If you’re planning to start a herb garden or just moved to a new area and want to know what is the best pot for basil plant? You’ve made the right choice. Basil is one of the most popular and easy to grow herbs in the home garden. It is a perfect plant to start an herb garden from scratch since it is not that hard to germinate (the timing has to be just right) and it will grow in almost any pot.
Basil is a perennial herb. In fact, it is the only one that grows in the ground year round. This makes it easy to keep alive during the colder months of the year. As the weather gets colder in the fall, just dig the hole and add some dirt (or place a couple of pots over the plant) and the herbs will go to work bringing beauty to your kitchen table.
There are two ways to keep your basil plant growing healthily. One is by providing it with a good potting soil and water. The other way is by providing it with direct sunlight and deep watering. There are pros and cons to each method and I’m going to explain them below. So without further interruption, let’s get started.
Providing Your Garden With The Right Pot: The first thing that you should do is purchase or collect a pot that suits the plant you’re growing. Basil is a Mediterranean plant, so the best pot you can use is one that is similar to what you see in your garden. Keep in mind though that basil tends to grow very tall so if you don’t have a tall garden, or you don’t plan to put the plant under a tree, you should go with a pot that is at least one foot larger in diameter than the plant itself. You don’t want the herbs spilling out of the pot and you don’t want to have to trim the top off because they will go flat if they spill over.
Soil: If you’re going to be providing your basil plant with a pot, or any plants for that matter, make sure you know what type of soil they need and how much they need. Basil loves well-drained soil but it does like clay too. A combination of sand, compost, and loam would be perfect.
Watering: basil needs water. While it is true that it is not drought tolerant like most plants, it does require an ample amount of water during the summertime. To avoid drying out the soil around your plants, water only when the soil seems dry and you aren’t likely to get any rain for the next few days. It is also important to water in the early morning and late evening when temperatures rise. When temperatures dip into the 40s, only water your plant a couple times during the day. If you find yourself in a particularly sunny climate, it is okay to water more often, just as long as you don’t saturate the soil.
Choosing The Right Watering Device: Once you know how much water your plant needs, choose the best watering device for your garden. There are basically two types of watering devices – pumps and nozzles. Pumps will provide constant water delivery while nozzles will allow you to spray the foliage of your plant as needed. I prefer a pump over a nozzle because there is no need to refill or clean out the watering jar every time you add water. Pumps also usually have a larger water storage capacity so you can fill up a larger container than you could with a nozzle. Nozzles are great for when you’re just watering a single plant or if you have several plants to water at once.
Growing Your Own Basil – There are a few things you should keep in mind when deciding on the best pot for your basil plant. You should keep the basil healthy by providing it with regular light and water. You can also choose pots that are wider rather than taller, which will make it easier to grow your basil plants. With these simple tips, you’ll be basil plant-and-grow in no time!