A potted basil plant faces constraints that its in-ground cousins do not, such as access to water. Let’s pack a few tips into our toolkit to take care of it properly, and to ensure it enjoys the greatest possible longevity!
Basil in a pot – Finding a container that suits it
A basil plant needs space. As soon as it has proven itself in a small pot, whether you started it from seed or bought it at a garden center, transplant it into a well-sized pot, up to about 6 inches in diameter for a vigorous plant.
A pot of ample size provides a soil volume large enough to store the water your basil needs to grow and thus to thrive. Don’t forget to properly line the bottom of your pot with clay balls or gravel of the same granularity to prevent your basil from having its feet in water.
Watering potted basil – A balancing act
Basil needs water, but not too much. Watering potted basil is often a balancing act, but you can achieve good results with a bit of experience… and a trick!
If your potted basil sits in full sun, you should water it generously, which isn’t easy when you also want the tray underneath to stay empty. The simplest method is to place it in a sink and water it in 2 or 3 passes, then move it back to its tray.
Even in a pot, mulching can really help your basil, as it increases water availability and therefore reduces the chances of “water stress” that limits basil’s lifespan. You can use straw, bark, gravel, or commercially available mulches for this purpose.
Exposition for potted basil – Light matters
Exposure to light is essential for proper development. It’s not complicated—simply aim for the maximum amount of light.
If your basil tends to lean toward the light, it’s getting too little light. In that case, and if you can’t move it to a brighter spot, you should simply rotate the pot a quarter turn each day so it continues to grow upward.
Care of potted basil
If you want your basil to last as long as possible and therefore produce at its peak, there’s one essential operation: pinching. Basil, like almost any plant, will produce flowers. fragrant, small, fragile, and cute, they will nonetheless steal energy from the basil as the plant shoots into taller flower clusters. Where there are flowers, there are fewer leaves, so simply pinch the flowers as soon as you spot them.
To keep basil going as long as possible, you’ll want a robust specimen. You can therefore consider giving it a bit of fertilizer every two weeks, but be careful about the fertilizer you choose. The ideal, for basil, is organic horse manure at repotting (to avoid antibiotics).
Enjoy your summer and delicious salads!
The basil is a very popular aromatic plant. In this work, Peter Bauwens describes not only the rich history of Ocimum basilicum, the royal plant, but also details the secrets of its cultivation. He reveals 42 different varieties. Let yourself be surprised by the incredible variety of forms, scents, and flavors. Enjoy exquisite, surprising, and simple recipes.
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