🌱 Basil Genovese // Plant Information !🌱
✨Ocimum basilicum - Lamiacae; herb of the mint family !
Height Range: Up to 24 to 30 inches
Space Range: Stretches out about 12 to 18 inches
Lowest Tolerable Temp: Around 40° to 50°
✨ Planting * takes 5 to 10 days to germinate, though I’ve been luck enough to get it in 3 !
Garden - Does best being planted in late spring/early summer.
Indoor - Basil enjoys a well aerated and roomy pot!
✨ Lighting * direct lighting is needed !
Minimum Hours - 6 to 8 hours
Maximum Hours - Around 10 hours
In my experience basil seems to enjoy being warm.
When to water - New seedlings need steady watering for a few weeks, 2 to 3 for those who enjoy specific details ! Afterwards, its best to water when you notice it drying out or shivering.
Humidity - Humidity can be a great way to help in basil’s growth, keeping it between a 40-60% humidity level is best. However its not a need for planting, I’ve done well growing them without a humidity box!
Best type of,, dirt - A light, nutrient packed, and well drained soil.
✨ Fertilizing and Pruning
Feeding - Just like a humidity box, fertilizer is not a constant requirement for basil but it does help! A 10-10-10 or 12-12-12 ratio of a NPK mixture (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) is considered best. Basil should be fed every month or so.
Pruning and harvesting - Use. Sharp. Clean. Tools. I know some people prefer to pinch leaves off, but using tools can minimize the chance of damage. When harvesting basil, make sure to do so from the top down- a good rule of thumb is to never take more than half of what it has to offer.
✨ Uses & Warnings * dont take my word alone, I highly urge you to do your own research to find out what is safe for you.
Cooking ; Basil is most commonly used in cooking ! Especially italian dishes. Both the leaves and flowers are edible, however the flowers hold a more packed basil flavor. Warning; Basil is safe to eat however in non-food quantities it can be very unsafe. Especially for pregnant people, people nursing, and toddlers/babies. Basil oils/extracts may also interact with medications.
Herbal Infusions/Teas ; The same warning as cooking remains, be conscious of the quantities you consume, and the medications it can interfere with. That aside however, brewing basil or even its flowers in hot water can be great !
Burning or Incense ; You can dry leaves in a window sill or upside down in bundles. Make sure you’re using a fire safe container to hold and catch the burning ashes. Be careful to avoid inhalation and only burn it in a well ventilated space.
✨ Good - These dynamics benefit each other! Plant them together for different effects.
Asparagus ; Basil and asparagus can attract ladybugs, which may help in controlling aphid infestations. Basil can also be used to protect asparagus from asparagus beetles.
Borage ; Improves the flavor and growth of basil ! Borage is a great edible plant that aids in repelling pests of other plants, but also assisting other plants develop better disease resistance. On top of all of that, it’s a pollinators favorite !
Chamomile ; Enhance basil’s essential oils, and by extension its taste.
Tomato ; Basil is great with deterring the tomato hornworm, but on top of that, both plants have been shown to better each other’s taste and yield.
Peppers ; Peppers and basil share the same bond as tomatoes and basil. Not only do they enhance each other, basil is great for protecting peppers from hungry pests.
Root Vegetables ; While this dynamic is only one way, its good to know that basil helps protect the leafy tops of most root vegetables when planted around them !
Marigolds ; Both work together to create an effective pest repellent using aroma.
Anise ; Just like chamomile, anise helps basil produce essential oils and with it better taste.
✨ Bad - Not exactly friendly with one another.
Cucumber ; Because cucumber is a plant that contains a high content if water, anything it’s planted with will affect its taste. Basil is known to make cucumber taste unsavory.
Fennel & Rue ; Both fennel and rue are notorious for stunting the plants near them.
Mint ; Mint is a selfish plant.
Thank you for reading through this post ! I’ll be posting the second half with Spiritual History and Correspondences soon as well !
🌱 The Spruce Eats; Basil Flower Uses
🌱 Masterclass; Basil Companion Planting
🌱 Seeds & Grain; Companion Planting
🌱 RxList Basil Uses and Side Effects *this may be about “Holy Basil” however i still consider the information important knowledge.
