How to grow Basil
in the UK

Basil's a cracking herb, proper easy to grow once you get the hang of it. It loves the warmth, so here in the North East, that means a bit of a sheltered spot on the allotment, or even a pot by the back door, you know what I mean. There’s nothing quite like fresh basil from your own plot.

Sowing

You can get your basil seeds going in April and May, like I say, it's all about warmth. Sow them shallow, just a few millimetres deep, in trays or small pots filled with good seed compost. Keep them cosy on a sunny windowsill, in a heated propagator, or in the greenhouse if you've got one, aiming for around 18-21°C. Some varieties can go straight outside in May once the soil warms up, but most of us will start them off indoors for a better head start. Thin them out a bit if they come up too thick, giving each seedling a bit of space.

Growing on

Once your little basil plants have a couple of true leaves, it's time to prick them out gently into their own small pots. They're quite tender, so don't be rushing them outside until all danger of frost has passed – that's usually mid to late May up here in the North, a bit earlier further south. Give them a few days to harden off in a cold frame or sheltered spot outside before planting them out on the plot, spaced about 20cm apart. They do proper well in containers too, so a big pot on the patio is often a good shout.

Looking after it

Basil likes regular watering, especially if it's in pots or if we're having a dry spell. Don't let it dry out completely. Pinch out the growing tips regularly, just above a set of leaves, to encourage bushier plants and stop it from flowering too early. If it starts to flower, the leaves can get a bit bitter, so keep an eye on that.

What goes wrong

To be honest, basil doesn't get too many proper diseases, but slugs are certainly partial to the tender young leaves, especially on the plot. Aphids can sometimes be a bother too, particularly if it's growing undercover in the greenhouse. Just keep an eye out and deal with them as you usually would; a quick spray of water often sorts the aphids out.

Harvest

You'll be harvesting your basil in about 60 days from sowing, usually from July right through to September. Just snip off leaves as you need them, or take whole stems, again pinching above a leaf node. The more you pick, the more it grows back, usually. If you end up with a proper glut, you can make pesto, or just freeze the leaves in ice cube trays with a bit of water or oil, or keep them in the fridge for a few days.