Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Basil is a compact, warm-season herb that can be direct-sown or transplanted. It is frost-tender, prefers full sun, and fits containers where warmth, drainage, and regular harvesting are easy to manage.
Plant family Lamiaceae · Also called sweet basil
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Wait for genuinely warm weather.
Basil offers two starting routes. Seed can be started indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost or sown outdoors after conditions warm. Plant seed only about 0.6 cm deep.
Outdoor planting is generally timed 1–2 weeks after the last frost because basil is tender. Germination usually takes 5–10 days. Avoid treating a sunny but cold early-spring day as proof that the season is ready.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Use this range as a planning baseline and adjust for local conditions.
Make room for repeated branching.
Space basil plants about 20–30 cm apart, with rows around 30 cm apart. The compact growth category makes it suitable for pots and bed edges, but close planting still reduces access for harvesting.
A minimum container depth of 20 cm and volume of around five litres provides a practical starting point. Basil does not require structural support.
Core measurements
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Crop-level planning range.
Allow for the mature form of the selected variety.
Install support early when it is required or useful.
Balance strong light with steady moisture.
The profile uses six hours of direct sun as the minimum and describes full sun as preferred. In very hot settings, container temperature and drying speed may become as important as total light.
Weekly water is listed at 20–30 mm with a moderate need. Check the upper soil layer and water deeply when it begins to dry rather than following a rigid number of weekly sessions.
Sunlight
Full sun (6+ direct-sun hours/day)
Soil pH
A suitable acidity range for general growth.
Weekly water
Moderate water need.
Aim for even moisture and water deeply when the upper 2-3 cm of soil begins to dry.
Harvest to encourage new growth.
Basil seed generally emerges in 5–10 days. The 50–75 day harvest range is measured from sowing, whether seed begins indoors or in its final outdoor location.
A 21-day succession interval is included for gardeners who want repeated young plantings. Regular cutting also changes the practical harvest pattern because basil is commonly picked more than once.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Read with the full crop profile.
Pinch growing tips regularly and delay outdoor planting until nights are consistently warm.
Basil growing questions
Can basil be direct-sown?
Yes. Basil can be direct-sown after frost risk has passed, or started indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost and transplanted later.
What size container does basil need?
Use a container at least 20 cm deep with approximately five litres of growing medium as a minimum starting point.
Does basil tolerate frost?
No. Basil is frost-tender and outdoor planting is generally delayed until 1–2 weeks after the last spring frost.
How much sun does basil need?
The profile uses six hours of direct sun per day as the minimum and classifies full sun as preferred.
Profile values are crop-level planning ranges compiled from sources S1,S2,S4. Local climate and variety can change actual results.
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