How To Grow INCREDIBLE BASIL PLANTS That NEVER Stop Producing!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you enjoyed this video, please "Like" it and share it to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience: 0:00 Introduction 0:53 Basil Growing Tip #1: Lighting 5:43 Basil Growing Tip #2: Harvesting 10:10 Basil Growing Tip #3: Pruning 11:41 Basil Growing Tip #4: Fertilizing 14:08 Basil Growing Tip #5: Overwintering 18:29 Adventures With Dale

[@Jillany]

Trying to like but my like button hasn't been working. 🤷‍♀️🤨

[@texasnurse]

Ingenious. Never thought of planting them in different locations.

[@nickzivs]

Reducing light exposure to strictly the morning light until about 11:30 am - noon has been the biggest game-changer for my basil plants this year. No disease and minimal bolting while providing ample leaves for salads, pesto, etc. Amazing how having them in full sun for years has been the primary issue.

[@hermanhale9258]

Well, they say to plant them with your tomatoes...

[@yannip2083]

What zone are you in? Do you get snow in the winter?

[@EliteRock]

Basil, the emperor of herbs. A gift from God.

[@zebeart8808]

So true. For the health of God's creatures.

[@roelven1282]

Greetings from the Netherlands, This year is the first year i have an abundance of basil .... in march i bought one of those supermarket plants (lol )... took 10 cuttings from it (in glass of water to establish roots), after a month i was able to put those in pots and a few weeks later i was able to spread them in garden (yep different light conditions) ... plants still look good all even after 2 big harvestrounds (drying) funny fact ... my m8 owns a pizza place 1 town over... and he traded 2 fully p[aid for dinners for 2..... for a small portion of my basil, rosemary, oregano, tomatos and peppers harvest... he was impressed by the quality.... so this amateur must be doing something right ;)

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Great work!

[@K4HLER]

Nice brother 👌

[@baneverything5580]

@@TheMillennialGardener Have you heard about this terrible news? "INVASIVE Black Fig Fly Devastating California!"

[@baneverything5580]

@@TheMillennialGardener I grew basil in winter by a tiny south facing window in a makeshift hydro thing made from a 12oz instant coffee container. I have some in the shade of okra with beans climbing them to eat and some 3 year old plants in pots blooming for pollinators/seeds that I cut back each winter and bring in and just barely keep alive. The stems have bark on them. Ha!

[@lorenstribling6096]

I grown basil on my balcony every summer. Just a few fresh leaves on pizza or in salad is plenty for me plus the enjoyment of watching it grow.

[@03BluEagle]

I grew basil and marigolds with my tomatoes last year and they did better than any basil ever!! They got so big and beautiful my neighbors were jealous!! Direct sun too. I live in the mountains in eastern Washington state, so when the snow falls I’m done. I do save seeds so I’m never without!! Thank you for ALL of your gardening tip. I dry mine and give to my fam & friends❤

[@rockingroli2057]

If your basil starts to bolt, just cut it down strongly (like 90%) so that only a few green leaves remain. It will regrow very quickly. This way you get like 3 to 4 harvest per year in a sunny position. Been doing that for years.

[@cristenmoore8238]

That's what I did and it's all ready regrowing.

[@carlastephens8053]

I planted basil for the first time and have enjoyed it so much‼️. I planted sweet basil and Thai basil and they have the most delicious scents🥰. What you covered in this video is just what I needed to know about where to prune the plants. Mine are planted in a shade/sun area and everyday I am removing the flowers. I was told if you leave the flowers it makes the basil bitter?? Thanks so much for your hard work and the time you take to explain everything 🙏🏼‼️

[@stephaniegee227]

I love to grow basil for pesto which requires (by my standards) 2 cups of PACKED basil leaves. I plant basil in multiple locations, but during this strange gardening year we've had, I've had my best results from basil planted next to tomatoes (basil from a previous plant) and basil planted in a dappled sun bed (from seed). Of all of the many basils I've done, the ones that came from previously established basil have done the best in this odd year.

[@robinking6574]

Love this, and even though I've grown basil for a long time, I learned some new things. I grow a lot because I make pesto and freeze it. Thank you for the video. 😊

[@watsonrk1]

I often buy a basil plant from the grocery store. Trim it up, plant it in a nice pot and move it into the sun or in the house in cold days. Gives me basil all year long.

[@flintstonegirl3372]

You explain things so good! It helps me to actually UNDERSTAND how things grow/work. Thank you for teaching us your skills❤

[@FARMERDANNNNN]

Ive fot about 70 basil plants that I started late last spring, this is great for helping them get larger!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Wow, that is A LOT of basil. I’m getting a mixing bowl’s worth a day with 7 plants 😂 I hope you’re selling it 😆

[@FARMERDANNNNN]

@@TheMillennialGardener Been trying to get them to even grow up, the heat here in Houston has been awful this year, my tomato plants that I planted at the end of winter around February-March have yet to produce. The shade cloth is helping but its still a really bad season for them.

[@bonnieweeks7601]

​@@FARMERDANNNNNI'm in the Augusta Ga area and the heat is so hard on the tomatoes. Everything was small and pitiful. The cherry tomatoes weren't quite as bad but it's so disappointing.

[@GlenviewTops885]

​@@FARMERDANNNNNIn zone 7b AL, our few tomatoes were abt 1 1/2 inch diameter , so small

[@zionjudah]

You can also just take cuttings- they root pretty easily. We make basil tea (hot and iced) and it’s delicious. I often add lemon balm with it and sweeten with honey for iced tea - yum!

[@zebeart8808]

Thanks for the great videos

[@Eric-gi9kg]

Grew sweet basil for the 1st time this year. I knew about the pinching off to increase the 'bushiness', but not about the indoor growing. I, too, use the liquid 5-1-1 plus 4-4-4 granular on them. Though I left them in pots for easier removal later... (they're in the ground and heavily mulched, but still in pots). Our summer temperatures get into the 100s. I am, though, letting one bolt on purpose for seeds.

[@fishinforfun64]

Great info! If you don't want to wait on seeds to grow new plants, just take clippings and stick them in a glass of water. They will form roots really fast! Way faster than growing from seeds! 😉

[@cantseetheforestforthetree9673]

Basil is one of the easiest plants to root. Simply place cuttings in a glass of water on a windowsill with indirect light. They’ll have abundant roots within about two weeks and can be potted up from there. I always root cuttings at the end of the season to grow indoors over winter.

[@maggidull1952]

Great video on Everything Basil. Although I have found it is fairly easy to get Basil started, and grown on, I have picked up some good tips on their care and cultivation today. Thanks!

[@chickenpatti1362]

This was right on time for me.I just started an herb garden yesterday.3 different kinds of basil for the kitchen&medicine cabinet.I have them in a greenhouse in the living room equipped with grow lights.Thanks for the advice!

[@bluefoxblitz8416]

❤ my brain just expanded.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Glad I could help 😊

[@kjay-il3id]

Appreciate the work you put into giving us useful information and make it easy to understand.

[@Gonzalo_M]

God bless you for this video! I learnt a lot! 😃 I was about to giving out on two basil pkants I have from store. I wasn’t seeing the value and wasn’t taling proper care of them! This motivates me and showed me a little more in “how to” take care of them! Thank you my friend! ☺️

[@BuddMonster420]

Lemon basil is my favorite flavored variety

[@suzanalbright8670]

Just what I needed! Trying to grow a rather sickly looking basil plant. Thank you!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome! I hope it helps you.

[@thewilliamseswonderfulworld]

My basil has been the best producer this year. It’s made it through hot sun, deer, & bugs. I have loads & it’s still growing. ❤

[@darlenedupont1774]

And they are great pollinators, the bees love them!

[@honeybadgers1996]

Basil salad sounds really great. I must make that. I can see Dale‘s eyes saying I want to take care of this rat once for all. lol 😂 Good boy, Dale. You are one tough canine🐶 Thanks for sharing your knowledge👍

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@1ofInterest]

Really!!! Thanks for the great idea of using basil as lettuce.

[@siarlbychan]

I love basil. Thank you for this great video. I live in the Chihuahuan desert and basil loves it here. I have grown it under a 50 percent shade cloth as well as in full sun. I've used the fish fertilizer and it works great. The only downside is the smell that has a tendency to attract flies immediately after use but clears up after a day or two. I would just recommend that it not be used on plants near an entrance into the home or kitchen for that reason.

[@melissabowden5220]

I have grown many different varieties of basil through the years and have settled on Mammoth Basil as the leaves are larger. After I get my first plant started, I root cuttings in water from the original plant and have it throughout my garden. I keep cut basil on my kitchen countertop and put in everything from salads, to pizzas, to sandwiches. Looking forward to seeing how you grow cilantro this fall.

[@terricoleman8329]

i love Basil thank you so much for all the info

[@mrkeeny]

Basil masterclass, well done!

[@WillWilsonII]

I have 20 different types of basil seeds. The hardest to start is lime basil. Thai basil helps me with allergies, and it's really good too.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Have you tried Holy basil? I used to grow Thai basil, but I like Holy basil more now. It makes the best red and green curry!

[@WillWilsonII]

​@@TheMillennialGardenerYes actually red tulsi is one of the first things I grew from seed. I prefer it over green tulsi.

[@sreykimsear]

Excellent tutorial and info

[@Fridgepictures]

Thank yiu for the great tips on storing basil for winter.

[@Iskandarataupah]

terimakasih telah berbagi 👍

[@dennyb759]

You definitely make great videos n help so much. Thank you for explaining about the bolting n seeds.

[@timothymcclaire3276]

I've heard the fish fertilizer will not stink up the house, but I've never tried it on my houseplants!!! I highly recommend it for your garden plants and yes, it stinks to high heaven when mixing it up! But the stench dissipates within a couple of hours I've noticed. I do recommend storing the bottle in the refrigerator as it will get moldy at room temperature.

[@smb-zf9bd]

On the two that bolted I made a quart of pesto with the flowers - lighter than the norm but delicious. I have 3 more quarts from the leaves and will now be making Christmas pesto for gifts. Thanks for the advice.

[@Christopher-xd5in]

I am loving the scent of sweet basil. Good stuff right there, tell you what

[@martharowe9420]

Thank you for all the tips. Very helpful!!!

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@angelasmith2140]

Got it I'm excited to save my basal

[@cuicasqueeka3738]

Great video. Thank you. Now I know why my basil bolts so quickly and can remedy them to last longer.

[@JodiMontano]

I buy 1 basil plant in the spring and as soon as it really takes out I start taking cuttings to root in water on my kitchen window sill. They root really fast and are ready to transplant in a couple weeks. I try to plant one at the base of every tomato plant, although that did not keep away the tomato horn worm, unfortunately.

[@marthareyes4024]

Thanks for all you do. Love your videos.

[@kamoodle5]

Thanks so much for the tips. Since my basil has already bolted, I'll have to clip those off if I want to keep the plant for as long as possible. Also, this has helped me further decide where its permanent home will be in my backyard, as it sounds direct sun is not exactly the best idea. In fact, your basil in the shade seemed just as healthy as the others. I've kept my basil in mostly shade throughout this month to deter it getting blasted by the strong, summer sun.

[@DM-on5lg]

great information, thank you!

[@Astrawboy_NameAlreadyInUse]

This year I'm too lazy to grow Basil, but your video reminded me of the great times I had in growing basil plants. I'm gonna do what I like to do next year, or maybe in Autumn this year.

[@Lee-mmg]

I never thought of Basil as a "salad". Oh my goodness, I am going to try some today. I have a big basil plant. What about making an overwintering plant with a cutting? I have mint and sweet potato vines that are just awesome from cuttings right now = some in water, and some in soil. But, awesome info. Thanks so much!

[@pauline9242]

Hi I’m newly subscribed. Thank you for this video because I feel I have a green thumb but when it comes to basil, I haven’t had much success, so thank . You do a great job.👍🌿

[@TexasNana2]

Great video ❤ I really enjoy growing basil 😊

[@Midnightforestco]

Hey, I love your content. Rewatched your video on NOT pruning tomato plants, with the primary justification being that it stresses the plant rather than promoting growth. Wondering why the opposite would be true here. Thanks!

[@mcgritty8842]

When you pinch the basil tops, the nodes underneath it grow out as the new basil tops and the whole plant bushes out like crazy. Cannabis growers do it to increase yields too; check out “mainlining.” It’s insane ehat can be done to manipulate a plant

[@TheMillennialGardener]

It is true everywhere. If you are pruning your tomatoes, you are setting them back. A pruned tomato plant won’t be as large, and it opens them to diseases. If I prune my tomatoes, they’ll get blight and leaf spot within days. The best way to grow them is to let them do their thing. The only reason from a fruit standpoint to prune tomatoes is you dramatically decrease the fruit set, so since there will be many less fruits, each fruit will be a little larger and likely ripen faster. If your climate is so short that you struggle to ripen tomatoes, it can be used as a technique to have faster harvests, but it always comes at the health of the plant.

[@Midnightforestco]

Thanks for the reply. I’m about 4 years into gardening. In zone 5b upstate NY. On the advice of other KZbin channels I pruned my tomatoes pretty aggressively this year, and they definitely didn’t do as well as when I just left them alone.

[@JCC_1975]

Plant it into a post and bring it inside for the winter. It is a perennial plant. It will grow like the pepper plants and begin to look more like a little tree. There are so many plants that are actually perennial that we plant as an annual and we need to start treating them as they should be done. When you take the frost treat away you'll get so much production off your plants and year after year you'll get more produce from fewer plants. God bless 💜 happy growing 💜

[@laddieokelley6095]

Like growing basil in large planters among flowers and grasses. One favorite is Pesto Perpetuo, hard to find and cannot be reproduced by seed . . . really beautiful and fragrant. This year I found a variety called Emerald Tower, a narrow plant almost three feet tall. It has been easy, even in the extreme heat of Texas (100 degrees today).

[@MsBuffalopoo]

Great video. Thanks for all your garden expertise. Can you do a video on how you process all this food. At harvest my family is overwhelmed and wish we could preserve more. We do share which is great.

[@jeffsherwood9151]

Thanks for the info

[@DavinStewart]

If you haven't tried the Prospera line of basil, I highly recommend them. I grow them here in Chapel Hill and it's expended my season by several weeks since the plants no longer subcomb to basil powdery mildew. One thing I'm still trying to figure out is how to prevent them from tasing like licorice, though. I've been told that bolting exacerbates this so I prune regularly but can still pick up the licorice flavor. Maybe I should just go back to the original version and battle the powdery mildew.

[@hillbillyhomestead1966]

I propagate my basil works great

[@kenyawalker]

You are the best!

[@take2rollem]

Thank you.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

You're welcome!

[@take2rollem]

@@TheMillennialGardener Your videos help me so much, so I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work in putting these videos together. I learned loads:0)

[@harryjames2299]

In traditional herbal medicine, basil flowers are made into a tea to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety. At the end of the season I strip them off the stem and use them in sauce. But iced basil flower tea sounds interesting.

[@mcgritty8842]

Definitely good to harvest sooner than later, and frequently. Downy mildew hit one of mine and I was too lazy to harvest the others, so they all got hit within days and I lost 8 of them. Live and learn, right? ❤❤❤❤❤

[@martharowe9420]

Definitely learned a lot about basil. This was my first year for growing purple basil. Also first year for growing spinach and lettuce. I found out I over watered my spinach and now it's gone. Turned yellow. Do I pull it and just throw it away?

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

Very interesting! Wondering if this also works for rosemary. Just planted a couple of creeping ones but it turned out they're in the shade. I'm considering relocating, so any advice you have would be welcome.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Rosemary is a perennial and will grow more like a shrub. It will live for many years, so you should shape it as a bush. Annual pruning to keep its shape is important.

[@bluebutterflywellness2273]

@@TheMillennialGardener Thx! So they'll grow even if in the shade?

[@ellenconforti5693]

Nothing to do with basil, although I do grow it and preserve it. If you use Jobes Organic Fruit & Nut fertilizer on your trees or if anyone is interested Amazon has it at 50% off. Just picked myself up 4 of them. I think they were $6.81 ea. Or close to that. Great price. Florida Gardener Zone 9a

[@SoniaTafoya]

Thank you for this Basil dedicated video. Very informative. Question: Would a foliar feed of the 5-1-1 Alaska fish plant food be any better then just watering them? I thought I remember reading somewhere that plants absorb quicker from foliar feed. Thank you again.

[@NatureZone101]

Thank you for not hurting him.

[@heahterranier6926]

I love basil leaves but I actually like basil seed (basil seed drinks) even more, and here in Florida, there’s never a lack for bolting herbs. Has anyone else made their own basil seed drinks from end-of-life basil plants?

[@jonathanhao1640]

How do you deal with aphids and mites during winter time?

[@lauracampos6183]

plant them throughout the garden in different areas to limit damage due to pest pressure

[@chiefredbird7315]

I wish i could send you a picture of this one plant ....sware its basil but my plant identifier said its a night shade ...but it looks just like basil....i try every year too grow all my spices and this year only one grew the rest snail food 😅 i mean ive got oragano , parsley, but basil maybe....you know sometimes plants get mixed up but im just not sure what it is...i know i planted it ...its in a pot lol fun fun

[@annemcgirt5296]

Oh come on, if you use frost covers and Christmas lights, you can overwinter a lot more than most people can imagine. I overwintered two tomato plants last fall and had an absolute early crop of tomatoes from them this spring. Granted, I also have a 6 foot wooden fence around my "garden" and use the frost cloths and Christmas lights at any points that frost is even a possibility (35 degrees or lower predicted). I plan to try herbs in a Greenstalk this winter. I have grow lights and plan to try them in my garage. If we have a killer cold snap, I can fire up my Buddy heater and give them a toasty garage (by toasty I mean 35-45 degrees)!! I'm about 75 due east of Wilmington.

[@annemcgirt5296]

I'm thinking about you being due east of me. I meant about 75 miles due west of Wilmington (maybe slightly WNW but very slightly on the north part--almost on the SC line)

[@rjohnson610]

Could the same concept be used for fill plants?

[@johnalder6028]

Doesnt basil make a good companion plant and pest repellent?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I tried one year with my tomatoes, and it didn’t do anything beneficial. The tomatoes out-competed the basil and stunted them. I stopped growing them that way. Basil likes a little room to grow. I mixed Holy basil with my peppers, and they did better since peppers are much smaller.

[@thx3188]

@@TheMillennialGardenerI grow mine in pots near the tomatoes and I haven't seen hornworms in like 4 seasons

[@kmhimes1]

Love to grow basil! Do you freeze it or dry it? Maybe more videos on herbs they seem to be easier to grow for me

[@TheMillennialGardener]

No. I have been eating, literally, a mixing bowl’s worth of basil since June on a daily basis. By the time the frost comes, I will be so sick of it that I won’t want another basil salad til next May 😂 I just keep a bush on my sunroom all winter for when I make Sunday sauce at that point.

[@kmw4153]

I freeze my basil as I harvest until canning season. I put it in a gal Ziploc bag after I clean and sort it. I have a full gallon of frozen basil packed full of basil.

[@BarbaraMcpherson]

Dehydrator - keep temp low - 35-40C otherwise those delightful flavours & aromas evaporate. Takes quite a few hours (13-15) Leaves must be crispy dry or mould will set in. Storage - tight fitting lid & "moisture controller" from pill container. Would never buy shop dried basil again! The anise, spice, lemon basils that I dried last summer have been well worth the effort. Concentrated flavour for tomato sauces, convenience

[@woufski6426]

Why would you say “see you later buddy” to the possum? I thought the whole point was to never see it again, lol.

[@robertgrimmer6754]

Here in southeast Texas at this time of year, fungus is an issue with basil, any suggestions?

[@katrinarodriguez2930]

Opossums (adventures with Dale at the end) are actually incredibly beneficial to gardens, eating pests, bugs, rodents, ticks, termites, ants. They also eat garbage and fallen fruits, keeping gardens healthier. Relocating is dangerous to the health of the opossum, as it might not know where to find food and water or might be encroaching on another animal's territory. Also, they relocate every few days so are never in one spot for long.

[@RRan-dk7ct]

I would have a field day with leaves that big.

[@williamrosario6369]

Hey I tried the milk mixture on .y cucumber plants that have mold and it seems to be working, thanks

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I haven’t personally tried that. I start new cukes every 60 days. If you do that, you’ll never have disease issues. Cucumbers have a max lifespan of about it 3 months, so I recommend replacing them instead of struggling with tired vines.

[@chrisz.9974]

How many times can we cut back basil before we should just let it go to seed? I don’t have a frost in south Florida.

[@gtechnosinc2518]

What is Basil good for?Can I put on salads?

[@ourallabrador4023]

Pesto 😋

[@xli1059]

❤

[@gailosullivan5780]

So many of my basil leaves have holes in them, or what appears to be bites out of them. Should I spray them with something?

[@aamirzeb1977]

How to access you in USA for fig plant purchase ?

[@quietcypher9681]

Don't say the date when your content is evergreen, for your greens.

[@shekharmoona544]

I like spicey globe basil it seems to be more disease and insect resistant.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

I grow Genovese, Purple and Holy basil. I’ve also grown Thai basil and Greek mini basil. They all follow these rules.

[@AmyMeland]

What do you do with all the basil?

[@chelseatatro5780]

Does it matter what percentage shade cloth? I think i have a 40% shade cloth, is that too mich shade?

[@dm9022]

I just made the BEST Pesto !!

[@bernadetteteague4859]

What plant is next to the basil in the corner? Star shaped leaves.....

[@irisdude]

Basil salad...hmmm...what dressing do you use on it? Italian probably? Anything else?

[@TheMillennialGardener]

Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, salt, pepper. That is it. Bottled salad dressing is expensive and has horrific ingredients. You can just mix what I listed above in 30 seconds and you’ll have something better than any jar for pennies.

[@irisdude]

@TheMillennialGardener That's awesome! I usually do Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil, tiny bit of mustard, buttermilk, sour cream, salt, pepper and lots of dill. But I didn't think that would pair well with Basil, so thx for the recipe...I'll give it a try.

[@shirleysuchdolski6042]

Mine have never looked like that.

[@TheMillennialGardener]

If you follow the tips in this video, hopefully they will grow like this. Proper pruning and adequate fertilizing will produce results like this.

[@karricompton]

My basil is very dramatic. It doesn’t like too much sun and droops every single afternoon. 😂

[@T00STiCKY]

Unfortunately, my basil took over my garden. I just planted a few between my tomatoes; and holy dang.

[@MistyHewett]

Can basil be eaten if it bolts? Does it turn bitter or have a heavy licorice taste if not picked when leaves are very young?

[@joealta3450]

How do you grow non DMR basil in your humid area? I can't grow anything but Prospera varieties anymore. DM has erased my ability to grow anything else here and I'm in the northeast, in a way less humid environment. So weird....

[@dm9022]

I just clip off the flower bolt before they actually bloom their fine…sweet Italian basil .