Growing Basil

Ocimum basilicum : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
S S S S S S S S S S S S
T T T T T T T T T T T T

(Best months for growing Basil in Australia - tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 64°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 10 inches apart
  • Harvest in 10-12 weeks. Pick before flowering.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Tomato

Your comments and tips

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20 Aug 09, Andris (Australia - temperate climate)
Paul, what are you talkinga about? 'Basil is very hard to start from seed'. Whatever! :). Just direct sow them any time in spring or summer. They come up very fast, often as fast as lettuce during the warmer 6 months of the year. Maybe we just have different perspectives of what is hard or maybe your seeds aren't that great... I have had the most luck with herb and vegetable seeds from the imported Italian and French brands, in particular Franchi Sementi (see The Italian Gardener website), Hortus/Orto, Vilmorin and PDF. The basil and other herbs I grow from them come up very well and quickly. Seriously try them. and the seed packs are very generous too. Basil packs tend to have around 5,000 seeds for the same price as 200 or 300 seed packs from local suppliers (Yates and internet based businesses).
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22 Mar 09, Mathew (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi all planted basil in half shade half sun so far grows average and plants are about 1 foot high after a month. Have been keeping well trimmed
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01 Feb 09, Gail Lamb-Hale (Australia - temperate climate)
Paul thank you for your tip on basil I will give it a go as I have not had much joy in growing basil Korumburra can be a bit up and down in weather patterns
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20 Dec 08, Paul Lehmann (Australia - temperate climate)
Basil is very hard to start from seed but I have found if you have a seed sprouting set and put them in there, they will eventually shoot. Pick out each sprouted seed on a toothpick and place in a pot with wet soil sitting in a tray of water to keep the soil moist. The sprouted seed will take to the soil and you can water as needed.
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I live North Shore Auckland. I've tried to grow allsorts of veg & herbs in pots from seeds outdoors with mixed success. The basil was one of my dismal failures. I now grow all my seeds indoors until the weather is warmer and the plants are well established. I find starting indoors is a lot more convenient for keeping an eye on progress. Regards basil, I find the seeds grow well starting indoors but take a while to get established once outdoors, then they go crazy! Since starting indoors I now have few failures but there are some things to be aware of: Light - needs good light so the seedlings don't become leggy. Be aware that near glass (windows/doors) can cause burn damage. Turn the pots around regularly so the plants don't lean. Don't over crowd, thin out seedlings if necessary. Temperature - Note the soil temperature required to germinate. Overheating during the day, too cold at night. I put a box over the pots at night to protect from sudden drops in temperatures. Ventilation - Ensure good air flow to minimise risk of disease, be aware of cold draughts coming from open windows at night. Watering - My seeds are sown in different sized pots/trays depending on what they are. I use

- Karen

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
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