How to grow basil at home (your meals will never taste the same again!)

Want to know how to grow basil at home? Discover it with this step by step guide

Basil is the perfect companion for many dishes.

A culinary plant highly appreciated for the pleasant aroma it gives off and, above all, for its delicious flavour.

It only has one problem…

And that is that its flavour is lost very quickly from the moment you cut the leaves.

Therefore, if you have the possibility of using fresh and recently picked leaves, the flavour of your dishes will improve a lot.

The best thing is that this is something that is within everyone's reach, because growing this plant is very simple.

Do you want to know how?

Well, keep reading, because here we tell you:

• When to plant your basil plant.
• The care you need.
• How to know when it is ready to pick the leaves (and how to do it without damaging the plant).

Let's go there.

How to Grow Basil: Step-by-Step Guide

The process couldn't be easier.

The only thing you need is a good seedbed and a pot to transplant it once it has germinated and grown enough.

But we do not get ahead of ourselves, and we explain it to you in parts.

A. When to plant your basil plant

The most common way to grow basil is from seed.

You can get these from an adult specimen during the fall, once flowering is over. You just have to wrap them in paper and keep them in a cool and dry place. 

Another option is to buy them at your trusted nursery.

You have to plant them shallow and cover them with a layer of organic material. Then, put the seedbed in a shady place where there is constant humidity (it will be easier if you have it indoors).

Basil does not tolerate cold, so it is best to plant it between February and March (or a little later, if you live in a cold area).

The seeds usually take between 10 and 15 days to germinate. 

At that time you should move the seedbed to a very sunny place and start watering regularly.

When the seedling reaches 8-10 centimetres in height, it will be time to transplant it into a pot.

B. Basil plant cares

As you can see, the process to plant them is quite simple. And the care of the plant itself is quite similar.

Now, there are a few tricks to keep in mind to help your plant grow healthy (and develop flavourful leaves).

1. Watering

Basil loves water.

From the moment the first shoots appear, it is important that you water it frequently, even daily.

Make sure that the substrate is completely moistened, but be careful not to flood! 

An accumulation of water in the roots could be detrimental to your plant.

2. Temperature

This aromatic is native to warm areas, so the cold is its worst enemy.

If you keep it indoors (we, for example, usually have a small pot in the kitchen to catch the leaves directly) there will be no problem, but if you want to grow it outdoors it is essential that it is not exposed to frost.

3. Substrate

Basil is not demanding on the soil.

The most important thing is that the substrate has good drainage, to avoid waterlogging. You can use porous materials that absorb moisture but don't puddle.

You can give organic fertilizer to promote growth, but not in large quantities.

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