Keep apart from: Rue, Fennel
More herbs guides
General guidance; local conditions vary. All care guides · Privacy