North Coast Gardening

These warm summer days make growing basil the easiest thing. Good weather combined with warm soil will produce a fat crop in no time at all. Typically we get antsy and begin planting basil late spring. But at that time the weather on the coast is usually chilly, and so is the soil. That is when basil stutters. But plant now and watch out! Here are a few tips:

BEWARE THE SLIME: Slugs and snails are not so much a problem in the late summer, but don’t count them out. The first thing to do before planting out basil is to rid the planting area of slugs and snails. Hunt, trap, bait — whatever must be done. Slugs and snails have a hearty appetite for basil and will decimate a planting overnight.

MAKE IT RICH: Basil thrives in a rich, moist soil. If you are planting in containers, use a top quality potting soil that is packed with nutrients. When planting in the ground, amend the soil with heaping doses of compost and composted manures.

FEED: Basil is a heavy feeder, especially when it comes to nitrogen. The goal is to force the plants to put on an abundance of thick leaves. Apply a high-nitrogen organic fertilizer at planting. Then, feed about every two weeks. Basil also responds well to high-nitrogen blood meal.

WATER: At harvest you are aiming for an abundance of thick, succulent leaves and stems. Keeping basil well watered, and not allowing it to dry out to wilt point, is the key to success. Basil under water stress will flower too early, becoming woody and stunted.

PRUNE: At planting time, tip pinch young plants to encourage bushiness. Cut off any flowers that may appear.

PLANT MORE: Basil can be planted from now through September. To assure a steady supply all summer long, be sure to plant a few starts every two to three weeks. If you can’t find starts locally, try growing from seed. Basil germinates quickly in summer warmed soil.

Terry Kramer is a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982.

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