How to Grow Basil

https://bonnieplants.com Why pay a lot for basil at the grocery store when you can grow your own? This video will teach you the best way to plant, grow, care for, and harvest basil. Even if you don't have a garden, try growing some basil in a pot right outside the door or in another sunny spot. Basil is one of our best selling herbs because it tastes so good. Easy to grow either in the ground or in a container, it's a great herb for the summer as it grows quickly in warm weather to yield big harvests. For an assortment of flavors, you can grow various types of basil together in flower beds or containers. Popular varieties include cinnamon basil and Thai basil for Asian dishes.Purple basil because it's so pretty. Spicy globe basil for small leaves that are easy to sprinkle atop your favorite dishes and sweet basil for Italian dishes and terrific pesto. Basil does best with at least six hours of sunlight. Set out plants at least two weeks after the last spring frost or plant during the summer. Check the label to learn how much space to leave between plants, usually 12 to 18 inches. If planting in a container, use a large pot so there is enough soil to support growth and so it won't dry out too quickly in hot weather. In the ground, pick a spot that doesn't collect water, but drains well to avoid causing root rot. Basil is very frost sensitive so protect it, in case of a late cold spell, by bringing it indoors or insulating it with a frost blanket or other covering. It really doesn't like temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit so you may find it sulking and yellowing if the weather is unseasonably cool. Because it is so leafy basil will wilt quickly in hot weather. Water as often as you need to keep the soil moist but not soggy. For best growth, fertilize with liquid plant food every couple of weeks. Keeping the basal stems pinched encourages the continual production of tender new leaves and prevents the plant from flowering and producing seeds. To harvest a big bunch for pesto or just to keep the plant productive, shear off the top third of the stems regularly once the plant has reached 12 to 18 inches tall. Also, never cut the woody part of the plant near the base or the basil won't grow back. Harvest basil leaves anytime after the young plants have reached a height of six to eight inches. Keep in mind two or three plants will yield plenty of basil unless you're making lots of pesto. When the night begins to cool down plants will slow their growth dramatically. At the first prediction of even the lightest frost, go ahead and harvest all your basil because it will quickly turn black in cold weather. Make easy work of this by cutting off the entire plant at ground level then picking off the best leaves for use. Cutting the ends of the basal stems and placing them in water will keep them fresh for days and fill your home with a wonderful fragrance. *********************** CONNECT WITH US! *********************** Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrowBonniePlants Twitter: https://twitter.com/bonnieplants Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/bonnieplants Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/growbonnieplants YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/growbonnieplants Website: http://www.bonnieplants.com