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Basil from Seed

jenny794jenny794 Posts: 30
I have bought some interesting varieties of basil seeds. Before I plant them I wanted to get some advice. In the past, I have had poor germination rates. When the seeds have germinated the young plants rotted where the stem meets the soil. What am I doing wrong and what should I be doing to raise basil plants?

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 10,341
    Basil hails from Thailand, so warmth is very important.
    I grow it alongside the tomatoes in my greenhouse and it does well.
    As Philippa says a light free draining compost is best, warmth and good light are key to success.
    The problem you've had with the plant dying where the stem meets the compost is referred to as 'damping off disease' caused by the compost being too wet.
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
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