Tips For Propagating Basil
There are plenty of herbs that you can plant in your herb garden, but the easiest herb to grow, tastiest, and most popular has to be basil. There are a couple of ways for propagating basil plants and both of them are quite simple. Let's look at how to propagate basil.
Planting Basil Seeds
When it comes to planting basil seeds, make sure you're planting basil seeds in an area where they will get six to eight hours of sunshine daily.
The soil should have a neutral pH so that they have the best chance of growing. Simply plant the seeds in a row and cover them with about 1/4-inch (6.5 mm.) of soil. Once the plants grow to a few inches (5 to 10 cm.) in height, thin them out to 6 to 12 inches (15-30.5 cm.) apart.
Planting Basil Seeds Indoors
You can plant your basil indoors as well. Be sure the pot is placed in an area where it will get daily sunshine and water your basil every seven to 10 days.
How to Propagate Basil from Cuttings
Basil propagation from cuttings is quite simple. In fact, propagating basil is one way to share your basil with your friends. All you need to do is take a 4-inch (10 cm.) basil cutting right below a leaf node. Remove the leaves off the basil cutting about 2 inches (5 cm.) from the end. Make sure the basil cutting is a piece that has not yet flowered.
Your basil cutting can then be placed in a glass of water on the windowsill where it can get good sunlight. Use a clear glass so you can watch your basil propagation grow roots. Change the water every few days until you see root growth, then leave your basil propagation roots to grow to about 2 inches (5 cm.) or so. This can take two to four weeks.
Once the roots on your basil cutting are 2 inches (5 cm.) or longer, you can plant the cutting in a pot indoors. Put the planter in a place where the plant will get direct sunlight.
Gardening tips, videos, info and more delivered right to your inbox!
Sign up for the Gardening Know How newsletter today and receive a free download of our most popular eBook "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes."
Basil propagation is a great way to share your basil. Now that you know how to propagate basil, you can take new plantings and give them as gifts to friends or offer them to new neighbors as housewarming gifts.
Love Gardening Know How? Our latest book, The Complete Guide to Vegetable Gardening, is available now!
Perfect for the gardener in your life, or for your own coffee table, this book boasts 224 pages of high-quality pictures, expert tips, and easy-to-follow advice to get your vegetable garden growing its best. Look for it at these sellers, and wherever quality books are sold.
Kathee Mierzejewski was with Gardening Know How in the very beginning, writing many of the site's foundational articles.
-
Which 7 Types of Cypress Are Best to Grow?
There are numerous types of cypress trees. From tall, majestic rows that grow throughout Italy to the bright bushy lemon varieties, there’s one that suits your region best.
By Teo Spengler
-
Planting For Chickens: Why You Should Plant A Chicken Garden
If you’ve never considered planting for chickens, this is your chance to enjoy their joyful benefits. We show you how to make an easy chicken garden
By Amy Grant