Basil

How to sow

Sow 3 mm, do not bury. Use peat-free coco. Keep the surface just moist.

Germination 5–7 days in the crop record.

Growing

1. Seed — Day 0. Cover with 3mm compost. Mist. Do not bury.
2. Germination — Days 5–7. Keep soil moist and warm. No direct sun yet.
3. Seedling — Weeks 1–2. Keep soil evenly moist. Increase light to 6+ hours.
4. Establishment — Weeks 3–4. Begin pinching growing tips to force branching.
5. First harvest — Week 6. Harvest by pinching above the second leaf pair from the base.
6. Peak production — Weeks 6–12. Harvest weekly. Pinch flower heads immediately.
7. Decline — Months 3–4. Take cuttings for next generation or reseed.

Keep at or above 18°C where the crop record sets a floor.

Harvest

First cut around 6 weeks.

Harvest by pinching above the second leaf pair from the base.

Common mistakes

• Overwatering — Basil roots rot quickly in waterlogged soil. Wait until the top 1cm is dry before watering again.
• Cold stress — Below 15°C causes stem blackening and leaf drop. Keep above 18°C at all times. Move away from cold windows.
• Wrong harvest technique — Pulling single leaves starves the plant without triggering branching. Pinch the stem above a leaf node. The plant will fork and double output.
• Letting it flower — Once basil bolts, volatile oils drop and leaves turn bitter. Pinch flower heads the moment they appear.
• Insufficient light — Basil stretches and weakens below 6 hours of bright indirect light. Move to a south or west-facing windowsill. North-facing rarely works in the UK.

In the kitchen

• Pesto — Blend 80g leaves with 30g pine nuts, 50g parmesan, 100ml olive oil, 1 garlic clove.
• Caprese — Tear over buffalo mozzarella and vine tomatoes. Salt and olive oil only.
• Pasta finish — Add torn leaves off the heat after plating. Never cook into sauce.
• Cocktails — Muddle 5–6 leaves with sugar syrup before shaking. Works with gin, vodka, white rum.
• Infused oil — Blanch leaves briefly, blend with olive oil, strain. Shelf-stable vibrant green basil oil.

Questions

Sources

1. Basil Seed Pack
2. Coco Soil treatise
3. HubWīk contents
4. Grower knowledge + RHS Growing Guides