Product description
This popular annual herb is an essential ingredient in Italian cooking with strongly flavoured leaves that can be used to perk up tomato dishes or blitzed to make pesto sauce. Seeds are best sown indoors in late winter or early spring for plants that can be grown outdoors in summer, providing leaves that can harvested well into the autumn.
Plant basil outside after all danger of frost has passed, choosing a sunny, sheltered spot with well-drained soil or grow plants in containers. You can keep a plant in a pot going all summer long by moving it into a slightly bigger container every time roots show through the drainage holes in the bottom plants could end up in a 20cm (8in) container.
Please Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves. Collections or 'mixed' listings for plants will be selected dependant on availability and carefully hand-picked to ensure their quality.
Garden Plant Size Guide
Plants in larger pots can be multiple years older than their smaller counterparts with more mature root systems and foliage. This makes them able to thrive as a full size plant in your garden quicker than smaller alternatives.
The most common size of pot that garden plants come in are 9cm/1L/3L/5L this is in reference to the diameter at the top of the pot.
9cm potted plants still remain the most popular cost effective option though, they just may take a little patience to allow them to grow into full maturity once planted in your garden.
Plant specs, care guide & tips
Key features
Specifications
When to plant
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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Planting and period of interest times are general guidelines and may vary based on your location and conditions. For best results, consult local gardening resources.
Instructions
Top Tip
Grow in containers to help protect the leaves from being eaten by snails and slugs.
How to Water
Water regularly during hot, dry spells, in the morning wherever possible.
How to Plant
Plant in containers or in the ground, choosing a warm, sunny spot where the plant will be protected against strong winds. Wait until the risk of frost has passed and milder temperatures come in then then plant basil out leaving around 30cm between plants.