just as you would with an ordinary sweet basil plant.Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: How To Grow Holy Basil. By continuing to use our site you agree to our Or make a second sowing outdoors in June in order to have … Growing Guide GROWING NOTES Holy Basil will grow to a height of approximately 20" and produce green and red leaves along with delicate purple flower bracts from mid summer on. is … Continually pinching and using your basil will coax it into becoming bushy, with more leaves. headaches, toothaches, ear aches, joint pain, cold and flu symptoms, and He focuses on educating his patients on the importance of a healthy lifestyle, being an advocate of a plant-based diet, and admitting “It is the best fuel for the human body and mind”. Sign up for our newsletter. Growing Holy Basil: The Growing Conditions Soil. Grow a few basil plants in containers so you can bring them indoors before fall frost. It is originally from India but now grows in Australia, West Africa, and some Middle Eastern countries. 1000 Large Leaf Italian Basil Seeds – Non-GMO Holy Basil (2400 Seeds) Seeds – 1 Package of Thai basil seeds 150 Sweet Basil Seeds – Genovese Basil, Great For Pesto How To Harvest Basil Harvesting basil needs to be done at least weekly to keep the plant from going to bloom. This herb is a very important symbol in the Hindu religion.And it’s also one of the most important medicinal herbs in Indian traditional medicine.So, growing and consuming holy basil is very rewarding.In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about growing holy basil.Although this herb can grow in different types of soil, you should avoid growing it in a medium that traps a lot of water.For that reason, it’s always necessary to grow holy basil in well-drained soil.The soil should also be neutral with a pH ranging between 6 and 7.If you’re growing the plant in containers, use high-quality potting soil, such as the famous Foxfarm potting soil is well-drained, neutral, and abundant in nutrients, so it’s just perfect for holy basil.If you’re growing the herb in your outdoor garden, you need to water it whenever the first few inches of soil become dry.You’ll need to water the plant more frequently if you’re growing it in pots.In fact, you might need to water holy basil once or twice each day when the weather is very hot to prevent it from becoming dehydrated.All basil plants love the sun, and this herb is no exception.Holy basil thrives in full sun (6 to 8 hours of sunlight per day).The plant can also grow in partial sun (4 to 6 hours of sunlight per day), but it will be less productive.If you can’t give the plant the minimum amount of sunlight it needs, you can use artificial light (grow lights) to address the deficiency.Those LED grow light strips are very inexpensive, and they work great as supplemental lighting for full-sun herbs.In fact, the optimal temperature for most basil plants is between 72.5°–82.4°F (24°–28°C).Holy Basil is also intolerant to cool weather and frost.So, if you’re growing the plant outdoors, keep an eye on the weather.Your holy basil will be prone to damage or death whenever the temperature drops to below 43°F (approximately 6°C).In most cases, the amount of nutrients present in the soil is enough to keep your herb growing for a long time.But, if you need to improve the yield of your holy basil, you can use fertilizers.We recommend using organic fertilizers instead of synthetic ones.Make sure not to use excessive amounts of any fertilizer or soil amendment (even if it’s natural) because that can change the texture of the soil.Again, fertilizers aren’t necessary for holy basil, especially if you’re using a rich soil, such as Foxfarm.To promote fresh growth, you need to keep your plant in shape.Also, most basil plants, including holy basil, will develop a bitter taste if they’re allowed to flower.Holy basil is pruned just the same as common basil.Holy basil is not prone to attack by many insects or pests; but, it can be affected by several diseases.The herb is susceptible to powdery mildew and root rot. Dr. Herzog is also specialized in working with people suffering from arthritis. Holy basil is an undervalued herb in North America. The Sweet Basil variety can reach 6 feet tall but grows to about 2 to 3 ft. for most gardeners. These two diseases are caused by fungal infections.You can prevent them by maintaining sanitary conditions around your plants.That means you must avoid getting the soil too wet.Also, always prune the plant to prevent the over crowdedness of stems and leaves.And if you’re growing the plant indoors, keep the air flowing around it.You can harvest few leaves from your plant whenever you want to prepare a tea or season a dish.Don’t harvest more than you need so you keep consuming fresh leaves.If you’re growing holy basil in your outdoor garden, cut it back to the ground before the weather gets too cold.Freezing holy basil is better than drying it because it can preserve the herb’s flavor more effectively.But you need to use high-quality seeds to do so. To encourage a larger, bushier plant, you can pinch off these blossoms. Consuming holy basil can help your body boost its own antioxidant activity, which slows DNA damage and aging, and decreases cancer risk, according to a 2007 study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The medicinal virtues of Holy Basil are no secret to modern herbalists, who consider it to be a safe but effective adaptogen capable of alleviating stress and strengthening the nervous system.