In the early years of running the farm my attempts at growing quality basil plants were not very successful. However we slowly learned more about the requirements of these plants and took care of them properly. Now each year our plants in the production garden are large and healthy. Most years we plant out around a thousand basil plants. 

The majority of culinary basils are tender annuals. That is they germinate, grow and die in the same year. They will not take any frost and hate cool weather. In order to grow large healthy productive plants, patience is the key word. Plants put outside before the soil and evenings are warm will struggle to survive, and in many cases die. We grow in Zone #8 where days are warm but nights cool.

Plant in a sunny sheltered spot at the end of May or beginning of June. We add a 1/4 cup of our organic fertilizer blend in each planting hole. Water in gently and use a plastic cover of some kind to shelter the plants during adverse weather and to keep them warm especially at night. Here at the farm we normally plant out late May or the first week of June and keep the plants covered with plastic tunnels unless it is really warm. Feed fish fertilizer every two weeks and pinch back flower stalks as they appear.

 This year (2008) we have seeded 30 different varieties! Depending on the weather the earliest they will be for sale is mid May.

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