Grow basil in full sun, with even moisture, and warmth. Basil is Ocimum, a tender annual herb.
Give it full sun, warmth, and soil that stays moist but drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Six to eight hours of direct sun | Do not grow it in shade |
| Soil | Moist ground that drains after rain | Do not leave the roots in a bog |
| Water | Water at the base so the soil stays evenly moist | Do not wet the leaves every day |
| Cold | Keep nights warmer than about 50°F | Do not leave it out through a cold snap |
Basil is a warm-season herb. It wants a full day of sun and soil that stays evenly moist in heat but still drains after rain. [1] Growth is slow in cool weather, then the plant fills once nights stay warm. Water at the base so the bed does not dry, and do not soak the leaves. [2] A bed that bakes all afternoon still needs water the same day, because this herb will not sit through a dry spell the way a drought-hardy shrub does. Genovese basil wants that same sun and moisture. Thai, holy, and lemon kinds share the heat, but you buy those for a different leaf — pick the kind on Types of Basil. [3] If nights drop toward 50°F, move a pot inside on Basil in Containers, or wait to plant until the weather holds. [4] Once the plant has six to eight leaves, cut stems on Harvesting Basil.
How much sun does basil need?
Give it six to eight hours of direct sun. Shade makes a thin, weak plant with little flavor.
How often should I water basil?
Keep the soil evenly moist. Water at the base, and do not let the bed dry out in heat.
Not mint — and not coleus
Mint is Mentha, a spreading perennial grown for a different leaf — see How to Grow Mint. Coleus is Solenostemon, grown for colored foliage, not a kitchen leaf — see How to Grow Coleus. Those are not this herb. Wild basil is Clinopodium, a different mint-family plant, not Ocimum.
Is basil the same as mint?
No. Basil is Ocimum, a tender annual. Mint is Mentha, a spreading perennial with a different leaf and a different keep-alive.
If the plant stays thin, move it into more sun and keep the soil evenly moist through the heat.
FAQ
Does basil come back next year?
Sweet basil is a tender annual. Frost kills it. Start new plants after nights stay warm, or keep a pot inside. African Blue is a sterile hybrid that can live where frost never hits.
What is basil downy mildew?
Yellow patches between the veins, then gray fuzz on the underside of the leaf. Pull the plant, do not compost it, and give the next crop more air. Do not crowd the bed.
Is wild basil the same plant?
No. Wild basil is Clinopodium, not Ocimum. Grow kitchen basil from a tagged Ocimum plant, not a roadside mint.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/basil/ - [2] University of Minnesota Extension -
https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-basil - [3] University of Maryland Extension -
https://www.extension.umd.edu/resource/growing-basil-home-garden - [4] Old Farmer's Almanac -
https://www.almanac.com/plant/basil
This note is part of Ocimum Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors