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growing basil

post #1 of 4
1/25/09 at 6:56am
Thread Starter 
How do you get a basil plant that was purchased in a pot at a store to grow like a bush? I like to use basil but it doesn't grow as much as I'd like. I've seen other people's plants that have monster growth. Do I just need more plants?
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post #2 of 4
1/25/09 at 7:36am
Is the plant still in the pot in which it was purchased? If so, the problem could be that it's root bound and needs more room. If you plan on keeping it potted, I would put it into a pot that has at least a 12" diameter at the top. If you are trying to grow the plant indoors, then a lot is going to depend on how much sunlight it receives every day. It will need a lot of light to get going, and I wouldn't expect very fast growth indoors. It can get there, but it will take time, lots of sunlight, and lots of nutrients.

If you have put the plant into the ground then you won't have the root-bound problem, but may be expecting too much growth too soon. My experience with basil is that not much happens until the roots really take hold in the soil, which can take several weeks. I don't know where you live, but climate will, of course have a lot too do with how fast things happen.

I live in Colorado at a little over 5,000 feet and can only grow basil in the heat of the summer. It takes a while to get going, but I end the summer with a nice big, robust plant. Usually takes a couple of months to go from the piddly little store-bought plant to anything resembling a bush.

I'm sure there will be many good answers to your question, by people much more knowledgeable than I am. Keep at it though. Fresh basil's really a wonder.
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post #3 of 4
1/25/09 at 9:03am
Slake has pretty well touched all the bases.

You can, btw, grow basil very successfully indoors. Rather than depending on window sunlight, however, you'd do better by growing it under lights. Don't drop big bucks on those fancy grow-lights, though. Regular, cold-bulb floruescents will do just fine.

About once a month, add a fish emulsion or other high-nitrogen fertilizer. That will promote leaf growth. Other than that, make sure the plant has plenty of root room, and water when the soil surface turns dry.

Basil, grown outdoors, is an annual. Grown indoors it produces for two days longer than forever. Just make sure to clip any blossom growth, because when it flowers two things happen: leaf growth is curtailed, and the leaves can turn bitter, as the plant puts all its energy into producing seeds.
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post #4 of 4
1/25/09 at 2:14pm
Both you guys got it, all I want to inject is keep pinching new growth from the top, so that the plant will fill out wrather then growing up straight and stalky.
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