If you live in Zone 10 or above, you probably don’t need to bring your basil indoors unless temperatures in your area dip below 50°F on a regular basis. This herb loves warm, sunny days. While temperatures close to 50°F won’t kill your basil , the cold can cause the leaves to blacken.
How do you overwinter basil plants indoors?
You’ll need a container or pot with good drainage, as well as a draining dish or saucer, as you’ll want to keep your O. Add a handful of fresh potting soil to your planter. 3 water your plant, 4 give it light, or 5 prune regularly are a couple additional ideas to investigate.
How to keep Basil alive in the winter?
The key to keeping your basil plant alive during the winter is to provide it with as much light as possible . A great solution to this problem is shifting to artificial light sources in the darker winter months.
The answer is the cold tolerance of basil begins to suffer when the mercury drops into the 40’s (F.) but really affects the plant at 32 degrees F. The herb may not die, but basil cold damage will be in evidence.
Can I bring my Basil indoors?
In this case, you will need to pot the basil and bring it inside. Remember, basil requires lots of light — six to eight hours of direct sun or ten to 12 hours under artificial light. Basil is still an annual and as such, it will eventually flower and die, even when brought indoors.
How do I protect my basil plants from frost?
It is also advisable to mulch 2-3 inches (5-7 cm.) of grass clippings, straw, compost or ground up leaves around the basil plants. This will aid in retaining moisture and retarding weeds, but also protect the plant a bit in the event of a sudden, short cold snap. You can also cover the tops of the plants, down to the soil to help trap heat.