![]() Top: True leaves on our basil seedlings, Bottom: Roots growing every which way!īut don’t wait too long either! If you started your seeds in a small pot they will have a fair bit of room to grow. So at the very least, wait until your plants have their first set of true leaves before transplanting! Up until this point the plants don’t actually need sunlight they aren’t photosynthesizing because all of their nutrients come from the cotyledons. The next set of leaves that sprout can look very different (look at the close ups of the dill, some leaves are long and skinny and some are frond-y, very different!) and they are the plants’ true leaves. They are basically a source of food for the plants and contain the nutrients the seedling needs to grow. The first set of leaves that sprout out of the ground are called cotyledons and they are actually part of the seed. You definitely should not transplant your seedlings until they have grown their “true leaves”. A lot of people say you should transplant 5 to 6 weeks after planting, but I think there are some better indicators than simply how long the plants have been growing. There are a couple of different guidelines for when your seedlings are ready to be transplanted. Transplanting your seedlings can be really hard on your plants, so you need to make sure that they are strong enough to withstand the shock. If you are using a recipe that needs a lot of basil like pesto then you can harvest the whole plant at once.Before we get started I want to share some useful info I’ve discovered throughout this process. This will help to keep the plant nice and bushy. ![]() ![]() Pinch off the leaves by hand from the tips of the stems as required. Remove any flowers as soon as they start to develop. Pinch out the tips of branches regularly to keep it productive. CareĪim to water plants in the morning if possible. Inside or out, basil thrives best with at least 6 hours of sunlight a day so plant where it will get this for maximum yield. Space basil plants 12 to 16 inches apart.īasil does not like the cold, so whether you are transplanting seedlings or have planted directly outside in Spring, watch the temperatures and cover with an Easy Seedling tunnel if needed. Depending upon the variety, basil grows anywhere from 12 to 24 inches in height. If you want to plant outside, wait until all chance of frost has passed and plant in a sunny and sheltered spot. Use a slightly bigger pot each time up to about 8" (20cm). Simply re-pot throughout the summer every time the roots show through the drainage holes. Planting Outīasil will stay happily inside on your window sill. Transplant the basil directly into the garden or container once a good number of roots have appeared. Place in a water and roots will form within a week. Select a 10cm (4in) section of basil that has not yet flowered. Top Tip: later in the season you can also grow basil from c uttings. ![]() When the seedlings have developed their first true leaves and are large enough to handle thin them out to one plant per 7.5cm (3in) pot. Once the seeds have germinated remove from the propagator / take the bag off and keep them damp. If you are planting other veg in Rootrainers then just add a line of 4 cells with your basil and pop the lid on. If you don’t have one, cover the pot with a small, clear freezer bag and attach with an elastic band. Cover with a thin layer of vermiculite and water gently. Basil has a good germination rate so don't sow many more than you need.įill a 7.5cm (3in) bamboo pot with seed compost, and scatter a few seeds over the top. It is best to sow a small number of seed at regular intervals form mid January to mid-summer to avoid a glut. ![]()
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