Sweet basil is a summertime favourite among herb growers all over the world. It has a very inviting fragrance and tastes great in almost any dish. Tomato and basil pair together perfectly to make any dinner taste amazing. If you plan on starting your own herb garden you might be wondering how to grow sweet basil.
Basil is actually a quick and easy herb to grow. Most gardeners who start off asking how to grow sweet basilare pleased to see just how early their sprouts popped up. The very first year that I planted my own seeds for a herb and vegetable garden I chose a variety of plants to start off with. Out of everything that I planted my sweet basil seeds were first to sprout. It was also the first herb that was ready to harvest.
When learning about how to grow sweet basil, one thing that sets it apart from some of my other favourite herbs, such as sage and chives, is that it’s an annual plant. This means that sweet basil is only able to grow for one growing season. This is such an easy plant to grow from seed, so it will not take you much work to start a new plant the following year.
How To Grow Basil From Seed-The Simplest Way
A lot of beginner gardeners buy plants from nurseries that have already started growing to transplant their gardens. Growing a plant from seed can be tricky for a new gardener and it takes a lot of extra care.
It is a much more rewarding feeling when your crops grow if you learn how to grow basil from seed. It is also very easy too. Always start your basil seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost, or plant them directly in the soil after the last frost has passed. Sweet basil can also be grown indoors, you can start the seeds directly in the container you plan to grow them.
Starting basil seeds is incredibly easy. You want to make sure the soil that you plant them in is already damp. If you are using starter trays, put 2-3 seeds per cup. If you are planting your seeds directly in the ground or in a larger container, then give at least 2 inches space between 2-3 seeds. You can always trim it back if the plant grows too crowded. Keep your soil moist and make sure you avoid over watering your sweet basil. Learning how to grow basil from seed is so easy.
How Fast Does Basil Grow?-I Can’t Believe How Easy It Is
Everyone keeps talking about how easy it is to grow basil and I am intrigued. What I really want to know is how fast does basil grow? I am hungry and talking about basil makes me want some for my pizza.
The growing process for basil is very quick as long as you take good care of your plant. If your basil plant is in a sunny spot with moist soil, then you will see sprouts in as little as 8 days, Once sprouts have grown then it takes 2-3 weeks for the first set of leaves that you can harvest (also known as true leaves) to grow.
How To Harvest Basil In As Little As 3 Weeks
You may be intrigued by how quickly this herb grows. If you also want to know how to harvest basil, it’s even easier than growing it. When your basil stem is at least 6 inches tall and the leaves look full then you may harvest it. Pinch the leaf off if it is still early in the season and more will grow in place. Pinching is a better method than cutting because the cut will cause stress to the plant, which will result in poor quality basil.
Who Are Sweet Basil’s Companion Plants?
Every plant thrives among it’s companion plants. These plants release properties that help each other grow to their best abilities. If you are researching how to grow sweet basil then it’s important that you only plant this delicious herb beside one of it’s friends.
What plants you should be planting next to sweet basil:
- Asparagus
- Chamomile
- Oregano
- Chives
- Anise
- Marigolds
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Roots Vegetables
It seems like basil is a friendly plant to a lot of other plants in your vegetable garden. There are still a few plants that you should keep away from basil. Avoid planting near cucumber because the basil plant’s flavour will take over your cucumber. Basil should be kept away from fennel plants too because fennel attracts all sorts of unwanted insects.
Final Thoughts
Sweet basil is a summer essential for my garden every year. I am obsessed with its fragrance and the delicious touch it gives to nearly every dinner. Sweet basil is the ideal plant for any new gardener to begin with. It’s so simple to take care of, even the people with very little green to their thumb can keep one alive. Start your gardening journey off by learning how to grow sweet basil.
We went over all the basics to help you grow some very tasty basil. Some of the things you now know are:
- How to grow basil from seed
- How fast does basil grow?
- What plants to keep basil beside
- How to harvest basil
The beautiful thing about growing basil is that even a beginner can grow a hefty harvest their first try. Sweet basil is the best herb for a new gardener to begin with. It is low maintenance, smells delightful and is also really pretty.
Did you know that basil is the main ingredient in pesto sauce? Pesto is my favourite type of pasta sauce. It is also delicious as a substitute for tomato sauce on pizza if you are looking to try something different with all that basil you’re about to grow.
What is your favorite thing to make with basil? Let us know in the comments.
