Basil left to flower stops producing the tender young leaves that make it worth growing in the first place.
Basil is a tender herb that dislikes cold and damp far more than most, making a warm windowsill a better home than an unheated greenhouse. Regular pinching of the growing tips keeps it bushy and delays it running to flower, after which the leaves turn bitter.
Sowing & growing calendar
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | Sow in April | Sow in May | ||||||||||
| Harvest | Harvest in June | Harvest in July | Harvest in August | Harvest in September |
Care details
- Sow April – May
Sow on a warm sill — basil hates cold and damp more than almost anything.
- Harvest June – September
Pinch out flower spikes regularly to keep the leaves coming.
Growing tips & common problems
- Grow on a warm, bright windowsill rather than outdoors in a typical UK summer, unless it's a particularly warm spell.
- Pinch out just above a pair of leaves, not at the tip alone, to force the plant to branch and bush out.
- Water at the base rather than overhead — wet leaves in cool conditions invite fungal problems fast.
Grows well with
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