Sweet Basil is a tropical plant that can be traced back to Central Africa, Southeast Asia, India, and Egypt. In tropical climates basil is grown as a perennial and biennial plant. In cold climates it is grown as an annual plant. Easy to grow from seed or propagate basil is a staple herb all over the world. Below are growing and care tips on how to grow your very own sweet basil plant no matter what climate you grow in.
Sun – Sweet Basil needs 6-8 hours of full sun.
Soil – Moist well draining soil works best. A well draining loamy soil high in organic matter is prefect for maximum growth.
Spacing – They also need a lot of space about 10-12 inches between plants to prevent over crowding.
Water – Sweet basil needs moist soil and should be water with 1 inch of water once a week. If the soil starts to get to dry you will have to water it as the plant will start to droop and wether.
Food – Sweet Basil will only need fertilizer once when you first plant it. If you’re growing it in doors you will need to water it about once a month with an organic water based fertilizer.
Annual or Perennial – As mentioned above in tropical climate sweet basil is an perennial and biennial plant that will grow all year round. In cold climates it is a annual as cold weather will cause it to die.
Climate/Hardiness – Sweet Basil is not hardy and if it gets cold outside the plant will die out. It is better to bring it indoor during the winter months and outdoors for the hot summer months.
Harvest – You can start to harvest sweet basil leaves 60-70 days after it has been planted and if you only trim them they will grow new leaves very fast.
Transplant – Sweet basil does not like to be transplanted and also has very delicate leaves that bruise easily. For this reason it is best to plant it somewhere where you will not have to move it or in a pot that you can bring indoors on the winter, if you care growing the plant outside.
Tip: If you live in a sunny climate where the sun shines longer think Alaska, Seattle, Ireland, parts of Canada, and so on. It is best to keep sweet basil in a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. The leaves are sensitive when it comes to to much sun or in places where uv rays are strong such as India, Mexico, Seattle, Vancouver. The sweet basil leaves can burn causing them to not grow or dry out and cause the plant to die out, especially younger sweet basil plants.