Your Weekly Electronic Gardening Guide
Practical Horticulture for Busy People.
Basil
About This Plant...
Family:Labiatae
Genus and species:Ocimum basilicum
Plant type:annual
Height and width:12-24 inches high; 12 inches wide
Location and soil:sun or partial shade; rich, moist, well-drained soil; will grow indoors
Uses:fresh or dried leaves in soups, stews, and sauces; meat, fish, and egg recipes; salads and vegetables
Propagation methods:seeds, transplants, and cuttings
Indoor Sowing...
Time needed to reach transplant size:6-8 weeks
When to transplant to garden:after last spring frost
Outdoor Sowing...
When to sow outdoors:after last spring frost
Other Sowing Guidelines...
Approx. germination time:5 days
Germination temp.:70 degrees F.
Days to maturity:85 days
Transplanting Guidelines...
Spacing between plants:12 inches
Spacing between rows:18 inches
Growing On...
Pests:Japanese beetles
Diseases:botrytis (bush basil)
Harvest:use fresh leaves at any time; for drying, pick in early fall before leaves turn yellow by cutting leaf stalks just before the plant flowers, and spread them on a wire mesh in a shady place and store in an airtight jar
Growing tips:pinch the centers as plants grow to encourage bushiness