Christmas Basil - Ocimum basilicum

Sowing and Maintenance:

Basil appreciates relatively fresh, well-drained and humus-rich soils, as well as partial shade: direct sunlight tends to burn the leaves. It grows very well in pots.

Sowing: Sowing is done in spring, starting in February under cover or in a cold frame, and starting in April in open ground until the beginning of summer. Sow in a well-spaced furrow about ten centimetres wide and two centimetres deep. The rows should be spaced 25cm (10 inches) apart. Cover the seeds with the soil that was pushed aside along the furrow, then water. Germination takes between 10 to 15 days. As soon as the first plants appear, thin them out slightly. The more staggered the sowing, the longer the harvesting period will be. Sowing can be done in a bucket and then transplanted once the plant reaches 10 cm (4 to 6 leaves) in height. Basil can be kept in a pot for easy access in the kitchen if it is well-lit.

When planting in the final location, space your plants 20cm (8in) apart in all directions.

Maintenance: Maintenance is low and requires simple watering (or preventive mulching) when the soil dries out. It is the lack of water (water stress) that can cause basil to go to seed.