Topic: Basil - Dark Opal

[antsinmipants]

Is it just me or is Basil a little bit namby pamby? It seems to me that Basil,in all forms, is a little bit mard when being transplanted. Either that or I simply aint got the nack with Basil. Can anyone tell me whether or not Im being to heavy handed with this herb or is Basil a softy anyway. Thanks for your time

[galina]

It's a softie and prefers to stay in a greenhouse or in a pot on the patio in full sun.  Heat and shelter.

[VegBob]

What a coincidence antsinmipants! Until this year I'd never heard of said basil but friends that I'm living with bought some seed and by ye gods, by Demeter it's finickity. I have only one sprouted seedling left and have a monk of every persuasion waiting on hand to give it the last rights. I think that, here, in Cumbria, the problem is that polar bears graze on them. Good luck. Bob.

[antsinmipants]

Cheers folks,glad to hear I'm just ignorant of its tempremental nature. Will indeed grow it on in my polytunnel as from now.

[Unwashed]

Basil hates having its leaves touched, so it's not easy to transplant, and it's not easy to water either, it doesn't even like being touched by other plants and will just up and die in protest.

[manicscousers]

I did mine in fibre pots this year, only 2 dark opal survived  :)

[davejg]

This made me smiile, I am hopeless with basil, as usual tried sweet basil in a pot in the greenhouse same with holy basil. Slung a few remaining dark opal seeds in a pot and guess which is the only one doing well, the dark opal! never mind try again next year.

[1066]

from what I've read, and experienced Basil doesn't like being transplanted so best to grow in situ.
Must remember to sow some Holy Basil in the GHouse  :) thanks for the reminder!

[saddad]

I sow it in small cells... then pot them up as plug plants... then plant them out...  :-\

[1066]

it sounds like you have "the touch" Saddad  :-X  :D

[pigeonseed]

I only ever grow it in pots on the windowsill, where it does fine, though never gets very large as it's always 4 or five to a small pot. I have never dared transplant it and now having read this I'm glad I didn't!

(I'm not surprised it freaks out when its leaves are touched, every time I go near it I eat lumps of it. Maybe it has a race memory  ;D)