When to Plant: Basil dislikes cold temperatures. Plant outdoors after last danger of frost has passed or plant in a container that can be kept indoors or moved in and out. Basil will not take off until consistently warm temperatures are reached.

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Light: Bright Sunlight

Soil: Basil can tolerate most soils if kept in a sunny place and prevented from sitting in constant moisture.

Provide moisture when the top 2” of potting mix or soil is dry. Time between watering cycles is determined by your climate. Avoid overwatering by waiting for the basil to appear slightly wilted before each watering.

If planted in a container, try utilizing slow-release fertilizer for easy care, following the recommended bottle rates. Some potting mixes already include slow-release fertilizer mixed in.

If planted in ground, fertilizing may not be necessary if planted in good soil. Fertilize no more than once per month.

Basil should be regularly harvested to prevent flowering for as long as possible. Don’t be afraid to take a large amount of leaves off the plant once it is established.

Once basil begins to flower in summer, it is difficult to get the plant to produce the leafy growth that we want. Regular pruning/harvesting is key to bounteous basil all summer long.