Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Discussion in 'Fruit and Vegetable Gardening' started by Durgan, Jul 1, 2008.

  1. Durgan

    Durgan Contributor 10 Years

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    Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
    Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
    http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?XNCYP 1 July 2008 Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

    Basil with its aroma and flavor, is one of the most popular and widely grown herbs in the world. There are four plants in the garden. The flowering buds should be pinched off to encourage the plant to bush. A plant gets quite large at the end of the season.

    http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?EQUPB 20 July 2008 Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
    The four plants are producing more than can be utilized.
     
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2008
  2. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Basil grown in a large pot with premium potting soil & regular high nitrogen feedings has much higher yields than Basil planted out in the garden (even with fertilizer...soil temperature & moisture control is better managed in a pot). The slugs and earwig damage is also reduced in pot culture (especially for lettuce leaf Basil). I'm usually able to do a severe pruning mid-season to make a batch of pesto and repeating the process again in early October.

    If you only grow four plants, pot culture is the way to go!
     
  3. Durgan

    Durgan Contributor 10 Years

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    Better than this?

    http://www.durgan.org/ShortURL/?EQUPB 20 July 2008 Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
    The four plants are producing more than can be utilized.
     
  4. smivies

    smivies Active Member

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    Ummm, yes. :-) Yours are doing pretty well though.

    I switched to basil pot culture 3 years ago & have been very happy with ease of care and increased vigour. I've been using A LOT this year. I'm running three Genovese plants out of the same pot (~5 gallon pot) but it's still growing much faster than I can use it. Same story for the Thai basil. If I wanted to boost production even more, I'd fewer plants/pot and have more pots. The lettuce leaf basil is a little slower which I attribute to the giant newer leaves shading the older leaves....it needs constant grooming.

    To each, their own...Cheers
     

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