Growing Herbs in Your Square Foot Garden - Basil

Growing Herbs in Your Square Foot Garden - Basil

Growing herbs, especially basil, in your square foot garden is an excellent way to have a vegetable garden right outside your back door. Herbs mixed with fresh vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, leeks, and beets are easy to prepare using Mel Bartholomew's method of square foot gardening.

If you haven't picked up a copy of Mel's book called All New Square Foot Gardening, you really shouldn't delay. In it you will find a wealth of information about growing basil. In addition to learning how to grow basil, you'll find helpful information about growing other herbs like cilantro, mint, and oregano. There are many varieties to choose from.

Basil, especially 'Sweet Genovese', is the best for Italian pesto. But be safe and experiment with basil flavors like cinnamon, licorice, and lemon, which are also good in many dishes. Six plants of “Sweet Genovese” provide enough leaves to make pesto all summer long without overwhelming you. Of course, it's easy to freeze any variety of this wonderful herb when the need arises.

Another variety to try, especially if you like Asian cuisine, is 'Siam Queen'. A spicy Thai basil with an intense flavor and scent makes it a great choice. Another good choice is “Holy Basil,” which was introduced to Europe in the 16th century as a culinary and medicinal herb. You want to experiment and have fun growing the different types of basil in your garden.

Many varieties of basil seeds are available in garden centers beginning in February. Even more varieties, like those mentioned above, are available online from seed companies. Some companies, like Pinetree Seeds, offer square foot gardeners a smaller number of seeds per package.

Growing and caring for basil

There are two ways to grow basil. The first way is to start the seeds within 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost date, or to start the seeds outdoors after danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm.

The second way to grow basil is to purchase transplants (ready-to-plant plants) from your local garden center. These are usually sold in 4-inch pots.

A good rule of thumb for when to plant is: If you need a sweater outside, it's too cold for basil. To give your plants the best chance of thriving, plant them outside after all chances of frost have passed and the weather is nice and warm.

One of the benefits of square foot gardening is that you can place plastic over your raised bed to warm the soil. If you are surprised by a cold snap after the frost-free date like you did a few years ago, simply go over your bed with a cloche or greenhouse hanger for protection.

When planting basil in your square foot garden, it's a good idea to plant it next to your tomatoes to help them grow stronger and tastier. Plant basil one per square foot if you don't plan on harvesting very often. Plant two per square foot if you plan to harvest frequently to use fresh, dried (least desirable), or frozen.

During the growing season, pinch off flower buds to save the plants energy for leaf growth. Pinch the stems just above the leaf nodes where new stems sprout. Once you've planted two basil plants per square foot, focus on harvesting the side stems so they don't become too crowded.

Harvest basil at any time and only use the leaves for cooking. Stems can be placed in the compost heap.

You'll quickly find that growing herbs, especially basil, is easy to accomplish using Mel's method of square foot gardening. It has been a proven system around the world for over 25 years. Create your own vegetable garden on your deck or somewhere next to your house for easier access and easier growing herbs.

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