Planting basil, you can start your plants now for spring planting.

image from Pinterest 

 Good morning….positive thoughts about weather.  Clear, blue sky.  For us here in North Central Iowa just a little snow left on the grass.  Concerns about the weather.  Wind is blowing so that will make 35 degrees colder, high of 53 and low of 28 tonight. On the greenhouse side, I was going to start putting plants outside on the racks to make room for more planting.  The racks would go into the east greenhouse, but that greenhouse is unheated.  The plants look so good, I don’t want to take a chance of them getting touch with cold.  BUT I don’t like the temperatures at night till the weekend.  It will be cold again Saturday and Sunday morning.  What I am going to do, is make more room in the greenhouse for 3 more big carts so the help can continue to plant this week.  It will be good to get one corner cleaned out anyway. 
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Here is an easy herb for you to start in the house.  That is always fun to be watching seeds turn into plants. 
Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Basil  by The Editors
Basil grows until first frost! Get it while it’s still good. Keep harvesting leaves and trimming off flowers to keep the plant going strong! Here’s what to know about growing basil.
About Basil
The most common type of basil is sweet basil; other types include purple basil (less sweet than common basil), lemon basil (lemon flavor), and Thai basil (licorice flavor).
Basil is easy to grow, but it only grows outdoors in the summer—and only once the soil has warmed up nicely—so plan accordingly.
If you’re planning on making pesto, grow several plants. For other uses, one or two basil plants yield plenty.
PLANTING
Basil will grow best in a location that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, though it can perform well in partial sun, too.
Soil should be moderately fertile and moist but well-draining. Basil works great in containers or raised beds, as these allow for better drainage. The pH of the soil should ideally be in the range of 6.0 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).
If you’re planning on cooking with these plants, plant in clean soil, don’t use insecticides, and grow them away from driveways and busy streets so that exhaust won’t settle on the plants.
When to Plant Basil
To get a jump on the season, start the seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last spring frost. (See local frost dates.)
To plant outside, wait until the soil has warmed to at least 50°F (10°C)—preferably around 70ºF (21°C) for best growth. Nighttime temperatures shouldn’t drop below 50°F (10°C).
Don’t rush basil. Without heat, the plant won’t grow well!
How to Plant Basil
Sow seeds no more than 1/4-inch deep. Once seedlings emerge and have 2-3 pairs of true leaves, thin seedlings to one plant every 10 to 12 inches. Basil should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height.
For larger varieties, plant farther apart (about 16 to 24 inches).
Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate!
Basil and tomato plant
A tomato plant (center) growing alongside basil.
GROWING
How to Grow Basil
Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture.
If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the plants (the mulch will help hold in moisture and suppress weeds).
During the dry periods in summer, water the plants freely.
After the seedlings have produced their first six leaves, prune to above the second set. This encourages the plants to start branching, resulting in more leaves for harvest.
Every time a branch has six to eight leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves.
Fertilize sparingly throughout the season with a 5-10-5 fertilizer.
After about 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.
If the weather is going to be cold or if a sudden frost is imminent, be sure to harvest your basil beforehand, as the cold temperatures will destroy your plants.
Basil leaves in pot
RECOMMENDED VARIETIES
Cinnamon basil, to add a hint of cinnamon to a dish
Purple basil, to add some nice color to your garden (when steeped in white vinegar, it creates a beautiful color)
Thai basil, to add a sweet licorice flavor to a dish.
HARVESTING
How to Harvest Basil
Start picking the leaves of basil as soon as the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall.
Once temperatures hit 80°F (27°C), basil will really start leafing out.
Harvest in the early morning, when leaves are at their juiciest.
Make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer.
Even if you don’t need the leaves, pick them to keep the plant going. Store them for later use!
If you pick regularly, twelve basil plants can produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.
How to Store Basil
The best method for storing basil is freezing. Freezing will prevent the plant from losing a good portion of its flavor. To quick-freeze basil, package whole or chopped leaves in airtight, resealable plastic bags, then place in the freezer.
Another storage method is drying the basil (although some of the flavor will be lost). Pinch off the leaves at the stem and place them in a well-ventilated and shady area. After 3 to 4 days, if the plants are not completely dry, place them in the oven on the lowest heat setting with the door slightly open. Remember to turn the leaves (for equal drying) and check them frequently. See more about drying basil, tomatoes, and paprika.
WIT AND WISDOM
Basil has a lovely fragrance. Pick from the stems and put in water for a few days as you would with cut flowers!
For other greens to use in your cuisine, see our Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.
Where salt is good, so is basil.
–Italian saying
PESTS/DISEASES
Aphids
Powdery mildew
Variety of bacterial and fungal leaf, stem, and root diseases.
Taken fromhttps://www.almanac.com/plant/basil
Till next time this is Becky Litterer, Becky’s Greenhouse Dougherty Iowa beckmall@netins.net 641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365