Transplanting Basil

tam91 · March 19, 2011

I'm planning to grow some varieties of basil (genovese and red types), for myself and to give away. Partly because of space considerations, I've been starting plants in seed row trays, then transplanting. Is this ok with basil, or will it hate the transplant?

Mark0820 · March 19, 2011

I don't know what other people do, but I transplant my basil every year.

ireilly · March 19, 2011

It will be fine but make sure you harden it off and keep it watered. Likes lots of light and even endures full sun here when mature if hardened off and watered.

huntoften · March 19, 2011

It transplants very well actually. Just wait until it gets its first set of true leaves. I plant mine using Craig's dense planting method and it works VERY well!

tam91 · March 19, 2011

Great, I'm glad to hear it. That's what I'll do then - thank you all.

I'm trying 3 kinds of red leaf basil, to see what's a keeper - Purple Ruffles (it's pretty), Opal (new to me), and Red Rubin (worked well last year and kept it's color)

b54red · March 20, 2011

I always transplant after the plants get about 5 or 6 inches tall and have been outside for a few weeks. It will grow much faster and get much bigger if grown in full sun. I now grow only a small globe shaped basil plant that I really like the flavor of and it is so much easier to control and doesn't get so large that it becomes a shrub. I save some seed each year and plant it really early in December and it is about ready to set out now.

Marko · March 20, 2011

tam91, Purple Ruffles is a keeper, it has very tender and tasty leaves.

twells · March 20, 2011

I also transplant my basil.

tam91 · March 20, 2011

I had purple ruffles one year, I think I had it in too much sun though, and it struggled a bit. It was very pretty. Last year I had Red Rubin, which I did like, and it held it's color well. But seed catalogs have too many choices...

BigBrownDogHouse · March 23, 2011

I've always had good luck transplanting my basil. However, I notice some critters like eating it. I am picturing the rabbits doing that? Do rabbits like basil?

VitaVeggieMan · May 19, 2011

I'm a little late to this thread, but I grow my basil's from seed, pot up once inside, and transplant to garden after 8 weeks or so, and it works fine. I'm partial to Dark Opal Purple basil, Sweet Deni Lemon basil, and one ore more large-leaf green basil's: this year it's Ceasar and Large Green.

March 19, 2011	#1
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Transplanting Basil I'm planning to grow some varieties of basil (genovese and red types), for myself and to give away. Partly because of space considerations, I've been starting plants in seed row trays, then transplanting. Is this ok with basil, or will it hate the transplant?

March 19, 2011	#4
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	It transplants very well actually. Just wait until it gets its first set of true leaves. I plant mine using Craig's dense planting method and it works VERY well! __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

March 19, 2011	#2
Mark0820 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 907	I don't know what other people do, but I transplant my basil every year.

March 19, 2011	#3
ireilly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2010 Location: Dallas Posts: 344	It will be fine but make sure you harden it off and keep it watered. Likes lots of light and even endures full sun here when mature if hardened off and watered.

March 20, 2011	#6
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	I always transplant after the plants get about 5 or 6 inches tall and have been outside for a few weeks. It will grow much faster and get much bigger if grown in full sun. I now grow only a small globe shaped basil plant that I really like the flavor of and it is so much easier to control and doesn't get so large that it becomes a shrub. I save some seed each year and plant it really early in December and it is about ready to set out now.

March 20, 2011	#7
Marko Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Slovenia, Europe zone 7b Posts: 300	tam91, Purple Ruffles is a keeper, it has very tender and tasty leaves.

March 20, 2011	#8
twells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: zone 6 Posts: 1	I also transplant my basil.

March 23, 2011	#10
BigBrownDogHouse Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Northern Illinois ZONE 5a...wait now 5b Posts: 906	I've always had good luck transplanting my basil. However, I notice some critters like eating it. I am picturing the rabbits doing that? Do rabbits like basil?

May 19, 2011	#11
VitaVeggieMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Clifton, VA Posts: 33	I'm a little late to this thread, but I grow my basil's from seed, pot up once inside, and transplant to garden after 8 weeks or so, and it works fine. I'm partial to Dark Opal Purple basil, Sweet Deni Lemon basil, and one ore more large-leaf green basil's: this year it's Ceasar and Large Green.