Plants
Basil
Ocimum basilicum · Lamiaceae
Basil is probably the most popular kitchen herb on German windowsills — and at the same time the one most people fail with. The reason is almost never a lack of care, but too much of it: incorrect watering and a spot that is too cold. With a few simple rules, however, a pot of basil lasts many weeks and delivers a steady supply of fresh leaves for pesto, tomatoes and salads.
- Light
- Sunny to very bright — at least four to five hours of light, ideally a south window.
- Watering
- Regular and even, ideally from below; never let the soil dry out completely.
- Care level
- Medium
- Botanical
- Ocimum basilicum
The range of varieties goes far beyond classic Genovese basil: Thai basil adds an aniseed note for Asian cooking, lemon basil smells fresh and citrusy, red varieties such as Dark Opal add colour, and small-leaved Greek bush basil is more compact and considerably tougher on the windowsill.
Supermarket basil, by the way, is grown for quick consumption: a single pot holds dozens of seedlings competing with each other for water and light. Dividing the pot into three or four portions and planting them individually in fresh soil extends the plants' lives dramatically — a simple trick with a big effect.
The most important care point is the harvesting itself: never pluck single leaves, but cut whole shoot tips just above a pair of leaves. Two new shoots then sprout from the leaf axils — the plant becomes bushier rather than barer. Pick only from the bottom and you will soon have a bare stalk with a tuft on top.
Basil is a child of warmth: below 15 degrees it stops growing, and it dislikes cold draughts and cold irrigation water. A sunny spot at the kitchen window is ideal; it may only move to the balcony after the last spring frosts. It is best watered from below via the saucer so the stem base stays dry and does not rot.
Once basil starts to flower, the leaves turn more bitter and growth slows. Pinch out flower spikes early if you want to keep harvesting — or let it bloom deliberately: the small lipped flowers are edible and popular with bees. Basil is, incidentally, safe for pets.
We buy all our herb pots fresh via the Veiling Rhein-Maas, just like our plants — so they reach you vigorous and without long standing times.
Is Basil toxic to children and pets?
- Children
- Non-toxic
- Cats
- Non-toxic
- Dogs
- Non-toxic
As a culinary herb basil is of course harmless to people and is also considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. At most, animals nibbling very large amounts may experience mild stomach upset.
Overview: toxic & non-toxic plants for cats, dogs and children
Care
- 01A warm, sunny spot at the window; temperatures consistently above 15 °C.
- 02Water from below via the saucer and pour off excess water after 20 minutes.
- 03Keep the soil evenly, lightly moist — basil forgives neither a dried-out root ball nor waterlogging.
- 04Always harvest whole shoot tips above a leaf pair, never just pluck single leaves.
- 05Divide supermarket pots and repot into fresh herb soil — it extends their lifespan considerably.
- 06Pinch out flower buds for as long as you want to keep harvesting leaves.
Frequently asked
- Why does my supermarket basil die so quickly?
- Because the pot holds dozens of densely packed seedlings grown for quick consumption that rob each other of water and light. Divide the root ball into three or four pieces and pot them individually in fresh soil, and the plants relax and often last for months.
- How do I harvest basil correctly?
- Always cut whole shoot tips with scissors or a fingernail just above a pair of leaves — two new shoots will then grow from the leaf axils. Plucking single leaves from the bottom weakens the plant and leaves you with bare stalks.
- Is basil toxic to cats?
- No, basil is considered non-toxic to cats and dogs. Many cats actually enjoy nibbling on it. As long as it stays at small amounts this is harmless — so the herb pot is a safe choice for pet households.
- Can basil grow on the windowsill in winter?
- Yes, but it needs warmth and plenty of light. At a bright south window above 18 degrees it keeps growing, if more slowly than in summer. Cold windowsills above a radiator with dry draughts are difficult, though — in that case it is better to buy fresh pots regularly.