Basilicum

Ocimum basilicum

Engels: Basil

herbLamiaceaeEetbaar

Basilicum (Ocimum basilicum) is a edible herb from the Lamiaceae family that grows up to 50cm tall. This plant thrives in full sun and requires moderate maintenance. Blooms in summer with white flowers and attracts bees.

Hoogte

20–50 cm

Breedte

15–30 cm

Zonligging

full sun

Waterbehoefte

moderate

Grondsoort

loam, sandy soil

Onderhoud

moderate maintenance

Bloeitijd

summer

Bloemkleuren

white

Ecologische waarde

Trekt bijen aan

Verzorgingskalender

Taak	Jan	Feb	Mrt	Apr	Mei	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Okt	Nov	Dec
🌱Planten
✂️Snoeien
💧Bemesten
🍎Oogsten

Care tips

Planting

Basil is a tender annual that cannot tolerate frost, so wait until all risk of cold weather has passed before planting outdoors. In temperate Europe, this means mid-May at the earliest, or early June in cooler areas. Choose a warm, sheltered spot in full sun—basil needs at least six hours of direct sunlight daily to develop its full flavour and vigour. A south-facing wall or patio provides ideal warmth and protection. Basil thrives in well-drained loam or sandy soil that warms quickly in spring. Heavy clay should be improved with plenty of compost or grit to prevent waterlogging, which quickly causes root rot. Dig over the planting area and rake in a general-purpose fertiliser or well-rotted compost a week or two before planting. The soil pH should be neutral to slightly acidic. Space plants 25 cm apart to allow good air circulation, which helps prevent fungal diseases. If you're planting out shop-bought seedlings or those you've raised indoors, harden them off for a week first by placing them outside during the day and bringing them in at night. Plant at the same depth they were growing in their pots, firm the soil gently around the roots, and water in well. Alternatively, sow seed directly outdoors from late May once the soil has warmed to at least 10°C. Sow thinly in drills 1 cm deep and thin seedlings to 25 cm apart once they have two true leaves. Water immediately after planting or sowing and keep the soil consistently moist until plants are established. A light mulch of compost helps retain moisture and warmth around young plants.

Pruning

Basil doesn't require pruning in the traditional sense, but regular pinching out and harvesting from June through August is essential to keep plants bushy, productive, and prevent them from flowering prematurely. Once basil flowers, leaf production slows and flavour deteriorates, so your goal is to delay flowering for as long as possible. Start pinching out the growing tips when plants reach about 15 cm tall, usually in early to mid-June. Use your fingers or sharp scissors to remove the top pair of leaves and the growing tip just above a set of lower leaves. This encourages the plant to branch out from the leaf nodes below, creating a bushier shape with more harvestable stems. Repeat this process every week or two throughout June, July, and August, always cutting just above a pair of leaves. As summer progresses, flower buds will appear at the tips of stems—small clusters of green buds that will open into white flowers. Remove these immediately by pinching them out, cutting back to the next set of leaves below. If you miss a few and flowers do open, cut the entire flowering stem back by half to stimulate fresh leafy growth. When harvesting leaves for the kitchen, always cut whole stems rather than picking individual leaves. Cut stems back to just above a lower set of leaves, leaving at least two pairs on the plant. This method keeps plants compact and encourages multiple new shoots. Never remove more than one-third of the plant at once. By late August, as temperatures drop, basil growth slows naturally and regular pinching becomes less critical.

Maintenance

Basil needs consistent moisture throughout the growing season but is highly susceptible to root rot, so strike a careful balance. Water when the top 2–3 cm of soil feels dry, typically every two to three days in warm weather, less frequently in cooler or rainy spells. Water at the base of plants in the morning, keeping foliage dry to reduce the risk of fungal diseases such as downy mildew and fusarium wilt. In containers, check daily as pots dry out quickly. Feed every two to three weeks during June and July with a balanced liquid fertiliser diluted to half strength, or apply a slow-release granular feed at planting time. Avoid high-nitrogen feeds, which promote soft, disease-prone growth at the expense of flavour. Stop feeding by early August as growth naturally slows. Basil is not hardy in temperate Europe—it's rated for zones 10a–11b and will die at the first frost. Treat it as a summer annual and plan to sow or buy fresh plants each year. If you want to extend the season, pot up a plant in late August and bring it indoors to a sunny windowsill, though growth will be slower and flavour less intense than outdoor plants. Slugs and snails can devastate young plants; protect with barriers or organic pellets. Aphids occasionally cluster on shoot tips—rinse off with water or squash by hand. Downy mildew, recognisable by yellowing leaves with grey fuzz underneath, is the most serious problem, especially in humid conditions. Improve air circulation, avoid overhead watering, and remove affected leaves immediately. In wet summers, consider growing basil in pots under cover.