#THINNING BASIL SEEDLINGS FULL#

Cut a few stems at a time, but never harvest more than 1/3 of the plant if you want it to keep producing. The young, top leaves taste the best and should be used fresh the older leaves may be used for vinegar and pesto. Flavor is best when harvested in the morning. Basil microgreens are quite tasty, too! Harvestingīasil is typically harvested before the plant flowers.

Basil can also be grown inside in a bright, sunny window or under grow lights.

Clip or pinch off flower buds as they form to maintain the best basil flavor. Once basil has 3-4 sets of leaves, pinch the top to encourage branching. For example, a one-gallon pot can host 1-3 plants. If you are growing basil in a container, use a fairly large one to accommodate their fast growing roots. Direct sow two seeds every 12″, thinning to one when seedlings are 2″ tall. Outdoor Sowingīasil grows best in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. You should wait to transplant it until nighttime temperatures are above 50☏. Transplantingīasil is very frost and even cold sensitive. If you start basil in cell packs, you will want to “up-pot” them into at least a 3″ pot prior to transplanting as their roots fill in pots quite quickly, which causes cells to dry out and restrict growth. Basil seedlings are fairly resilient and if you wish, you may sow many seeds in a shallow container and gently separate them into larger pots once they are about an inch tall and have two sets of leaves. You can use almost any container with drainage to sow basil. By thinning early, you minimize the negative impact of crowding, like stretching for light. Look for thick, strong stems and deep color. The strongest plant may not be the tallest. Clip extra plants at the soil level using scissors. Sow two seeds per pot, thinning to the strongest plant once leaves appear. Use a lightweight seed starting mix/media that is sterile and lighter than potting mix, and sow seeds 1/4″ deep. When to start inside : 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting outside Indoor Sowing Successive Sowings : Recommend 3 or 4 successive sowings every 3 weeks after initial sowing It must have warm temperatures to germinate. When to sow outside : 1 to 2 weeks after the average last frost, and when soil temperature is at least 60☏, ideally 65°-85☏. Cooking her a delicious pesto dinner with basil would probably work even better! General Sowing Tips Tradition has it that when a man gives a sprig of basil to a woman, she will fall in love with him and never leave him. Pliny the Elder, a Roman naturalist, recommended basil tea as a remedy for nerves, headaches, and fainting spells. Ancient Egyptians used basil as a medicine for snakebites and scorpion stings. Most believe it to be Africa, but basil has a legendary reputation worldwide. Historical Informationīasil has been used for so long it is difficult to pinpoint its native range. If you choose to allow your basil to flower, the bees will flock to it! Japanese Beetles may find it tasty, but basil is said to deter flies, thrips, mosquitos, and ants. Some varieties, such as Purple Petra, are used as attractive ornamentals in the summer landscape and to add interest to cut flower arrangements. Along with basil’s wonderful fragrances and flavors, its flowers and foliage are also quite beautiful. The botanical name of basil, Ocimum basilicum, comes from the Greek words for “smell” and “kingly,” which may allude to its fragrance and the purple flowers of many basil varieties.

#THINNING BASIL SEEDLINGS FULL#

Basil is also thought to have many health-promoting properties and is full of essential vitamins, such as K and A, minerals, and other nutrients. Basils are known for their rich, spicy flavors, which contain a trace of mint, clove, and even licorice, depending on the cultivar. It’s delicious! While there are many known species of basil, Ocimum basilicum, also known as Sweet Basil and Genovese Basil, is the most commonly grown. There’s a reason why basil is so popular.

Thinning basil seedlings