5 Tips to Grow Big Bushy Basil Plants

Spring is almost here, and I can’t wait to plant herbs in my garden. Last year, I planted basil at home. It was healthy for the first weeks, but after a few months, it died. I don’t have any idea what I did wrong, so this time, I will make sure to do it right. I searched online and found this video by Daisy Creek Farms with Jag Singh. He shares 5 tips to grow big bushy basil plants.

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Having a basil plant at home is perfect if you love making homemade pesto or any recipes that have basil, just like me. You can just get them fresh from your herb garden and add them to your dish. But remember that it takes effort to keep them alive. You need to know the proper way to care for this plant in order to keep them thriving. I will definitely try these tips and hope that I will have a ton of basil for this spring.  I am so excited, and I can’t wait to cook homemade recipes using the fresh basil that I will harvest!

1. Starting basil

You can start basil from a seed or cutting.

Using seed: sow the seeds in a seed-starting soil. The basil plants will start to grow in about one week. Let them grow up to 3-4 inches then transfer to the ground or container.

Using cutting: take a cutting of a basil stem, then remove all the bottom leaves. Place the cutting in a bottle of water. Make sure the water is not chlorinated. Change the water every 2 to 3 days. Plant in a container.

2. Soil prep

Basil likes moist soil. Combine 20% compost, 60% potting mix, and 20% coconut coir.

3. Watering

You have to always keep the soil moist. The consistency of the soil should be equal to a rungart sponge. Make sure not to have too much water or too little water. The best way to check is using a moisture meter.

4. Sunlight

Place the basil in an area where it faces the morning sun, then gets shade in the afternoon.

5. Pruning

Prune your basil to create bushier plants. It produces two sets of leaves and two little offshoots right next to the leaves every 1 to 2 inches. You can prune it when the plant is about 6 inches tall and has 2 to 3 sets of leaves.

5 Tips to Grow Big Bushy Basil Plants