A plant profile for basil: all about growing basil, basil uses, and basil recipes.
Plant Profile: Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
Light Requirement: Basil thrives in full sunlight, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. It can also tolerate partial shade, especially in hotter climates.
Water Requirements: Basil prefers consistently moist but well-drained soil. Water the plant when the top inch of soil feels dry. Avoid waterlogged conditions, as basil is susceptible to root rot.
Fertilizer and Soil Requirements: Basil grows well in fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). Incorporate organic matter, such as compost, into the soil before planting. Fertilize basil with a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer every 4-6 weeks during the growing season.
Hardiness Zones: Basil is an annual herb in most climates, but it can also be grown as a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 10 and above. It is often treated as an annual in colder zones and replanted each spring.
How to Start New Basil Plants
Seeds
Basil can be started from seeds indoors or directly sown into the garden after the last frost. Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the expected transplanting date. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep in well-draining seed-starting mix.
Transplanting
Purchase young basil plants from nurseries or garden centers. Transplant them into the garden after the danger of frost has passed.
Cuttings
Basil can be propagated from cuttings. Snip a 4-6 inch cutting just below a leaf node. Remove the lower leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water until roots develop, usually within 1-2 weeks. Once rooted, transplant the cutting into soil.
Growing Basil
Basil is a great culinary herb. It can be grown in pots or containers, in window boxes, or in any garden soil.
Temperatures – Basil Likes It Warm (or Hot!)
While it is easy to grow, it is fussy about temperatures. Plant it outside only after all danger of frost is past in your area, and when the nighttime temperatures are 50 degrees or above. If basil gets too cold, the leaves turn black or brown. If temperatures drop below freezing or there is a frost, it may kill the plant.
Pruning
Regular pruning of basil is recommended to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering, which can make the leaves bitter. Harvest leaves regularly for culinary use, pinching off the tips to promote branching. Overall, basil is a versatile and aromatic herb that adds a delightful flavor to various dishes and is relatively easy to cultivate.
Pests
The most notorious pest that infests basil plants is the Japanese beetle. These iridescent brown insects arrive in early summer. They will eat holes in basil leaves. Remove them by hand, or cover basil plants with special insect barrier cloth (available at garden centers). This cloth allows water and light to reach the plants but keeps the insects from the leaves.
You can also simply wait it out, which is my technique. Japanese beetle adults are only active for a few weeks each summer. They mate and lay their eggs (typically in lawns) and die off. If you can wait, your basil plants usually survive and rebound quickly after the beetles eat a few leaves.
Uses for Basil – Recipes
Drying Basil
Basil leaves are very easy to dry. You can use a food dehydrator set on the lowest setting. You can also dry basil leaves on a screen in the sunshine.
Harvest the leaves after the morning dew has dried. Remove the leaves from the stems. Spread them in a single layer on the dehydrator sheet or on the screen for optimal drying.
For more on drying herbs, including easy ways to dry herbs without any special equipment, please see my article on drying herbs.
Store dried basil leaves in glass containers. Use a teaspoon of crushed, dried basil leaves in tomato sauce, on pizza, or in your favorite recipes.
Basil Pesto Recipe
Herbal pestos are wonderful to make. If you have a food processor, fresh herbs, olive oil, and nuts or seeds, you can make pesto within minutes. My recipe for Oregano Pesto works perfectly with basil, too. It does not use expensive pine nuts but instead substitutes toasted unsalted sunflower and pumpkin seeds. Try the recipe: Herbal Pesto Recipe.
Make Cranberry Basil Jelly
If you have never tasted herbal jelly, you are in for a treat! While you might not want to spread this on your English muffin, it is indeed a taste sensation. Herbal jellies use a strong herbal tea, mixed with juice, sugar, and pectin, to create a savory jelly that is great on crackers for afternoon tea. Try my Cranberry Basil Jelly recipe for yourself.
