Basil
Basil (Ocimum spp.) has its roots in India and Africa but is mostly known and appreciated all over the world. The word basil comes from Greek basileus meaning King and it certainly can be considered royalty among herbs. 
Care
Basil has broad, dark green aromatic leaves that can be grown from seed. It should be started indoors in early spring (May) or sown directly in the garden after danger of frost has passed. Basil needs warm soil and temperature to germinate. If started too early you will get slow, weak growth so don’t rush it. Transplants can be planted when temperatures are above 50 degrees at night. This heat loving annual, thrives in warm weather, requires full sun and a rich well drained soil. As with many herbs, it needs little fertilizer; in fact with too much fertilizer, basil will develop a bland flavor. Container grown basil may need more fertilizer than basil grown in the ground.
Plant 12 inches apart to allow room for growth as they grow as wide as they get tall (12-24 inch). To maintain the size and shape of this vigorous growing plant, pinch frequently. For best leaf production and flavor harvest your basil often and enjoy.
Flowerheads
Once the plant reaches maturity or temps are over 80 degrees, look for emerging flower heads which will drain the plant of energy to produce more leaves. Pinching or deadheading doesn’t stop flowering, it encourages more flowers. To discourage flower production and stimulate more leaf growth, cut the stem at least six leaf nodes down. If basil is allowed to go to seed, the leaves will develop a bitter flavor. For a continuous supply of fresh basil, plant at three week intervals during the summer. Plant basil next to tomato plant to improve their flavor.
There are more than 150 species of basil grown around the world. Even the most popular have a wide range of leaf shapes and flavors from anise, camphor, cinnamon to lemon. Sweet Italian Basil has an anise flavor which brings out the essence of summer tomatoes. ‘Genovese’ as well as bush basil (O. basilicum minimum) are great for pesto and Thai (Siam Queen) impart a spicy flavor with a hint of licorice to Thai and Indian cuisine. The dwarf to medium sized basils; such as Little-leaf bush or Spicy globe are ideal for small pots and window boxes. Don’t forget Dark Opal Basil which not only stands up as a culinary herb but also works well as a decorative accent plant. Combine basils with parsley, sage, rosemary and chives along with any one of your favorite herbs in a large container, place it close to the kitchen door and you will have a convenient culinary herb garden at your disposal.
Basil tip: Mosquitos and flies dislike the smell of basil. Grow it on a patio or deck to keep them away.
Rub crushed basil on your skin to repel mosquitoes.
Problems; light green/yellowing leaves possible overwatering or needs fertilizer. Black dying leaves-cold weather
Insects: Aphids, Japanese beetles, slugs feed on the leaves.
Disease: Damping-Off (Rhizoctonia), root rot and fusarium wilt and leaf spot
- Growing Herbs GROWING HERBS Herbs are grown for culinary, medicinal as well as...
BASIL LEAVES ARE SMALL AND SPOTTED. PLEASE ADVISE
I am growing Basil and did not know to pinch the blooms. Will it hurt the plant? If I start now will it help. The leaves are small.
Thanks!
How can I propagate basil. I have a large plant in the garden and would like to save it for the winter indoors.
Am growing basil outdoors in a pot – sunny spot, gets lots of water. Is starting to wilt and leaves turning slightly yellow. Too much water? Too much sun?
I am watering soil only. It is strange that all of the spots are the same even though on different plants. Note – The light shaded web shape is shiny.
I am growing Italian basil and the plant grew beautifully until the roots got hard and woody looking. Is this normal? What can I do to prevent? Thanks.
My basil plants grew- from seed- and I’m very excited to have it. I live in a cold northwestern climate and planted them in a container that I keep in my kitchen window. They’re doing so well I’m afraid to touch them. I’d like to use it this summer for cooking, but don’t know how to clip leaves without hurting the plant. I read something about clipping a quarter inch above the “node” but I’m not sure where that is and if there’s more than one- where do I start? Until I read this I didn’t even know it could flower. Do I start at the top, the bottom or the side of the plant and where do I clip?
Thanks for the help.
My basil plants are out in my veggie garden, seperate from the other plants and there seems to be some sort of bug eating at the leaves at night what can I do?
My basil is in a plastic container, the problem is the the bottom of the stalk is getting brownish and the leaf is starting to wilt. I already give it a lot of water.This is the third time my basil tree has the same problem. what should i do?
I have 3 basil plants growing in a planter. They have been growing like crazy all summer and I have been careful to pinch off the tops before any flowers appear. I had 1 flower pop up on 1 of the plants and now all 3 plants have a strong licorice/bitter flavor. Is there any way to recover the sweet flavor? What are my options?
I am growing some Ocimum gratissimum in the UK from seeds I picked in Nigeria. I have a number of small plants growing which I am keeping in plastic “tents” to try and replicate the humid climate. They seem to be doing ok, however recently the leaves on the plants have started turning yellow in between the veins, which remain green. Any suggestions?
Basil: I have plants in my garden that look healthy except the leaves started to wrinkle instead of open to be smooth. What can I do?
I recently inherited an outdoor basil plant nearly 2′ tall and very dense. I have read that basil is an annual but this plant (I believe) has survived outdoors for a number of years (central virginia). Could this be a perennial variety ? and, should I bring it indoors before the first frost comes ?
I just got my first Basil plant and it’s in a plastic pot. I keep it in a sunny place and water it on days that it does not rain. However most of the plant has died away just leaving brown stalks, and the leaves that are left are brown spotted. I don’t want to toss the pour thing but I don’t know how to save it.
Brown spotsIs it ok to eat basil leaves that have brown spots?
Hi, my Sweet Basil plants are growing quite nicely except the stems seem to be very weak. Is this normal? If not, what do I do about it?
The plants are growing in a pot outside on a sunny balcony.
Thanks!
Frozen Basil
Can you do anything with a basil plant after it has been affected by a frost ? Can you still use the basil ?
I have tried Basil as a house plant many times but it never seems to live. It always seems to get infected with bugs. Then the rest of my plants get the bugs. Can basil live as a house plant with other house plants? If so what can I spray it with to kill the bugs and and still use the basil for cooking?
I live in North Florida. I planted Basil in Summer. It grew fine than stopped, turned yellow and has not really done anything. Will it grow now that the weather is cooling a bit or just die off. I’m not sure if I should just pitch it or maybe move it to a bigger container? Ahhhh…It’s in a 4″.
My basil plants is dropping all it’s leave since I brought it indoors for the winter. I live NE of Philadelphia. It sits near my sliding glass door. Help. I don’t want to loose the plant. I use it for many recipes. Can I dry the leaves or freeze them? How?
Leaf Tip burn
I live in Melbourne, Australia and have just planted some basil in a pot a few weeks ago. It has been growing well but in the last couple of days some of the leaves have turned a lightish colour of brown. What does this mean? From other comments I gather too much water would this be correct?
Something is eating away at my basil plant. It is planted in a container and I can’t find any bugs on it. Do snails and slugs like to eat basil?
Hello, my basil is thriving however these little green catarpillars are eating it. What should I spray on them to get rid of them? We eat the basil so it needs to be something non-toxic. It is also planted with tomatoes in pots on a balcony.
Hi Rodd
BT bacillus thuringiensis can be used on basil. I would wait a week before eating the basil.
What is the lowest temp Basil will survive the night at?
We are having crazy lows here in Florida Ft Lauderdale in the 35s at night.
Hello, my poor basil plant needs some help. The stock and the stems are brown and very brittle, with No actual basil leaves on them. I went away for 5 weeks on holiday and returned to this. I had a friend water it during this time but no help.
Is it time to say good bye to this plant? I have had it for over 3 years. Or can I salvage it somehow.
Thanks
I have a basil plant, in a 15cm diametre pot. I am in cold cold berlin (temperature about 7/1°C day/night) and am wondering if it is even possible to keep it alive.
How can I do this. I live in a flat containing one balcony that gets decent sunlight.
Help!
Hello,
I am growing 3 small basil plants from seedlings on my balcony in Louisiana. Two of my plants in the last two days now have about a 1 inch brown section in the middle of the stem, and have flopped over, like someone chopped them in half. There are also small black gnat-like insects hanging around. I can’t seem to find what they are, or what to do about my felled stems. I’d like to use organic methods if i can save my plants. Please help!
Hi. I have a potted garden on my patio, including basil. I keep getting lots of tiny white bugs…maybe moths. Is there anything I can do to get rid of them?
Hi,
Just bought a new basil plant, ive had some before but of course they all died. I am determined to make this one last through the summer. What first of all is pinching? and, What leaves should i take first when using it to eat, so that it will continue to grow bushy and beautiful? Should i wait inbetween picking it? Thanks Amy
HI Amy
Pinching is cutting/trimming off the new growth tips. See comment from Carrie 6/07/2009. You can use to latest or top growth which is tender and flavorful.
Hi, I’ve had my basil plant for about a month, and it seems really weak. Also, i found white spots on it. however, not all the plants have white spots, only four do. However, it seems like the white spots are taking over the leaves. I’m not sure if it’s powedery mildew or not. What should I do if it is, or isn’t?
Thanks
I have basil plant potted with some cilantro and parsely. It looks droopy and one of the stems near the soil line is brown. It has been a chilly spring here – just now getting into the 70’s during the day. I have been bringing the pot indoors at night when temps drop below 50. I’m not sure what is causing the droop and brown stem…it gets decent sun and I keep it watered. Could it be the chilly weather or do you think I should take the basil out and give it its own pot? The cilantro and parsely are thriving and are much larger.
Hi Rose
Cilantro and parsley tolerate cooler temperatures than basil. Being crowded in the same container can also make it susceptible to fungal infections (stem is brown at soil line).
My basil is getting taller. Only a few leaves at the top and it is yellowing. I started to get a little white flower on the top. I pinched it off but I can’t cut it back because there are no leaves at the bottom. I only have tall stalks with leaves at the top. HELP!
Hi! We have grown basil from seed, and currently have about 7 stalks in a pot. Ours are also flowering, which was when i starting to see what to do next. Only 2 or 3 have flowered, but they are still producing new small leaves on the bottom of the stalks. Should I cut down the plant to those new leaves or just below the flower? We also have in the same pot some flat leaf parsley from seed that is not thriving; any tips on those little guys? Any advice would help!
Hi! Great website, loads of information here.
Unfortunately, I am also having a small issue with two of my basil plants. They appear to be thriving and healthy, except for a small patch in the center of each plant where one or two stems are turning brown and withering away. It looks like white mold/watery soft rot from what I can find about it on the internet.
Is there any way to treat this without losing the plant? Is the basil still safe to eat? Thanks in advance!
Cut back basil
I know your supposed to cut back the plant and only have a couple leaves, but what if my plant is 4-5 inches long and then the leaves start?
my basil plants stalk is turning black. the leaves are green but i am concerned about the stalk. does it have a disease?
The stalk may have stem rot caused by a fungus. Are the leaves wilting?
I just received a potted Holy Basil (Idian tulsi) which looks like it needs major TLC, & naturally, I turned to your site for some help
The plant is about a foot & 1/2 tall, with pale green leaves, which are drying & falling off too quickly. Some of the stemms are long & leafy, & there’s new leaves on older woody stems too. Overall, it looks more ragged & sparse, than bushy, so am wondering, having read comments above, whether I should cut the plant down? Almost like the poinsetta, which results in new growth- would that work? & since it’s been indoors, near a window but no direct sun, should I move the pot outside? I live in a north-east facing apt, which gets morning sun for an hour, & then again in the evening. I will repot in fresh soil, in an earthenware pot since this plant does seem to flourish better than in a plastic pot. Would appreciate if you could give any advise on how to help to grow a healthy plant. Thanks!
I noticed flowers on my Basil plant and started pinching them, but as you imply will happen, they just kept coming back. Finally, I read that I need to cut down the stalk to a lower node (wish I had come across this webpage earlier!). My question is, will the new growth leaves taste bitter, or will they be normal? In other words, is it too late to save this plant and will I have to replace it? Thanks!
I’ve been growing basil on my balcony for years in the summer. I just went to check on them and one pot has hundreds of TINY flying and crawling bugs eating the leaves. They are the size of small fleas, but have softer bodies and wings. Any ideas?
I grew my basil plant from seed in march. It started out indoors and was doing great. Then I moved it outside once it got really warm and it stopped growing. Not only that but it started to turn yellow. Then I saw flowers start to bud and I pinched them off. Now the stem is turning brown and woody and the leaves are going brown too. I don’t know what to do. I expectd them to grow bigger but they are about 6″ tall and it’s just one steam with no branches. I’ve tried watering it and then letting it dry out before watering it again. I checked for root rot and they are still white but really near the surface. Help, I don’t know what i’m doing. Can they be saved?
I just got a spicy globe basil plant that I am growing in a pot in my sun room. I have noticed that it is getting brown spots on the leaves and brown streaks on some of the stems. Also, some of the stems and brown streaks have very small round things attached to them that don’t come off easily. Otherwise the plant looks healthy. Any idea what is going on and how I can save it? Thanks so much!
A friend has left her basil plant in my care for two weeks. Sunny window – check, low water – check. Would love to get it really big. There are only leaves at the tops and a few down the stems. No flowers. Maybe 20 stems in this one pot, but all leggy. Took off over 30 leaves yesterday ( a little from each stem)
What else do I need to do for Phoebe?
I picked some fresh healthy green looking leaves from my potted Basil plant for my first attempt at Pesto. I washed the leaves under running water. As I was doing this I noticed the leaves began to develop large black patches all over the leaves that five minutes ago were bright green. What happened?
Leaf margin burnThis is so helpful! I got a potted basil that has delicious, spicy tiny leaves and everyday it seems like some of the leaves just instantly turn half brown. The stems look fine but the leaves turn brown from the outside in so fast. Am I watering too much? Not enough?
HI Katie
Brown leaf margins can be a sign of stress. You may be overwatering. Is the soil well drained or does the water sit on the surface and take time to drain? The other problem may be overfertilizing. Too much salt accumulation builds up in the soil and the plant can’t use it up fast enough. If so, leach out the salts by thouroughly watering letting the water run out of the bottom on the pot and then do it again.
I have noticed lots of black ants crawling on and living on my basil plants. Is this good or bad ?
When I first got my basil plant it was about a foot tall and it was growing very well. I pinched the leaves and flowers in order to stimulate bushier growth. However, lately the plant does not seem to be growing. It’s not growing upward or outward it seems. In addition the bottom 1 inch of the plant is brown and getting hard like a twig, but only that portion. Also, every once and a while one of the leaves will just completely shrivel up and die. Lastly, the leaves are a little yellowish. What can I do to improve my plant’s health?
Hi live in the Philadelphia area and about 2 weeks ago I noticed what I think now are Dark Basil propagating all over our flower beds, grass and cracks in our driveway and hardscaping. How do I get rid of them? I don’t want them to overtake our grass or our flower beds. Will they die off in the winter and I will not have to worry about them next season? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for reply.
Prem.
I apparently overdried some basil hanging upside down in my garage, and most of it turned brown and brittle. This might be a dumb question, but I’m new to drying herbs… Are they still ok to keep and use in recipes? I know green and dry is preferable, but can you still use the brown stuff?
I have been growing sweet basil on my patio all summer without issue, now I notice little white spots on some of the leaves, and when I shake the plant, little bugs flying off, what could this be and is there a non-chemical treatment?
I just noticed a thin layer of webs, with teeny tiny white bugs, across the top leaves of my Indian basil. I placed the entire pot under a warm shower and then washed the leaves with a orange based dish detergent. I haven’t washed the leaves again, and was wondering if there is anything else I should be doing to prevent the infestation again.
I also did the same washing procedure with a healthy croton. Both plants are indoors now, having spent the entire summer on my balcony. Would appreciate your comments/ advice on how to continue taking care of these plants, as I am a little concerned having never faced this problem before. I will be keeping both plants separated from the rest to further control the spread.
Thanks again for your advice.
My basil plant seemed very haealthy until today when discovered many of the leaves have brown spots. What have I done wrong and how can I bring it back to health?
Por favor tengo una matica de Sweet Basil y aparece codias sus hojitas sin que se vea ninguna causa,es mas las hojas desaparecen en question se segundos,que puedo utilizar para
salvarla?
Gracias vivo en Miami y estan en el solarium con buena temperatura.
how long ( in years ) do basil plants live?
or how often should they be dug up and replaced ? Mine look great, but are approaching 15 yrs. of age
Winterover basil indoors
I am attempting to over winter Sweet Basil in cold Scotland. Two plants are left one a fast growing young plant which 10 growing stems the other and older Spring plant with much less leafage, but still growing. Maximum heat is provided by a warm drying press overnight and sunny window during the daytime.
Is it better to conserve the plants by reducing the stem cuts, or should normal practice continue?
I have recently noticed white dots on the stems, but not the leaves of my basil plant. It seems rather healthy and growing so fast so im not sure what the issue is. Also, where the white dots are, the leaves seem to be growing in the opposite direction. What should i do?
Thanks for that. I aim to use frozen leaf and oven-dried leaf grounds already set aside. The plants will be left to grow, with warm water every 2-3 days, by syringe, and Miracle-Gro feed every 10 days.
Next year cuttings will be used, using a propagator, to give more copies of the younger plant to try and maximise leaf output. Can cuttings be made at any time in Spring/Summer, or are hot conditions essential?
I was growing a basil plant indoors for a few months when I noticed tiny black dots under the leaves of the plant. Over a period of just a few days, these dots grew larger and my plant started to turn yellow. What could this be, and how do I solve this problem?
What is the sticky substance on my new basil plants.
How to keep it from happening and what to do with it once it is there.
Hello,
I have a new basil plant. Im growing it in the window of my apartment. It was given to me by a friend. The plant is about 6 or 7 inches tall but all of the leaves are wilted and the top part of the stems are wilted as well (they all looked that way when I got the plant). The leaves look black but the stems are a very healthy green so I know the plant isnt dead. The leaves, however, smell wonderful I just wished the plant looked healthy. What shoud I do? Can I save this plant? Please help me! Thanks!
Hello,
I planted basil trees in pots at my balcony in summer. Everything went fine until autumn, when it’s too cold to leave them outdoor. So I placed them inside my room beside the heater, the warmest spot in the room with the most sunlight. I watered the basil until the soil was very soak whenever the top of the soil dried off, which was about once every two days. Until one point, I noticed tiny (needle point size) black spots under the leaves. The bottom of the leaves also look sponge-like. The leaves turned light brown only on the underside and dropped with slihtest touch. What could be the cause of these spots? How can I prevent or control them? There were also small flies crawling in and out of the soil. Those flies did not seem to eat the basil, but were more interested in kitchen garbage. So I was forced to take the pots outside and leave the basil trees die. I bought a new potted basil from a supermarket later and the same thing happened again within a month. What could be wrong? What should I do to prevent this from happening again next autumn?
what month can I put my basil outside in pots
help me.
I have a house plant, my favorite, all the leaves are falling off slowly and have turned with brown blotches and small black dots. It also smells. What can I do to save it? Please help.
Soil vs hydroponics
I just bought a “hydroponically grown” basil plant and have put it into a pot with soil mix. I have no idea what variety the plant is. Will the hydroponic version have as much flavor as “typical” basil? Will it survive on a brightly lit Florida balcony that does not get direct sun?
Insects on basil
I have bugs eating at my basil plant do you have any recommendations on what to use to get rid of them ?
wind damage
Yesterday was really windy (gusts around 20 mph all day). I left my potted herbs outside, not thinking anything of it. Today alot of the basil leaves have brown areas on them (not really spots). Is that just bruising from the wind, and if so, is it safe to eat, or should I try to trim it off over the next few weeks? It’s on most of the leaves.
Hi! I have basil in a pot indoors under my skylight also near a south facing window. I live in southern california so i’m pretty sure it gets enough sun. However, it hasn’t grown any since I first bought the plant. I’m thinking of pinching it back some, we were not using any because we didn’t want to use it all. but I’ve read pinching actually encourages growth? I was also watering almost every day because the soil gets dry, is this too often? Also I thought maybe it would do better outside. so i moved it. and my boyfriend moved it back in saying it was getting wilty from the sun. I’m not sure what to try next and don’t want to try too many things at once! THANKS!
Black spots on leaves
I have noticed something was snacking on my basil plant`s leaves recently. This morning, when I examined it closer, I realized that there are black spots beneath the leaves (and a few on top). Any idea what it is? If so, any ideas of how to take care of it?
Hi
I bought some basil seeds and but I noticed that it just not growing,is like an inch tall and it’s been like this for almost a month.Is outside in a pot and I water it 4 times a week.
Thanks
Each year, we plant sweet Italian basil in various containers. For a while, they develop normally, but in just a few weeks the leaves start to develop differently: they are smaller, narrower, more bitter, and a bit concave (v-shaped). They are still nicely green, but the taste is bitter and the yield is less due to the smaller leaves. It almost seems like they “morph” into some different type of basil! Any thoughts or suggestions?
Thanks.
Leaf spot
my basil plant has some darker brown spots here and there…what are they? I only water the dirt, never the leaves. Also, I bought it from Trader Joes and it has always been inside in the window sill.
Thanks
Hi!
I purchased 2 basil plants at an environmental club fund-raiser. (One was labeled butterfly weed, but turned out to be another basil plant!) I planted them outside my kitchen door in one of those rounded grassy hanging pots. There is also a chive plant in with them.
I’ve been cutting them back as soon as I see the start of flowers or before. The problem is that the leaves are tiny and stiffer than what I’ve seen on basil plants. None of my leaves are those gorgeous, soft big leaves.
I’ve used this basil in recipes and it’s delicious, but very hard to use with it’s tiny leaves. Should I replant them right into the ground? Use a bigger pot? The one that they’re in is very wide, but not all that deep. Or is it possible I have a different variety of basil? I’ve researched and thought maybe lemon basil, but the flavor isn’t all that citrousy.
Any ideas?
Thanks so much!!
Help! My beautiful basil plant is covered with brownish, fuzzy stuff under the leaves and they are all abandoning ship. There are move leaves on my deck than on the plant itself. How do I treat this? Thank you!