[kermit]

How close together can basil seedlings be?  I've germinated a load in 5 inch pots but they seem pretty crowded - does it matter with basil?

thx

[mumofstig]

Depends how quickly you will use them I eat mine nearly as quick as they can germinate, so don't bother to thin them.  if you want to pick over a longer period then it is best to either thin them out, or pot them on, to a couple per small pot,  otherwise  they tend to rot off at soil level.

[kermit]

Great, thx.  Think i will thin / pot on.

[Loubs]

I've done a 5 inch pot with 2 seedlings. Pretty pathetic showing really - not much there that I can harvest without killing the plant.

So now I have a 5 inch pot with a dozen pr more seedlings on the go.  I expect that to behave like a supermarket plant - its a bit overcrowded long-term, so isn't exactly going to flourish. But it'll give me a quickish decent harvest for my next pesto sauce.

Guess there is a happy medium there somewhere.....5-7 probably 

[tam]

Will it turn into a little bush if you pinch the top out? I'm not really sure how basil grows 

[chris23005]

My basil has never grown bigger than the two seedling leaves stage, and I planted them back in late March before Easter! They have been transferred outside during the day to a really warm sheltered spot, but nothing doing. Think I might start again!

[SarahB]

Mine are just getting their second pair of true leaves, and they were sown under glass on 15th April!  The packet I have says "pinch shoot tips to encourage bushy plants".

[JayG]

My basil has never grown bigger than the two seedling leaves stage, and I planted them back in late March before Easter! They have been transferred outside during the day to a really warm sheltered spot, but nothing doing. Think I might start again!

I've never managed to successfully grow any variety of basil outdoors here Chris; even in a good summer ( ) I find it doesn't grow as well as indoors (house or coldframe in my case.)

[oldcow]

Basil doesn't do well if you start it indoors and then move it outside; it's just too sensitive to temperature and conditions changes. If you want the plant outdoors, wait until it's warm enough and start the basil outside, and cross your fingers about the weather...
I have several pots of massive basil on my kitchen windowsill. Make sure they get plenty of light, regular watering (but make sure the soil drains quickly, and don't overwater) and fertile soil. I potted them on twice, and they're now each in its 5" pot; they did so much better after potting them on! They would grow even better in bigger pots, but there's only so much windowsill space I have... After the fourth "level" of leaves, pinch the top. I was very nervous about it, but I followed the advice somebody gave me on the forum and the plants quickly produced lots of side shoots, each almost as big as the original plant, and now they're nice and bushy despite having been harvested regularly. I'm planning to make my first pesto this week...

[chris23005]

I have put my basil seedlings out in the really warm weather this last couple of days, and I have just got home from work and spotted the TINIEST true leaves forming. they were started indoors as I have no greenhouse, but maybe they are now responding to the warmer days. I have an old patio table just outside my back door. This is a sheltered porch area but still open to the outside. I have moved all my herbs on to this table and everything seems to be thriving better there, so fingers crossed.

[catllar]

I grow a lot of basil, but contrary to what you might imagine, it's not too fond of full sun, mine goes best in dappled shade and watered carefully to avoid leaf scorch. I bless the person who decided basil was edible!

[hubballi]

Basil. That would be nice if I could grow it. I have never known anything so difficult and temperamental to grow. I have tried potting supermarket bought plants, growing from seed, feeding, not feeding, sun, shade and they all result in death.

I give up with the stuff. 

[chris23005]

Basil. That would be nice if I could grow it. I have never known anything so difficult and temperamental to grow. I have tried potting supermarket bought plants, growing from seed, feeding, not feeding, sun, shade and they all result in death.

I give up with the stuff. 

I might be joining you!

[kermit]

Basil. That would be nice if I could grow it. I have never known anything so difficult and temperamental to grow. I have tried potting supermarket bought plants, growing from seed, feeding, not feeding, sun, shade and they all result in death.

I give up with the stuff. 

Last 2 years I've just used shop bought pots - watered only when drooping and kept on very sunny kitchen window.  The only problem I had was greenfly - they seemed to love it 

Anyway, this year decided to try from seed.  Seemed to germinate brilliantly indoors.  Its just pretty crowded in that pot.  Plan to thin tomorrow and treat the same way as I have done the shop bought stuff.