Growing Basil in Queensland

A delicious and versatile herb. Basil is a great companion plant for tomatoes and has many of the same requirements. It’s easy to grow and easy to use. Keep picking and it’ll keep producing in abundance. Basil grows beautifully in the ground, but is also a great plant for container gardening.

Basil needs wet soil, but not wet leaves. Water in the morning so that the leaves can dry quickly as the day warms up. Pick your basil regularly to encourage bushier plants and better production.

Basil prefers full sun, but will tolerate some shade, especially in the heat of the afternoon.

Basil likes a rich soil, so work some compost and well-rotted manure into your soil before you plant.

Seeds can be started outdoors once it’s consistently warm. (usually about the same time you plant your tomatoes)

Sow basil in containers indoors or sow directly into the garden once all danger of frost has passed and its consistently warm. Keep the soil moist until the plants are up. Make sure to keep them well watered until they’re properly established. Basil germinates and grows easily, so if you’ve allowed basil to go to seed in previous years, there’s a good chance you’ll find some seedlings popping up in your garden once the weather warms.

Seedlings can be planted once it’s consistently warm. (Usually around the same time as tomatoes)

Plant seedling as soon as possible after you get them home form the nursery. Add a small amount of organic bone meal to each whole. This helps the plants develop strong root systems, which will help them survive the hot summer and grow an abundance of sweet leaves.

Pinch out the growing tip regularly to encourage bushy plants and pick leaves regularly to promote growth. They will bush beautifully if they’re pruned weekly. The more you harvest the bigger and bushier they’ll grow.

There are many varieties of basil and some of them are perennial. Like annual basil, these varieties are also frost sensitive. In the mild Queensland winters, perennial basil can be grown in the garden right through winter.

Basil does not like dry soil, which means it will love the wet and warm Queensland summer. The plants need a fair amount of water especially on really hot days, so although they are not super thirsty, ensure that the soil remains moist.

Basil likes to be fed. Give it a small dose of fish emulsion, kelp extract or compost tea every 4-6 weeks throughout the summer.

Basil likes a moist soil, so a good layer of organic mulch will be very useful. Sugarcane or lucerne are good options. Be sure to top up the mulch through the season as organic mulches break down quickly during the warm summer months.

You can really start to harvest as soon as there are enough leaves on your plant. Remember to keep picking out the top leaves and flowers to ensure bushier, healthier plants.

Harvest leaves as needed. Always make sure to leave enough leaves on the plant for it to recover and grow more leaves. Remember, plants need leaves for photosynthesis to keep strong and healthy. Use your fingers or scissors to pick leaves from the plant.