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(Best months for planting Basil (herb) in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

• Harvest in 60-70 days
• Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
• Best planted at soil temperatures between 18°C and 35°C.
• Space plants: 20-25cm

A frost tender low-growing herb. Basil is a culinary herb prominently featured in Italian cuisine, and also plays a major role in the Southeast Asian cuisines of Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. The plant tastes somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent sweet smell. There are many varieties including, thai, purple ruffles and lemon.

Can be grown inside in pots in winter. As the plant develops, pinch out the top to encourage bushy growth. Keep well picked to prevent flowering.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Basil (herb)

Basil is commonly used fresh in cooked recipes. It is generally added at the last moment, as cooking quickly destroys the flavour. Tear rather than chop.
The fresh herb can be kept for a short time in plastic bags in the refrigerator, or for a longer period in the freezer, after being blanched quickly in boiling water.

Your comments and tips

20 Dec 08 Paul Lehmann (Australia - temperate climate)

Basil is very hard to start from seed but I have found if you have a seed sprouting set and put them in there, they will eventually shoot. Pick out each sprouted seed on a toothpick and place in a pot with wet soil sitting in a tray of water to keep the soil moist. The sprouted seed will take to the soil and you can water as needed.

01 Feb 09 Gail Lamb-Hale (Australia - temperate climate)

Paul thank you for your tip on basil I will give it a go as I have not had much joy in growing basil Korumburra can be a bit up and down in weather patterns

22 Mar 09 Mathew (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi all planted basil in half shade half sun so far grows average and plants are about 1 foot high after a month. Have been keeping well trimmed

20 Aug 09 Andris (Australia - temperate climate)

Paul, what are you talkinga about? 'Basil is very hard to start from seed'. Whatever! :). Just direct sow them any time in spring or summer. They come up very fast, often as fast as lettuce during the warmer 6 months of the year. Maybe we just have different perspectives of what is hard or maybe your seeds aren't that great... I have had the most luck with herb and vegetable seeds from the imported Italian and French brands, in particular Franchi Sementi (see The Italian Gardener website), Hortus/Orto, Vilmorin and PDF. The basil and other herbs I grow from them come up very well and quickly. Seriously try them. and the seed packs are very generous too. Basil packs tend to have around 5,000 seeds for the same price as 200 or 300 seed packs from local suppliers (Yates and internet based businesses).

02 Sep 09 Veros Hydros (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi Paul, like Andris I found that basil is very easy to sprout. I start mine indoors in a tray fille up with peat. Once they come up I cover the tray with a plastic bag to make a mini greenhouse. Once they are big enough I plant them at the foot of my tomato plants. Works a treat.

04 Sep 09 Andris (Australia - temperate climate)

The basil I sow in punnets in a mini greenhouse environment do come up even easier. But soiwng the seeds in their final location is easier work :). I find sprinkling some seeds around each tomato plant (i grow tomatoes in pots) keeps us easily supplied through the tomato season. In spring weather, direct sowed, they should probably come up in just over a week.

08 Nov 09 Jo-Anne (Australia - temperate climate)

My basil plants - in a very large pot - have developed clear/opaque marks in the leaves (if you put your finger under the leaf you can see through the clear section). I can't see any insects, otherwise they look lovely and green and growing well. The pot is elevated well ofr the ground. Can anyone help?

12 Nov 09 Bridget (Australia - temperate climate)

Can someone please help?? I have searched and searched the internet and i can not find anything even remotely similar to my problem! My newly bought and planted (about a month ago) basil is suddenly sprouting some very oddly shaped leaves. Instead of the normal shape the new growth is small, thickish and rubbery looking (like a succulent) and shovel head shaped and a bit lighter in colour. It is in a styrafoam rectangle planter box planted along side coriander & I have them in nearly full sun (under shade cloth and not in the late arvo) and is given a small drink every morning because its quite hot at the moment. When planted i used organic compost. I also spoke to the local nursery but they have never heard of this either... Has anyone come across this?? What is it? Can i still eat my basil?

21 Nov 09 Damooo (Australia - temperate climate)

Is the basil you bought drafted basil? (Do you mean 'grafted'? ed.)

23 Nov 09 Bridget (Australia - temperate climate)

To be honest Damooo, i have no idea. I'm a novice herb gardener and just purchased a punnet from a local outlet...