Basil - How many plants?

[NitaX]

How many basil plants do you have? I purchased one plant, but I'm thinking maybe I should have gotten a couple more to put in my container. How fast do they grow? Do I need a few more if I'm using it for cooking - say maybe 2-3 dishes a month using basil? 

And totally unrelated - my beans have sprouted!! My cucumber seeds haven't sprouted yet. 

[moreace01]

I usually just get one a season. But I never use it to make pesto (uses an unbelievable amount of basil - you are better off just buying a big bag at the store). Instead I use it more as a garnish. It grows pretty well - I just sometimes have a hard time keeping up with it when it is starting to bolt (last year was a big problem and my basil bolted before july - this year I'm guessing won't be that bad since it is so cold). You could certainly get another one if you have room for it.

Congrats on the beans!!

[simpsongal]

I have poor luck growing basil. It does fine but always seems to get too tall and goes to seed. For this reason, I probably wouldn't plant more than one.

[mouse]

If you pinch it back it will stay nice and bushy. Mine starts off slowly but then rockets off in late July and early August. I usually do 3-4 plants so I have some in the early summer and wonder what I was thinking by August.

[mouse]

Also they take a surprising amount of water so I don't like them in a container for that reason.

[NitaX]

May 16, 2013 11:24:24 GMT -5 mouse said:

Also they take a surprising amount of water so I don't like them in a container for that reason.

Hmmm. Maybe I'll move it to a self watering container then. Thanks for the tip!

[pamela]

I managed to grow mine huge last year. I had one plant and made a bunch of pesto with it towards the end to make use of it.

[2curlydogs]

Last year we had one plant that grew to be 4' tall. Not kidding. I have more dried basil and pesto than I know what to do with.

[dirtyred]

I usually get a couple. In my experience, it grows fast, like a weed.

[nomad100]

I always grow a bunch but I also usually grow several varieties like purple, Genovese, lime, etc.