Growing Basil

Ocimum basilicum : Lamiaceae / the mint family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                  S    
T                   T T

(Best months for growing Basil in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 64°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 10 inches apart
  • Harvest in 10-12 weeks. Pick before flowering.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Tomato

Your comments and tips

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25 Aug 18, Peta (Australia - temperate climate)
Just remember that "Perth sun" is stronger than normal sun. so most plants that are "full sun" need partial shade in our summers. Now is definitely tomato and basil season. I would figure out what you like to eat first and put those in as a priority and work around them. Ask your local garden centre including your local hardware garden centre :)
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27 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
I would dispute that the Perth sun is stronger than normal sun. 35 or 40 degrees is the same everywhere. It is the humidity or dryness that is the difference. A humid 35 degrees in SE Qld is just as prickly as a 40+ dry Easterly in Perth. I have lived in both and I know which I would prefer - WA.
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20 Aug 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Look up the internet for how much sunlight vegies need. You can find a table that shows this. Some need 4 some 6 some 8 hours. Most plants need quite a lot of sunlight - otherwise you end up with small weak plants.
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07 Jul 18, LD (Australia - arid climate)
My Basil is being invaded by caterpillars. How can I get rid of them?
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23 Sep 18, Louise G (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Small green caterpillars. Either pick them off by hand or sprinkle with ground pepper for an organic fix. You may need to squirt leaves with water first. This works with spinach and mint too.
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24 May 18, Margaret (Australia - temperate climate)
Can you get a basil that grows in winter I get morning and northern sun my other herbs are growing great
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25 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I was given a basil plant yesterday - from up north Queensland. He said it flowered in the late winter - spring. Growing it for bee attraction. Will ask what it is called tomorrow.
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14 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
This plant is now a 1.2m ball of leaves and flower/seeds.
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24 May 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Basil is frost-tender and needs lots of sunlight
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20 Nov 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I garden at a men's shed and the boss bought some perennial basil back from Townsville to Bundy in June. I planted it in a light truck tyre with some good soil, put a supporting wire mess cone around it and boy has it grown. It is now a 1.2m ball and has heaps of flowers and bees.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 123 comments
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I had the same problem at first. Most instructions aren't very clear on the details. The trick is to wait until there are 3-5 sets of true leaves on the seedling. Then, only cut off the top pair of leaves. Also don't pinch or trim until it is transplanted or in its final pot for growing. For the second "pinch," wait until the suckers (like on tomatoes) have 2-3 new sets of leaves, at least. Always use scissors or shears, btw. A good rule of thumb is to never remove more than 1/3 of a plant's leaves at a time, if you want it to keep growing. Once I figured out how to trim my basil plants, they went nuts within a couple of months. Now I have more basil than I can handle!

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