Sweet basil

Light

Sunny, Part sun

Pot size

Medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres)

Care level

Easy

Year round or seasonal

Seasonal crop for warm weather

Pets

ASPCA: non-toxic to cats and dogs

Light and position

Full sun preferred; part shade is tolerated.

Size and pot

NC State lists 4 inches to 3 feet; Oregon State suggests 10-inch pots for herbs. Our pot band: medium pot (about 5 to 15 litres).

Watering

Moist, well-drained soil.

Potting mix and feeding

NC State calls it perfect for containers and window boxes.

Growing through the year

Plant out once there is no risk of frost. Pinch stem tips and flower buds for a bushier plant.

NC State’s vegetable handbook says warm-season vegetables are frost-sensitive and grow well when temperatures are above about 21 °C (70 °F).

Watch for

Aphids; Fusarium wilt and basil downy mildew (some cultivars resist mildew).

Pets and people

ASPCA lists basil (Ocimum basilicum) as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.

Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Low). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.