Growing herbs, especially basil, in your square foot garden is a great way to have a garden right outside your back door. Herbs mixed with fresh vegetables like bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, radishes, leeks, and beets are easy to make with Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening Method.
If you haven’t picked up a copy of Mel’s book titled All New Square Foot Gardening, you really shouldn’t delay. In it you will find a wealth of information on the cultivation of basil. In addition to learning how to grow basil, you’ll find helpful information on how to grow other herbs like cilantro, mint, and oregano. There are many varieties to choose from.
Basil, particularly ‘Sweet Genovese’, is best for Italian pesto. But be sure to experiment with basil flavors like cinnamon, licorice, and lemon, which are also good in many dishes. Six ‘Sweet Genovese’ plants will produce enough leaves to make pesto all summer long without leaving you feeling overwhelmed. Of course, it’s easy to freeze any variety of this wonderful herb if the need arises.
Another variety to try, especially if you are fond of Asian cuisine, is ‘Siam Queen’. A spicy Thai basil, with an intense flavor and fragrance of its own, makes it a great choice. Another great choice is ‘Holy Basil’, which was introduced to Europe in the 16th century as a culinary and medicinal herb. You will want to experiment and have fun growing all the different varieties of basil in your garden.
Many varieties of basil seeds are available at garden centers as early as February. Even more varieties, like the ones mentioned above, can be found online from seed companies. Some companies, like Pinetree Seeds, cater to square foot gardeners by offering fewer seeds per package.
Basil cultivation and care
There are two ways to grow basil. The first way is to sow indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost date, or choose to sow outdoors well after all danger of frost has passed and the soil is warm.
The second way to grow basil is by purchasing transplants (ready-to-plant plants) at your local garden center. These are usually sold in 4-inch pots.
A good rule of thumb for when to plant is that if you need a sweater outside, it’s too cold for basil. To give your plants the best chance to flower, plant them outside after all chances of frost are gone and it’s 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’re struck by a cold snap after your frost-free date, as it did a few years ago, simply place a glass dome or greenhouse hoop over your bed for protection.
When planting basil in your one-square-foot garden, it’s a good idea to plant it next to your tomatoes to help them grow stronger and more flavorful. Plant one basil per square foot if you don’t plan to harvest very often. Plant two per square foot if you plan to harvest often to use fresh, dried (less desirable), or frozen.
During the growing season, pinch off flower buds to save plants energy for leaf growth. Pinch off the stems just above the leaf nodes where new stems will sprout. If you have two basil plants planted per square foot, focus on harvesting the side stems to prevent them from becoming too crowded.
Harvest basil at any time and use only the leaves for cooking. The stems can be placed in the compost pile.
You’ll quickly see that growing herbs, especially basil, is easy to do using Mel’s square foot gardening method. It has been a proven system for over 25 years around the world. Create your own garden on your deck or anywhere next to your house for easy access and making growing herbs that much easier.
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