Herbs are among the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow, providing fresh flavours, pleasant aromas and a variety of uses in the kitchen. Whether grown in a garden or on a windowsill, many herbs thrive with the right balance of sunlight and water. Basil is one of the UK’s most popular herbs thanks to its versatility and fragrant leaves.
Gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh recently shared his top tips for growing healthy basil in a YouTube video for GrowForItHQ. His simple advice helped me plant up my own basil and turn it into a thriving plant all summer long.
He said: “Basil plants need plenty of sunlight and are prone to fungus if they’re planted too close together.
“So I’m spacing my plants 10cm apart so they get air circulating around them.
“It’s a wonderful job doing this. You get glorious aromas assailing your nostrils. It tends to be one of those herbs that loves it warm and sunny and then shrivels up come the colder weather, but when it’s like this, perfect basil weather.”
After finishing his planting, Alan said he had a “lovely herb pot that looks good on the table”, adding that it’s great to add to many meals.
Following Alan’s advice, I separated my basil plant to give each stem more space and better air circulation.
I also moved it to a sunnier spot so it could soak up plenty of sunshine, which basil needs to thrive.
Since making these simple changes, my basil has looked much healthier and stronger, with more vibrant leaves, perfect for garnishing pizzas and salads.
To encourage bushier growth, I also plan to pinch off the tops of the stems rather than letting the plant become too tall.
According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), basil plants in containers can run short of nutrients, so it’s important to apply an organic-based, balanced liquid fertiliser to boost leafy growth.
They added: “Avoid using potassium-rich fertilisers like tomato feed, as these encourage flowering.”