Grow Basil

[akila001]

Hi, I was wondering if you guys knew how to keep your basil grow. Each time I get basil plants, it ends up dying after a few days. Ok, I have to say that I am a terrible gardener, but if you have some tips, let me know! Thanks

[fliggie]

It depends on what you are doing to them to kill them Basil needs a warm spot, sunlight, and water--not a drowning, but the soil needs to not dry out. Fertilize on occasion...

[damack]

i grow it in my frount yeard but i have alwasy bought plants that are 6" at least, if u fertilize the ground u will be fine i have to pull all mine out in the winter because the cold kills it.

[Jayme]

damack-
Last season, I purchased 1 basil plant about 8" tall and planted it in a sunny spot, a good soaking water a couple times a week- and I had pesto all season...LOL My plant grew to about 3' tall and about 2' around. I nearly lost it right away because we had a few days over 100 deg weather and it wilted. This year I am trying seeds, I just planted a whole row over the weekend. Hoping for as good of results, as purchasing plants.

[damack]

i have tried to use seads but i alwasy kill them.

look at traider joe's when the season comes around they sell plants that are about 1-2 feet tall for around 3$ i bought them out.

[Jayme]

thank you- I will have to check out T.J.'s- never would have thought of them!

[mudbug]

akila001,

Welcome to ChefTalk. Can you be more specific in how you grow your basil?

What type of growing medium do you use?
How often do you water?
What location was it in? How much sun or shade did it get?

[Green Lady]

I'm glad you brought up the subject of basil. I will buy the little pots in the grocery store and as soon as I cut off a piece, the plant seems to die. What am I doing wrong?

[mudbug]

Green Lady,

Are these potted plants in soil?
Where do you put them? Inside? Outside? By a Window? What is the temperature?

[phatch]

I've had the best luck growning basil using started plants and keeping them outside. If I try to start my own basil seed inside I invariably get bugs.

[Rita]

I have had fresh basil in the summer for years.I buy the plants and transplant them(use to have a herb garden)now my herbs are hanging off my deck in containers and they have been doing very well.You need good earth not just that peatmoss that comes in bags, lots of sun a bit of fertilizer a couple of times and don't let them go dry.Keep pinching off the flowers so they will last the summer. Our summers are short so we have to do the best we can.Love my basil! Good luck!

[mudbug]

For clarification, peat moss doesn't contain nutrients so you mix it with compost. If you use enough compost (up to half of each sq foot) you don't need fertilizer, compost is your fertilizer.