Potting on Basil

[BarriedaleNick]

I have always been crap at growing basil but this year I am going for it.
I have sweet Genovese and This basil in pots..just putting on first true leaves

Question - do I prick them out and grow on individually or just let them grow on as clumps?

Cheers

[BarriedaleNick]

[Squash64]

I grow them as little clumps of about 3 - 5 but I've been wondering how they would do if I potted them singly.  Same with parsley.

[peanuts]

I can't grow parsley for love nor money, so tend to buy it in clumps in pots, and then gently separate it into individual plants.  Mostly that works.  Same with basil.  However, last year I was chatting to the market stallholder who grows them, and he told me that I shouldn't try to pull them apart if they were too advanced . It just wouldn't work, it's too late.  To show me, he tipped out several pots.  The only ones that would grow on successfully, separately, were ones where the roots hadn't filled the pot.  If they had, don't try it!

[George the Pigman]

I grow basil each year with no major problems. Prick the seedlings out when the second set of leaves is emerging .They transplant well. I usually put 3 in a 6-8 inch pot. They do need to be grown in a cold greenhouse though to get the best of them - unless you live in the South of England and have a South facing wall!

[Dizzymac]

The link below hopefully ( I've never tried posting a link before!!) take you to a neat idea for a space saving idea on growing herbs

http://www.birdsandblooms.com/Backyard-Projects/Small-Garden-Projects/Vertical-Herb-Garden

[chriscross1966]

THe problem with Basil is is'ts so tender and easy to bruise... I'd go with second set adn be gentle with them... earlier adn you might kill the only leaf it has, later and you will have too much root to shift.... I do them in small modules, three seeds or so per module, grow in small clumps by potting on or sacrifice weaker seedlings to keep specimen plants....

[fitzsie]

I've just learnt the hard way. Transplanted my seedlings far too early and all bar one have died. Definitely need tender care at the beginning. Started again today with more seeds.