Overview

Bring the delightful aroma and fresh taste of the Mediterranean to your home with this set of two basil live plant. Known for its aromatic leaves and versatile culinary uses, basil is a staple in many kitchens and a favorite among gardeners. These vibrant plants are ready for immediate enjoyment, arriving healthy and established in a 4-inch pot. Whether you’re an experienced green thumb or a novice gardener, growing basil is a rewarding experience. Our fragrant basil plant offers both aesthetic appeal and practical benefits, making it an excellent addition to any outdoor space.

This offering includes two robust basil plants, ensuring you have a bountiful supply of fresh leaves for cooking, garnishing, or simply enjoying their pleasant scent. Basil, scientifically known as Ocimum basilicum, is an annual herb that flourishes in warm conditions. These plants are specifically chosen to thrive as an outdoor basil plant, perfect for garden beds, container gardening, or even a sunny balcony. Experience the joy of harvesting your own fresh basil, enhancing your meals with its distinct, peppery-sweet flavor.

Key Benefits

Adding a basil live plant to your garden provides numerous advantages beyond just its culinary appeal. These plants are easy to care for and offer a continuous supply of fresh herbs.

• Fresh Culinary Herb Supply: Enjoy an endless supply of fresh basil leaves right from your garden. Perfect for pesto, salads, sauces, and garnishes, providing superior flavor to store-bought alternatives.
• Aromatic Garden Addition: The distinctive, sweet, and peppery fragrance of basil naturally repels certain garden pests while attracting beneficial pollinators, contributing to a healthier garden ecosystem.
• Easy to Grow: Basil is known for being relatively low-maintenance, making it an excellent choice for beginner gardeners. With proper sunlight and watering, your basil live plant will flourish.
• Versatile Use: Suitable for various gardening styles, including raised beds, container gardens, and herb patches. Its compact size also makes it ideal for smaller spaces or windowsills.
• Enhances Outdoor Spaces: Beyond its practical uses, the lush green foliage of the outdoor basil plant adds a touch of natural beauty and vibrancy to patios, balconies, and garden landscapes.
• Promotes Healthy Eating: Having fresh herbs readily available encourages healthier cooking habits and allows for the creation of delicious, nutritious meals at home.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your basil live plant is straightforward, ensuring a bountiful harvest with just a few key considerations. Basil thrives in warm conditions and requires ample sunlight to produce its flavorful leaves. Plant your basil in a location that receives at least 6-8 hours of full direct sunlight daily. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can prevent scorching, but generally, the more sun, the better for robust growth and flavor development. If growing indoors, place it near a south-facing window or under grow lights.

Proper watering is crucial for a healthy fragrant basil plant. Basil prefers consistently moist soil but dislikes being waterlogged. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Ensure your pots or garden beds have excellent drainage to prevent root rot. During hot, dry spells, you may need to water daily. Reduce watering frequency in cooler weather or if the plant is showing signs of overwatering, such as yellowing leaves. The ideal soil for growing basil plants is well-draining, fertile, and rich in organic matter. A good quality potting mix or garden soil amended with compost works perfectly.

Basil is sensitive to cold temperatures and will not tolerate frost. It thrives in temperatures between 65°F and 80°F (18°C-27°C). The USDA Hardiness Zone for basil is typically 6-9, meaning it can be grown as an annual in most regions or overwintered in warmer zones. Fertilize your basil every 2-4 weeks during the growing season with a balanced liquid fertilizer, or incorporate slow-release granular fertilizer into the soil at planting. Pinch off flower buds as they appear to encourage bushier growth and prevent the plant from going to seed, which can reduce leaf production. Regular harvesting of leaves also promotes continuous growth, ensuring a steady supply for your basil herb garden.

Size & Details

This offering includes two healthy basil live plant specimens, each carefully grown and shipped in a 4-inch nursery pot. At the time of shipment, plants typically stand between 4 to 6 inches tall, with a similar spread, ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. Basil is a fast-growing herb, and with optimal conditions, it can reach a mature height of 18 to 24 inches tall and wide within a single growing season. The plants will arrive securely packaged to ensure they reach you in excellent condition, with minimal stress from transit. Expect vigorous growth and abundant foliage, contributing significantly to your basil herb garden.

These plants are shipped as established, living specimens, not seeds or bare roots, providing an immediate head start to your gardening efforts. The 4-inch pot size is ideal for initial growth and allows for easy acclimatization to your home or garden environment before being moved to their final growing spot. With proper care, you can expect to begin harvesting fresh basil leaves within a few weeks of receiving your plants, providing continuous enjoyment throughout the warm months.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this basil live plant get? A: With proper care, these basil plants can grow to be 18-24 inches tall and wide during a single growing season, providing a generous harvest.
• Q: What size pot does it come in? A: Each basil live plant is shipped in a 4-inch nursery pot, perfectly sized for transplanting into your garden or a larger container upon arrival.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: While basil can be grown indoors with sufficient sunlight, this particular offering is ideal as an outdoor basil plant, thriving in garden beds or patio containers.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: Your fragrant basil plant requires at least 6-8 hours of full, direct sunlight daily to ensure robust growth and develop its best flavor.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, basil is considered an easy-to-grow herb, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. Consistent watering and ample sunlight are key.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: We ensure our growing basil plants are carefully packaged to arrive healthy and vibrant, ready to be planted immediately into your garden.
• Q: Can I use basil in cooking? A: Absolutely! Basil is a beloved culinary herb, perfect for making pesto, seasoning sauces, enhancing salads, and adding fresh flavor to countless dishes.
• Q: How long until I can harvest leaves? A: You can typically begin harvesting small amounts of basil leaves within a few weeks of receiving your plants, especially if you pinch off the top leaves to encourage bushier growth.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: Basil is an annual herb sensitive to frost. In most USDA zones (6-9), it will not survive winter outdoors and is best grown as an annual or brought indoors before cold weather.
• Q: What’s the minimum temperature it can tolerate? A: Basil thrives in temperatures above 60°F (15°C) and can be damaged or killed by temperatures below 40°F (4°C).