Life is often defined and then separated by moments, both good and bad. There are pivotal ‘sliding door’ occasions that will change life forever, so there exists the time before and the time after. Anyone with kids could quite easily split their life into pre-kid and post-kid existence. Similarly, jobs, ex-partners or even flashy new cars can define people and their lives. But when it comes to the garden, there is a seasonal sliding door that always throws me into turmoil – the time when there is basil and the time when there is none.
Basil simply changes a garden for the better. Tomatoes seem to feed off their energy, and vice-versa – like two training partners pushing each other to higher levels – and then each year, in February or March, our bond with sweet basil peaks as we push oversized, bittersweet leaves into the VB bottles we’ve so diligently prepared for the pasta sauce.
But it’s not just sweet basil. Others have found a place in our garden, varieties that we’ve come to know and love, such as the red-leafed Sapphire or small-leafed (almost bonsai-style) Greek, even the anise flavoured Thai variety. This is not a monogamous relationship.
PLANTING
Propagate in seed trays to a depth of 0.5–1cm and transplant into the veggie patch, around the base of your tomato plants, once the daytime temperatures are consistently above 20 degrees celsius, but preferably not during a hot streak in weather. Watering in with fish fertiliser or seaweed extract.
WATERING
In ground: Water daily for the first 4 weeks and 3-4 times a week in the absence of rainfall thereafter. Watering frequency may need to be elevated during hot weather.
In Pots: Water daily, in the absence of rainfall, for the entirety of its lifecycle. The best practice is to water in the morning, however on extremely warm days a late afternoon water may also be necessary.
MAINTENANCE
Transplant the seedlings into the patch well after the last frost and position around the base of your tomato plants.
One month after planting mulch to a depth of 3–5cm using pea straw, lucerne hay or sugar cane mulch.
After 6 weeks since you planted you can begin to harvest moderately. The best way is to pick down the stem to the next junction of leaves. Helping it regenerate most efficiently.
Two months after planting apply liquid seaweed fertiliser.
Seed heads begin to form around the 12 week mark. Simply pinch them back to redirect energy towards foliage production.
After 4 months you will have more basil than you know what to do with. It is time to make pesto.
HARVESTING
Time until first harvest: The first leaves can be picked about 3-4 weeks after transplanting into the patch.
How to harvest: Snip off segments of leaves down the stem (at a next junction of leaves so helping it regenerate most efficiently).
TIP
Plant in and around the canopy of your tomato plants. It’s a companionship made in heaven.
