My basil keeps dying!!

[Surly]

I'm not sure what the heck I'm doing wrong but I've tried to grow it inside and outside, from seed and from seedlings...lemon basil, Greek basil, spicy basil, purple basil...doesn't matter what I do it keeps on dying. I have it in full sun like the instructions say and I water every 2nd day or so.

What the heck am I doing wrong? Should I try planting it in my garden rather than the containers?

[countrychic]

I have always planted my basil seedlings in the ground in the herb patch or with my tomatoes. I have had no problems with mine. Not sure why yours is not making it.

[B_BQ]

Hi Surly:
You're having the same problem that I have with Coriander which doesn't do well under my supervision!
I don't know what to tell you about Basil. In its' natural habitat it loves lots of sun, and presumably fairly dry conditions. (Think Italy!). So, maybe you're being too generous with the water.
I plant mine with my tomato plants, and it doesn't get watered that often as I water my tomatoes via spikes, which water the tomato roots.
I would suggest a bit of tough love!
~BBQ

[Surly]

Well BBQ, my coriander is growing like gang busters. Maybe if the 2 of us get together we can grow both.

Maybe I'll try the next batch in the ground instead and see if that's any better. Containers don't seem to be working for me.

[Pepper]

I've always found Basil pretty easy to grow, so my hunch is that you're overwatering it. Mine usually gets a good soaking once a week but that's it, so maybe hold back on the watering and see what happens.

Pepper

[isabelbrinck]

I tried growing basil from seed once and it didn't work. My own investigations of why that happened (or, rather, didn't) showed that perhaps the depth of the containers wasn't enough. Apparently, basil needs a lot of depth for the roots, could that be your plants' issue too?

[Surly]

I don't think so. I've got it planted (from seedling) in a 1.5' deep pot. I think it's a water issue. I'm going to try it again in the garden and see what happens. I'll keep y'all posted.

[Surly]

I just bought 3 new plants and put them in my garden. Time will tell...

[Hushypuppy]

Oh my God...too bad you are not closer to Montreal. The stuff is over running my garden. I planted it between my tomatoes and it is going nutz. I actually dug some out and gave it away. I started mine from seed and had 100% germination, and a set of mighty little plants.
I have also been able to grow it in a sunny window all winter long.
Basil thrives on neglect. Dry soil, lots of sun. No need to fertilize..just leave it be and it will grow like a weed. If all else fails buy a starter plant at the nursery. It is dead cheap and by the end of July you will have a healthy size bush!
Best of Luck

Kris

[Surly]

Well, everything seems to be doing quite well now that it's in the ground instead of a pot. I'm going to try growing some inside again tho and I'll ignore it as you suggest. I guess I just watered it too much.