Basil

So far I have managed to kill all the basil seedlings Ive potted up - what am I doing wrong? I thought Iwas over watering but was careful with the last lot and still they died - any ideas guys?

 

I had the same problem with Coriander,then I just bought some in the super market planted them in the garden...Hey presto I have it growing like crazy. Good innit?

 

LOL - thats about right! :rolleyes:

 

I grow basil in the greenhouse I plant seed every 2 weeks in 3in pots. they need to be watered often so i stand mine in 1in of water. One pot of basil, fresh toms, italian ciabatta bread, olive oil and mozzarella cheese in the garden to die for

 

I look on growing basil as a challenge! :D I've even managed to kill off several supermarket ones. This year, I bought one from the supermarket and so far so good. It's still alive, kicking and growing fast! It normally takes me a couple of attempts before I get one to flourish, so I'm feeling a bit proud of myself! They can be soooooooooooo darned tempermental! I think mine just loves all the attention it gets ................. must be a male plant! :rolleyes:

An infusion of basil put in the bath is lovely!

SageCat

 

I usually sow mine in a pot, very thinly so I don't have to transplant. Are the seedlings like sweetpeas and don't like root disturbance, maybe?

 

an old gardener told me to only water in the mornings, i started mine in a tray wiht lid, they seemed to take an age to come, i tranplanted into pots, following the old wise man's tip's i'am eating basil with everything, so are all my family and nieghbours..

some might say thier is no heaven
tell it to the man who live's in hell..

 

Hi Marge,

I had quite good success this year so far with Basil so here's what I did (in case it's some help)

In the greenhouse; seeds sown in individual plug trays and watered to start them off, but then not again until they germinated and I could see shoots. I did however make sure to not let them dry out during germination.

Kept them in plug trays until about 2 inches tall on capilliary matting that I kept wet so that they could keep themslves moist but never waterlogged.

Planted them on into a much biggger glazed pot (unglazed tend to loose water very quickly when it's hot) spacing them at around three inches apart (I find they like to be a bit crowded). Kept them in greenhouse until the first few decent fat dark green leaves.

Then transfered the pot into the cold frame which I opened during the day and closed at night religiously.

Only water them once fairly dry but never letting them completely dry out. Being a mediteranean plant I figure they are used to sporadic but big rain. So when hot I water them maybe twice a week but deeply. When not hot only water once a week.

Hope this helps.