Basil in a pot

**JerryG** · 09-29-2008, 06:26 PM

so . . DBF buys me basil in a a pot for an "I'm sorry gesture". I wasn't even mad but whatever. I've never grown basil. I live in the desert, in the city and transplanting it to "ground" isn't an option. It will only get western / afternoon sun. So! Considering that he bought it at the grocery store (ilo a nursery) what should I be watching for to help it grow to it's full potential and I can enjoy our basil. I do appreciate him giving me this but, I REALLY don't want to mess this up!

Lemme know - TIA!!

**LeeCee** · 09-29-2008, 06:34 PM

I live in florida and grow basil all the time. I keep it in a big pot and water daily. when you start to see little flowers on it pinch the flowers off.when you use it just cut off however much you need. It's pretty hardy!

**katholc** · 09-30-2008, 09:53 PM

We grow basil in a pot also. We didn't really do anything special except transplant it to a bigger pot(it came in one of those little nursery pots). Like LeeCee said, just pinch the flowers off when they start to grow, it kindof just grows itself.

**JerryG** · 10-01-2008, 10:24 AM

Thank you! Do you fertilize it? How much sun does yours get in a day?

**LeeCee** · 10-01-2008, 05:06 PM

It needs part to full sun.You can liquid fertilize it once a week at half strength.

**katholc** · 10-02-2008, 01:36 PM

Ours gets full sun most of the day. When we planted it it got mushroom and chicken compost. We don't use chemical fertilizers, everything is organic.

**Edna_E** · 10-06-2008, 10:52 PM

I have basil in a pot on my back porch (western sun) in the desert (NM) and it is doing fine. I have to make sure it doesn't get too dry, which often means watering it every day in the summer. IA good pot that helps retain water and mulch tends to help - and make sure the pot is big enough for it to have good dirt. I also have oregano in a pot that seems happy, but rosemary always dies on me.