
Basil
- How to grow Basil | Growing Guides
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- Growing Guides Vegetables and herbs
Basil has to be one of the most popular and versatile herbs in the UK. Often bought as plants in the supermarket, it's easy to grow at home with a little bit of knowledge and care.
Growing calendar | |
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Sow indoors | Mar - mid May |
Plant out/transplant | End May - Jun |
Harvest | Jun - Sep |
How to grow basil
Sow basil seed 0.1cm deep in pots. Keep seedlings well ventilated and not too wet. Transplant 30cm apart when 5-10cm tall. Choose fertile soil in a sunny, sheltered site.
Keep your basil well watered. Regularly pinch out growing tips to encourage bushy plants and delay flowering. Basil can be grown in greenhouses or on a windowsill all year round.
Harvesting and using basil
Pick young basil leaves for use fresh or store by freezing, drying or infusing flavour by submerging leaves in olive oil. Purple leaved varieties have less intense flavour.
Growing notes | |
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Difficulty | Moderate |
Germination time | 5-10 days |
Average time to harvest | From 12 weeks |
Equipment needed | None |
Average plant size | 45cm tall, 30cm wide |
Family group to grow with | Lamiaceae: lemon balm, sage |
Seed saving notes | Annual, self-pollinating |
Key nutritional content | Vitamins A and C, calcium and iron (when eaten fresh) |