Editing Basil (section)

=== Growing conditions ===
Basil is sensitive to cold, with best growth in hot, dry conditions. Basil prefers high light conditions and grows best under full sun conditions. Increasing light intensity, particularly the [[Photosynthetically active radiation|photosynthetic photon flux density]], can significantly enhance the plant'.s fresh weight, dry matter content, and height<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Larsen |first=Dorthe H. |last2=Woltering |first2=Ernst J. |last3=Nicole |first3=Celine C. S. |last4=Marcelis |first4=Leo F. M. |date=2020-12-04 |title=Response of Basil Growth and Morphology to Light Intensity and Spectrum in a Vertical Farm |url=https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2020.597906 |journal=Frontiers in Plant Science |volume=11 |doi=10.3389/fpls.2020.597906|doi-access=free |issn=1664-462X}}</ref>

However, due to its common use, basil is cultivated in many countries around the world. Production areas include countries in the Mediterranean area, those in the [[temperate zone]], and others in [[subtropical]] climates.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Hiltunen |first1=Raimo |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fLxiMFPvAfUC&q=basil+medicinal+uses&pg=PA56 |title=Basil: The Genus Ocimum |last2=Holm |first2=Yvonne |date=2003-09-02 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=9780203303771 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170418170831/https://books.google.com/books?id=fLxiMFPvAfUC&pg=PA56&dq=basil+medicinal+uses&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjZ16mPkq3TAhUl6YMKHZbTBsoQ6AEIJDAA#v=onepage&q=basil%20medicinal%20uses&f=false |archive-date=18 April 2017 |url-status=live |df=dmy-all}}</ref>{{page needed|date=March 2022}}

In Northern Europe, Canada, the northern states of the U.S., and the South Island of New Zealand, basil grows best if sown under glass in a [[peat]] pot, then planted out in late spring/early summer<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petetti |first=Silvia |date=2024-04-30 |title=Orto, ecco cosa piantare a maggio: saranno tra gli alimenti estivi più buoni |url=https://www.biopianeta.it/2024/04/orto-ecco-cosa-piantare-a-maggio-saranno-tra-gli-alimenti-estivi-piu-buoni/ |access-date=2024-06-18 |website=Bio Pianeta |language=it-IT}}</ref> (when there is little chance of a frost); however, it can also thrive when planted outside in these climates. Additionally, it may be sown in soil once chance of frost is past. It fares best in well-drained soil with direct exposure to the sun.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

Although basil grows best outdoors, it can be grown indoors in a pot and, like most herbs, will do best on a sun-facing windowsill, kept away from cold drafts. A [[greenhouse]] or [[row cover]] is ideal if available. It can, however, even be grown in a basement under fluorescent lights. Supplemental lighting produces greater biomass and [[phenol]] production, with red + blue specifically increasing growth and flower bud production. {{Nowrap|[[UV-B]]}} increases the [[volatile organic compound|volatiles]] in ''O. basilicum'' [[essential oil]], which has not been reproducible in other plants, and so may be unique to the genus or even to this species.<ref name="Marondedze-et-al-2018">{{Cite journal |last1=Marondedze |first1=Claudius |last2=Liu |first2=Xinyun |last3=Huang |first3=Shihui |last4=Wong |first4=Cynthia |last5=Zhou |first5=Xuan |last6=Pan |first6=Xutong |last7=An |first7=Huiting |last8=Xu |first8=Nuo |last9=Tian |first9=Xuechen |last10=Wong |first10=Aloysius |date=2018-11-01 |title=Towards a tailored indoor horticulture: a functional genomics guided phenotypic approach |journal=[[Horticulture Research]] |publisher=[[Nature Portfolio|Nature]] + [[Nanjing Agricultural University]] |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=1{{endash}}10 |doi=10.1038/s41438-018-0065-7 |issn=2052-7276 |pmc=6210194 |pmid=30393542|bibcode=2018HorR....5...68M }}</ref>

Basil prefers well-drained organic soils, as adequate oxygen availability in the root zone is essential for optimal plant growth. Poor soil drainage can lead to root hypoxia, which negatively affects overall plant development and essential oil yield.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Khater |first=El-Sayed |last2=Bahnasawy |first2=Adel |last3=Abass |first3=Wael |last4=Morsy |first4=Osama |last5=El-Ghobashy |first5=Hossam |last6=Shaban |first6=Yousry |last7=Egela |first7=Mohsen |date=2021-06-17 |title=Production of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) under different soilless cultures |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-91986-7 |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=11 |issue=1 |doi=10.1038/s41598-021-91986-7 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=8211801 |pmid=34140544}}</ref>