Growing Basil

Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Basil

By The Editors
Basil Herb
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Basil is a warm-weather, fragrant herb that tastes great in many dishes—including the beloved homemade pesto! Plant seeds or transplants after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm, and it will yield an abundant harvest within weeks. Keep harvesting the leaves to keep the plant going strong.

The most common type of basil is sweet basil; other types include purple basil (less sweet than common basil), lemon basil (lemon flavor), and Thai basil (licorice flavor).

Basil is easy to grow, but it only grows outdoors in the summer—and only once the soil has warmed up nicely—so plan accordingly.

If you’re planning on making pesto, grow several plants. For other uses, one or two basil plants yields plenty.

Planting

When to Plant Basil

  • To get a jump on the season, start the seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost. (See local frost dates.)
  • To plant outside, wait until the soil has warmed to at least 50°F (10°C)—preferably around 70ºF (21°C) for best growth. Nighttime temperatures shouldn’t drop below 50°F (10°C).
  • Don’t rush basil. Without heat, the plant won’t grow well.

Spacing for Basil

Choosing and Preparing a Planting Site

  • Basil will grow best in a location that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, though it can perform well in partial sun, too.
  • Soil should be moist but well-drained.
  • Basil works great in containers or raised beds, as these allow for better drainage.
  • If you’re planning on cooking with these plants, plant in clean soil, don’t use insecticides, and grow them away from driveways and busy streets so that exhaust won’t settle on the plants.

How to Plant Basil

  • Plant seeds/seedlings about ¼-inch deep and 10 to 12 inches apart. They should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height.
  • For larger varieties, plant farther apart (about 16 to 24 inches).
  • Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate!

Basil and tomato plant
A tomato plant (center) growing alongside basil.

Care

How to Grow Basil

  • Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture.
    • If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the plants (the mulch will help hold in moisture and suppress weeds).
    • During the dry periods in summer, water the plants freely.
  • After the seedlings have produced their first six leaves, prune to above the second set. This encourages the plants to start branching, resulting in more leaves for harvest.
  • Every time a branch has six to eight leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves.
  • After about 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.
  • If the weather is going to be cold or if a sudden frost is imminent, be sure to harvest your basil beforehand, as the cold temperatures will destroy your plants.

Basil leaves in pot

Pests/Diseases

Harvest/Storage

How to Harvest Basil

  • Start picking the leaves of basil as soon as the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall.
  • Once temperatures hit 80°F (27°C), basil will really start leafing out.
  • Harvest in the early morning, when leaves are at their juiciest.
  • Make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer.
  • Even if you don’t need to leaves, pick them to keep the plant going. Store them for later use!
  • If you pick regularly, twelve basil plants can produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.

How to Store Basil

  • The best method for storing basil is freezing. Freezing will prevent the plant from losing a good portion of its flavor. To quick-freeze basil, package whole or chopped leaves in airtight, resealable plastic bags, then place in the freezer.
  • Another storage method is drying the basil (although some of the flavor will be lost). Pinch off the leaves at the stem and place them in a well-ventilated and shady area. After 3 to 4 days, if the plants are not completely dry, place them in the oven on the lowest heat setting with the door slightly open. Remember to turn the leaves (for equal drying) and check them frequently. See more about drying basil, tomatoes, and paprika.

Recommended Varieties

  • Cinnamon basil, to add a hint of cinnamon to a dish
  • Purple basil, to add some nice color to your garden (when steeped in white vinegar, it creates a beautiful color)
  • Thai basil, to add a sweet licorice flavor to a dish.

See our post about basil varieties in the garden.

Wit & Wisdom

  • Basil has a lovely fragrance. Pick from the stems and put in water for a few days as you would with cut flowers!
  • For other greens to use in your cuisine, see our Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.

Where salt is good, so is basil.
–Italian saying

Recipes

Cooking Notes

Make herbal vinegar using basil; it retains the flavor and makes a great gift!

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Reader Comments

Leave a Comment

basil storage--Elaine

Submitted by Anonymous on July 24, 2012 - 12:05pm

I like to store my basil by making large batches of pesto. I then wrap it in plastic and shape it into a roll and freeze. When I need some, I slice off what is needed easily.

picking the basil

Submitted by Anonymous on April 22, 2012 - 9:54am

This is the first time I have grown basil. I have 4 plants of sweet basil and the above talks about pruning the branches mine has no branches just bunches of leaves and they are sprouting their 4th set with little one inside can someone explain how to prune the basil thanks

Every time you cut some basil

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on July 26, 2012 - 8:52am

Every time you cut some basil leaves to eat, cut right above a pair of leaves and new growth will come. For culinary uses, prune basil every few weeks to encourage maximum production; just pinch off the flower buds as soon as they begin to emerge.

Storing Basil in olive oil

Submitted by Anonymous on April 10, 2012 - 6:46am

Tried & true method.
In a clean glass jar
Place a layer of basil leaves.
Add a layer of salt.
Then a layer of olive oil.
Add your next layer of basil repeating the step sequence until the jar is 2/3 full.
Finish with a layer of oil.
Cap & place in the refrig.
Stir the leaves once in a while leaving the top laver of oil covering the leaves.
In a few weeks you will have potent basil oil.
Add a tablespoon/teaspoon of oil (leaves to if desired) to any dish for summer flavor in the winter.
Salt your dish if needed after tasting.
Remember to top off the oil to keep the leaves submerged or they will brown.
This will keep till the next years harvest & beyond
Enjoy!
Lisa

Basil in oil

Submitted by Anonymous on April 10, 2012 - 6:58am

Be generous with the salt layer.
Many times I just use the oil on top to cook my eggs or add to a salad.
Remember to use a good olive oil!

Basil in olive oil

Submitted by Anonymous on April 17, 2012 - 11:24am

Thanks so much... first time growing Basil will try this method this year. I love to see herbs in oil but never knew how to do it.... thanks again!i

Layer volumne

Submitted by Anonymous on March 23, 2013 - 6:33pm

How thick should each layer be in a one quart jar, or, I guess, in any jar? Thanks.

Kra1st@aol.com

drying sweet basil

Submitted by suprdav1962 on June 24, 2011 - 2:00pm

When I naturally dry sweet basil, sometimes the leaves turn brown. How can I keep from this happening?

 Make sure that you're

The Editors's picture

Submitted by The Editors on June 27, 2011 - 4:07pm

 Make sure that you're washing the basil leaves before you're drying them. Also, make sure you're keeping them in a cool, dry place, and they should keep for weeks.

white sticky sacks on the basil

Submitted by rcain on June 15, 2010 - 7:50pm

I have some white sticky sacks on the basil but they never get hard. I am sure it is a bug of some kind but not sure what. They wash off real easy but I would like to know what they are and how to get rid of them instead of washing them off as they are there again in the morning.

sacks

Submitted by Steve Burkett on August 14, 2012 - 10:48pm

read above about aphids

Pages

Growing Basil

Botanical Name Ocimum basilicum
Plant Type Herb
Sun Exposure Full Sun
Soil Type Loamy
Soil pH Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time Summer
Flower Color Pink, Purple, White
Hardiness Zones 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
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