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How do I care for my indoor basil plant?
Basil Plant Care Tips Water regularly – basil likes to stay moist and requires approximately 1 inch of water every week. Fertilize lightly –basil is a vigorous grower requiring very little to no fertilization. Pinch back leaves – pinch leaves from the tips of your basil as soon as the plant has two sets of true leaves.
How do I keep my basil plant alive?
The best way to keep a basil plant alive is to provide it with good soil, the right light, adequate water, and plenty of room to grow. Basil does not like to be crowded, so repot or transplant any small grocery store Basil plants if you want them to survive and thrive.
Why does my basil plant keep dying?
Soil that’s too dry or too wet is the most common reason for a basil plant wilting. Although basil plants thrive in full sunlight, they also need consistently moist, high quality soil with good drainage. If your basil plant is drooping or wilting, check the soil and reconsider your basil watering schedule.
Should I pick basil from the top or bottom?
Harvesting Larger Amounts: Harvest the leaves from the top down, cutting back up to a third of the total plant height. Be sure to cut or pinch right above a leaf pair rather than leaving a stub. In a few weeks, your basil plants will be ready to harvest again.
How long will an indoor basil plant live?
If it is grown inside where there is less threat from cold winters, it may survive for six months. However, if grown in the ground, basil lives for about four to five months in warm, sunny conditions.
Is my basil Overwatered?
Yellow and drooping leaves are the first physical signs of an overwatered basil plant, but the real problem is below the soil surface where roots can rot. Or place containers upside down over the basil. Just be sure to remove when the sun comes out or the plants could get overheated.
How do you keep basil alive outside?
To grow basil plants outside, prepare a bed with organic matter such as composted manure, pine bark or compost to create the rich, well-drained environment that basil loves. Work into the soil approximately 3 pints of 5-10-10 granular fertilizer per 100 square feet.
When should I repot basil?
Indoor basil plants are ready for repotting when the seedlings are strong enough, which usually happens two to three weeks after germination. When transplanting your basil plants outdoors, ensure that the outside temperatures are suitable, and you have hardened the plants.
What kills basil?
Freezing temperatures kill basil. The first sign of cold damage is usually wilted leaves, or leaves that begin to curl and dry around the edges. Plants may survive a light freeze.
Does basil grow back every year?
Also known as common or sweet basil, basil (U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 11 for outdoor gardens) is a true annual, which means it needs to be replanted each season. In most circumstances, it does not grow back after a year. Basil plants are sensitive to cold weather and frost.
Can you freeze fresh basil?
ANSWER: Yes, you can freeze fresh basil leaves, but they just need a little help. Basil is a particularly delicate herb because it hates the cold and darkens when cut. Keep in mind any fresh herbs that you freeze will not be entirely the same as fresh. Freezing will change the texture and it won’t be as stable.
What should I do with my basil?
How to Use Basil Top whole leaves onto pizza. Finish pasta with whole or thinly sliced leaves. Blend it into sauces. Puree it into soups. Chop it up to add to a salad. Use it to garnish avocado toast. Turn it into an ice cream topping! Jazz up vanilla ice cream with fresh strawberries, basil, and a balsamic reduction.
How do you pinch off basil?
Pinch, pinch, pinch. One of the secrets to growing big flavorful basil plants is learning to pinch, When seedlings are 6 inches tall, pinch the central stem back by half, about 1/4 inch above a leaf axil, to force the plant to branch and make more leaves.
Does basil regrow after cutting?
When you clip basil stems back to a fresh set of leaves, you force those leaves to grow, doubling the basil produced on that stem. And as those stems grow, you can pinch them back and double their production – it’s exponential! To remove flowers. Eventually most basil plants produce flowers.
Can I grow basil indoors all year round?
Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors, and its delicious flavor and culinary popularity make it a must-have for gardeners and cooks alike. Best planted in early spring outdoors or year-round indoors, basil will grow quickly, establishing in just three to four weeks.
