Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Grubbypaws on July 19, 2019, 15:46

Title: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Grubbypaws on July 19, 2019, 15:46
I follow all the advice and have good germination of healthy seedlings. I pot them on into 3 inch pots and they look great until they are about 3-4" tall when they start to look lacklustre and fail to thrive. I have tried growing them in a covered raised bed, in a small greenhouse and on a sunny windowsill but still that healthy looking 18" plant eludes me. They are in a generic multipurpose compost from the GC (Vitax), I water them from below and never splash their leaves  :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: mikem on July 19, 2019, 15:54
Basil, there must be something "Fawlty"! :lol:
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Gardener and Rabbit on July 19, 2019, 17:24
A 3-inch pot sounds a bit small if you want them to reach 18", I grow about 6 plants in a 6-inch pot and feed them weekly with tomato food. A larger pot will also keep the roots at a more even temperature and moisture level. I sow the seeds direct, as I've never found basil easy to transplant.

G&R
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Grubbypaws on July 19, 2019, 18:14
A 3-inch pot sounds a bit small if you want them to reach 18"
G&R

2 litre pots are ready and waiting but the basil is too small to need them yet or at all  :(

I am wondering whether the Vitax multipurpose compost is what is causing the problem. It is the one element that I haven't varied over the last few attempts as I bought a job lot?
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: AnneB on July 19, 2019, 19:31
I sow loads of seed in a 6 or 7 litre pot and keep it in my unheated greenhouse.  I treat it like a cut and come again salad plant and never thin it.  I have 3 pots - standard, thai and red and they keep me in basil thoughout the summer.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Mr Dog on July 19, 2019, 20:02
Also dead easy to propagate cuttings from pots of cheap supermarket basil. Obviously not as satisfying as growing from seed but can provide plenty of the stuff all year round.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Goosegirl on July 20, 2019, 11:11
Just found this for you and it seems it likes to be potted on in a soil-based compost.

Basil thrives in well-drained, fertile soil, in a warm, sheltered position out of direct midday sun. To get a quality crop that lasts from early spring to mid-autumn, it’s best to grow it in a container.

Start your seeds off in pots of moist multi-purpose compost on a warm but not sunny windowsill. When seedlings are big enough to handle, pot them on into individual pots filled with a soil-based compost. Put them outside in early summer after the last frost. To acclimatise them to conditions outdoors, stand them outside in a sheltered, lightly shaded spot during the day, and bring them back in at night. Do this daily for about two weeks.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Grubbypaws on July 20, 2019, 14:00
Thank you Goosegirl. Next year I will try a soil based compost although every year I say that there wont be a next year!
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: JayG on July 20, 2019, 15:33
A friend of mine grows basil in a pot of ordinary MP compost on her kitchen windowsill, which doesn't get much direct sun. As Mr Dog has mentioned, potted basil from a supermarket is a good source of cuttings, which produce roots within days in plain water.

Hers seem to crop more reliably than mine, which I usually grow in front of the tomatoes in the GH planters.
Results are usually a bit hit and miss, which I put down to either too much or too little light and heat (or probably all of those things during their lifespan, poor things!)
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Mr Dog on July 20, 2019, 23:26
I grow stuff to eat, preferably as easily and cheaply as possible. Basil is so easy to grow from cuttings and I can pick up pots from the supermarket so cheaply (often 10p or less in the reduced section) that I think it's really not worth bothering with seeds. In fact if you're organised (more than i ever am  ;) ) you only ever need to buy one pot and you could go on more or less forever.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: hasbeans on July 21, 2019, 01:02
I have more luck with Napoletano basil from seed, might be worth a try.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Grubbypaws on July 21, 2019, 08:33
I grow stuff to eat, preferably as easily and cheaply as possible. Basil is so easy to grow from cuttings and I can pick up pots from the supermarket so cheaply (often 10p or less in the reduced section) that I think it's really not worth bothering with seeds. In fact if you're organised (more than i ever am  ;) ) you only ever need to buy one pot and you could go on more or less forever.
I love learning something new that I can do in my garden  :D I never knew that this was possible let alone easy. No more seeds for me; thank you!
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: goose on July 21, 2019, 10:29
I start mine off  in peat pots/module things (seed compost covered with vermiculite), then put 4 of them into a larger pot  (rather than transplanting) and fill around in with compost.

i think the secret is watering.  they dont like too much or too little. just a tiny drop every other day does fine for me.

also, i wouldnt try to get them too big at first before harvesting, i nip them off at a lower leaf bud (to use) as they grow and they grow more and more and more as the season goes and get bigger.  if you let them just grow, they flower and go to seed.


i rotate mine from the windowsil to use, the greenhouse and some are outside.  the outside ones never look as nice, but always taste better (according to my italian husband) ;)

edited to add...i always water the compost, not from the bottom (as you mentioned) as i find they dont like wet roots.  when they are just germinating, i keep them damp with a light spray bottle. also, i dont think ive ever seen a basil plant 18" high without going to seed.  i think a good 8-10" with good density is the best i have achieved but they need regular nipping/harvesting to keep them looking good. :)


Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: oldgrunge on July 21, 2019, 19:39
Think I would agree completely with Goose. The only thing I would add is that I've suffered a lot ( not me, the basil ) with discoloured leaves. This, I have found to be the result of growing in an unshaded greenhouse, now I've applied shading everything seems to be fine.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: sunshineband on July 22, 2019, 08:54
And if you don't want to bother with cuttings from supermarket plants, you can divide up the clump into three sections and plant each one. Thrives in large pots in semi shaded warm spot with no trouble
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Grubbypaws on February 13, 2020, 16:19
I grow stuff to eat, preferably as easily and cheaply as possible. Basil is so easy to grow from cuttings and I can pick up pots from the supermarket so cheaply (often 10p or less in the reduced section) that I think it's really not worth bothering with seeds. In fact if you're organised (more than i ever am  ;) ) you only ever need to buy one pot and you could go on more or less forever.

I have been so excited about doing this but it isnt working  :( :(

I bought some basil from the supermarket, took some cuttings, stood them in water and waited for roots to appear... 2 weeks later I am still waiting. What am I doing wrong ? It is meant to be easy  :unsure: :unsure:
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: mumofstig on February 13, 2020, 17:15
Are they somewhere warm, or are they stuck on a cold windowsill?

Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Wellington on February 13, 2020, 17:49
Mine is exactly the same. I buy the stuff from the supermarket in pots and can keep it alive for months (by neglecting it. It seems to be very happy to be ignored on a sunny windowsill until it falls over and then given a good soaking. Cared for in the garden, even the greenhouse, it sulks). However, the ones I keep on the window sill are pots of about 25 single stem seedlings that look a lot my single seedlings. So perhaps I’m not doing anything wrong, I just need to keep more of them together?  It lasts ages, but gets a bit leggy and pale after a couple of months. I wonder if I cut it back, fed it and put it under my grow lights for a bit it would perk up?  I’m trying to grow other herbs this way. Parsley is ok, thyme survives on its own the garden, so pointless to bring any in. Coriander lasts longer in the fridge in packet than it does in a pot on the windowsill. For some reason Tesco coriander lasts much better than waitrose.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: goose on February 13, 2020, 18:36
I don't normally grow basil from seed through the winter and find that Waitrose Large basil pots seem to fair better than any others.

when you grow it yourself from seed, don't overwater. this herb grows like weeds outside in Italy, so think about its natural climate.  small amount of water, plenty of sun and regular picking as and when they add to their dishes,  pinch off at a lower small leaf cluster and it will grow on and not become leggy.  if it does become leggy, get harsh with it and pinch out at those lower small leaves and it will thank you within a couple of weeks.  always have a few pots at different stages to rotate throughout the summer when each one is regrowing after picking.

don't overwater and if you underwater and it starts to look sad, give it a drink and let the excess water run out the bottom and it will pick up within a few hours and don't give it any more water for days.

ive actually sown my first batch this year on a sunny windowsill and although I think it may be a bit early, im sick of the rubbish tasting supermarket varieties and cant wait to get some of my own back into the kitchen.

also, although I always have basil growing at different stages throughout the summer and always have one on my windowledge for Mr Goose, the ones that are left outdoors in a sunny sheltered spot always taste SO much stronger and better even if they don't look quite as pretty.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Wellington on February 13, 2020, 22:20
So not watering it until it’s almost dead is how you’re supposed to do it?  No wonder I do so well with the stuff!   :lol:
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: jambop on February 13, 2020, 23:30
I sow mine dwarf Greek and giant Italian into 5cm pots of MPC about six or seven seeds in each then once it is away I plant it out in the garden in full hot sun and it grows well all summer long without problem.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: jaydig on February 14, 2020, 09:12
I'm probably just lucky, but I've never had a problem with basil.  I start the seed off in small pots, thinly sown, then when the plants are about 3" or so tall, I just knock them out of the pots and plant as they are, in clumps, along the borders of the greenhouse in front of the tomato plants. They almost make a mini hedge and keep going right until the first really cold weather.  I tend to use the Genovese type, but have grown lemon basil and the giant Bolloso, and they all seem to do well.
Having said this, I can't grow a decent swede to save my life! Well, I managed two this season, but the rest were rubbish.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Grubbypaws on February 14, 2020, 10:30
I am trying to root my basil cuttings in water. According to YouTube video 'How to Propagate Basil - Endless Supply from One Plant!' it is 'so so easy' !

I must be doing something wrong; maybe it is just the way I pronounce basil  :lol:


Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: mumofstig on February 14, 2020, 10:38
I am trying to root my basil cuttings in water. According to YouTube video 'How to Propagate Basil - Endless Supply from One Plant!' it is 'so so easy' !
I did ask
Quote
Are they somewhere warm, or are they stuck on a cold windowsill?
They won't root if they're cold.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: DHM on February 15, 2020, 08:43
I'm probably just lucky, but I've never had a problem with basil.  I start the seed off in small pots, thinly sown, then when the plants are about 3" or so tall, I just knock them out of the pots and plant as they are, in clumps, along the borders of the greenhouse in front of the tomato plants. They almost make a mini hedge and keep going right until the first really cold weather.  I tend to use the Genovese type, but have grown lemon basil and the giant Bolloso, and they all seem to do well.
Having said this, I can't grow a decent swede to save my life! Well, I managed two this season, but the rest were rubbish.

Im the opposite; great swedes, rubbish basil! I get 1-2 inch seedlings which just keel over every blinking time!
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: Plot 1 Problems on February 15, 2020, 12:11
Good basil, bad swedes here. Maybe we should do a poll on the basil/ swede performance by geographic location and see if there's a pattern  :lol:
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: jaydig on February 15, 2020, 15:14
Good basil, bad swedes here. Maybe we should do a poll on the basil/ swede performance by geographic location and see if there's a pattern  :lol:

You might have something there - I'm just up the road from you, in Bromsgrove.  Great basic, lousy swedes.
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: New shoot on February 15, 2020, 15:44
I usually have no trouble with basil.  I've seed grown it and used the supermarket pots for cuttings or split them for potting on.

Swedes I have some history with and success has been on and off.  Last year I grew great ones and also Gilfeathers Turnip-swedes.  We had loads and I only pulled the last swedes a week or so ago.  My basil was tragic though.  I tried lemon basil from seed - useless  ::)  I bought supermarket pots and split them - they got munched by caterpillars  :ohmy:  Obviously rare gourmet ones that love italian food, but really  ::)

Maybe these 2 crops have some strange mystic correlation that we were unaware of  :wacko:
Title: Re: Why cant I grow basil?
Post by: DHM on February 15, 2020, 22:46
The best basil I ever grew was when I lived in South London, but being pots on a fire escape, I had no room to grow swedes. (!)

Does anyone here have a regular good crop of both? Has this forum stumbled over a major discovery?!

Im in the bad basil good swede camp, just thinking of other things I've struggled with... purple sprouting broccoli and climbing courgettes.