How to grow... Basil

Rocket Growing Guides

African Blue Basil

It’s great having a pot of basil on the windowsill in the kitchen. It smells amazing and it’s very satisfying being able to pick off the leaves as and when you need them for whatever culinary creation you’re making.

  • Planting Tips
  • Growing advice
  • Chef's Corner
Choosing a site for growing veg

The right site

Here in the UK, basil is normally more reliable when grown indoors. Choose a nice sunny windowsill or pop a pot in a greenhouse.

growing veg in pots and raised beds

Can be grown in....

Pots are ideal for growing basil

Autumn Winter Large Vegetable Garden

How far apart?

25cm apart or one plant to a pot.

When your herb plants arrive....

Your baby plants will arrive carefully packed in straw. They may look a little tired from their travels. This is quite normal but, as soon as possible, carefully unpack them all.

Then, stand them upright. The roots may be dry, so give them all a good drink of water by submerging the roots for a few minutes in a container of clean water. Now they are ready to plant.

This herb plant is an annual

This means that it is a plant that completes its entire lifecycle in one year.

Looking after your plants....

Basil is a Mediterranean plant so here in the UK we need to try and recreate this climate to get the best results.

Basil

Watering them

Keep the soil a little moist, but don’t overwater. The best time to water them is at noon in bright sunshine (quite the opposite from most plants!)

 

Basil

Pinch off flowers

Pinch off any flowers as they start to form to encourage more leaves to grow.

Watch out for....

  • Aphids

They're ready to harvest when....

Pick your basil leaves as soon as they are big enough. Regularly picking leaves will keep the plant producing more.

Jargon Buster

Annual – a plant that completes its entire lifecycle in one year

Perennial – a plant that “dies” down at the end of the season, but comes back to life again year after year

Biennial – a plant that takes 2 years to complete its lifecycle before dying

African Blue Basil

Great with...

Basil is a really versatile herb that you can add to loads of dishes for a little extra flavour. It’s particularly well matched to:

  • Tomatoes
  • Avocadoes
  • Pasta and Pizza
  • Chicken

Types to try