Basil

Cut basil above a leaf node and you get two stems back. Here’s the exact technique, how often to harvest by USDA zone, and how to rescue a bolting plant.

Stop guessing which basil to grow. This guide matches 12 varieties — Genovese to Thai Holy — to your USDA zone, container, and kitchen.

Start basil indoors in March, transplant late April, and add an August succession crop — Zone 7 gardeners can harvest through October with the right varieties.

Zone 9 means two basil harvests — if you nail the timing. Exact planting dates, 5 heat-proof varieties, and the summer bolting mistake most gardeners make.

Zone 6 basil needs 60°F soil before going out — not just frost clearance. Exact indoor start and transplant dates for 6a and 6b, plus the best downy mildew-resistant varieties.

Grow basil in zone 8 from late January through November — exact 8a/8b planting dates, downy mildew-resistant varieties, and the fall harvest trick most gardeners miss.

Zone 3 basil guide: start seeds April 1–15 indoors, transplant when soil hits 65°F, and pick 68-day varieties that beat your frost deadline.

Grow basil year-round in Zone 10 with the right varieties and schedule. UF/IFAS-backed planting dates, heat-proof cultivars, and tips for beating summer disease pressure in frost-free climates.

Start basil indoors April 1, transplant after last frost, and pick ‘Siam Queen’ (60 days) before September frost — your complete zone 4 basil calendar and variety guide.

Start basil indoors in early April, plant out when soil hits 60°F, harvest all summer — zone 5 planting calendar, DMR varieties, and the 50°F cold-shock rule explained.

Basil’s VOCs protect tomatoes, beans, and peppers — but only if you plant the right companions. Here are 7 that work (and 2 that don’t).

Root basil cuttings in 7–14 days or grow from seed in 5–7 days — step-by-step for both methods, the node biology behind why cuttings root, and a zone-by-zone seed timing table.

Basil problems including black spots, wilting, and bolting — diagnosed by symptom, with fixes for downy mildew, Fusarium wilt, cold damage, and heat stress.

Basil trellis buying guide: 5 supports tested by cultivar height, pot size, and fungal risk — from $7 bamboo stakes to grow-through rings.

Find the best soil for basil with our expert buying guide: 5 top picks tested for pH 6.0–7.0, drainage, and organic content to grow flavorful, healthy plants.