Editing Basil (section)

== Cultivation ==
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2021}}

=== 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>

=== Pruning, flowering, and seeding ===
[[File:Xylocopa pubescens female with mite 1.JPG|thumb|upright=0.9|Female [[carpenter bee]] foraging]]
[[File:The Flowers of Italian Basil.jpg|thumb|Flowers of Italian Basil]]
Once a stem produces flowers, foliage production stops on that stem, the stem becomes woody, and essential oil production declines. To prevent this, a basil-grower may pinch off any flower stems before they are fully mature. Because only the blooming stem is so affected, some stems can be pinched for leaf production, while others are left to bloom for decoration or seeds. Picking the leaves off the plant helps promote growth, largely because the plant responds by converting pairs of leaflets next to the topmost leaves into new stems.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

Once the plant is allowed to flower, it may produce seed pods containing small black seeds, which can be saved and planted the following year. If allowed to go to seed, a basil plant will grow back the next year.{{citation needed|date=October 2024}}

=== Propagation methods ===

==== Seeds ====
The optimal germination temperature for basil seeds ranges between 34.5–39.0°C, while the base germination temperature lies between 9.8–13.2°C.{{cn|date=May 2025}} No significant variation in optimal germination temperature has been observed among different basil cultivars.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lange |first=Diana D. |last2=Cameron |first2=Arthur C. |date=1994-02-01 |title=Postharvest Shelf Life of Sweet Basil (''Ocimum basilicum'') |url=https://doi.org/10.21273/hortsci.29.2.102 |journal=HortScience |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=102–103 |doi=10.21273/hortsci.29.2.102 |issn=0018-5345}}</ref> Prior to sowing, basil (''Ocimum basilicum'') seeds can be hydroprimed by soaking in water for 12 hours, which effectively enhances germination rates and seedling vigor.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Noorhosseini |first=Seyyed Ali |last2=Jokar |first2=Nargesh Khatun |last3=Damalas |first3=Christos A. |date=2017-08-01 |title=Improving Seed Germination and Early Growth of Garden Cress (Lepidium sativum) and Basil (''Ocimum basilicum'') with Hydro-priming |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-017-9728-0 |journal=Journal of Plant Growth Regulation |volume=37 |issue=1 |pages=323–334 |doi=10.1007/s00344-017-9728-0 |issn=0721-7595}}</ref>

==== Cuttings ====
Basil (''Ocimum basilicum'' L.) is commonly propagated through cuttings. Compared to seed propagation, basil cuttings tend to result in earlier harvest and higher yield. The typical propagation method involves selecting healthy, non-lignified stem segments approximately 5–10 cm in length, preferably apical shoots that retain 2 to 5 leaves, which are then inserted into moist soil until root development occurs. After rooting, the plantlets are transplanted into the field.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Haijie |first=D. |last2=Mengmeng |first2=G. |last3=Genhua |first3=N. |date=2018-09-01 |title=Are cuttings a viable alternative to seeds for sweet basil production? |url=https://doi.org/10.17660/actahortic.2018.1212.70 |journal=Acta Horticulturae |issue=1212 |pages=303–306 |doi=10.17660/actahortic.2018.1212.70 |issn=0567-7572}}</ref> Exposing basil cuttings to blue light significantly accelerates root formation, thereby shortening the growth period.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bai |first=Tuanhui |last2=Ma |first2=Ping |last3=Li |first3=Cuiying |last4=Yin |first4=Rong |last5=Ma |first5=Fengwang |date=2013-12-01 |title=Role of ascorbic acid in enhancing hypoxia tolerance in roots of sensitive and tolerant apple rootstocks |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S030442381300527X |journal=Scientia Horticulturae |language=en |volume=164 |pages=372–379 |doi=10.1016/j.scienta.2013.10.003}}</ref>

=== Diseases ===
Basil suffers from several plant pathogens that can ruin the crop and reduce [[crop yield|yield]]. [[Fusarium wilt]] is a soil-borne fungal disease that will quickly kill younger basil plants. [[Seedling]]s may be killed by ''[[Pythium]]'' [[damping off]]. A common [[foliage|foliar]] disease of basil is [[gray mold]] caused by ''[[Botrytis cinerea]]''; it can cause infections post-harvest and is capable of killing the entire plant. [[Black Spot (disease)|Black spot]] can be seen on basil foliage and is caused by the [[fungi]] [[genus]] ''[[Colletotrichum]]''. [[Downy mildew]] caused by ''[[Peronospora belbahrii]]'' is a significant disease, as first reported in Italy in 2003.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Garibaldi |first1=A. |last2=Minuto |first2=A. |last3=Minuto |first3=G. |last4=Gullino |first4=M. L. |date=March 2004 |title=First Report of Downy Mildew on Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) in Italy |journal=Plant Disease |volume=88 |issue=3 |pages=312 |doi=10.1094/PDIS.2004.88.3.312A |pmid=30812374 |doi-access=}}</ref> It was reported in the Florida in 2007 and by 2008 had spread along the eastern United States, reaching Canada.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Roberts |first1=P. D. |last2=Raid |first2=R. N. |last3=Harmon |first3=P. F. |last4=Jordan |first4=S. A. |last5=Palmateer |first5=A. J. |date=February 2009 |title=First Report of Downy Mildew Caused by a Peronospora sp. on Basil in Florida and the United States |journal=Plant Disease |volume=93 |issue=2 |pages=199 |doi=10.1094/PDIS-93-2-0199B |pmid=30764112 |doi-access=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wick |first1=R. L. |last2=Brazee |first2=N. J. |date=March 2009 |title=First Report of Downy Mildew Caused by a Peronospora Species on Sweet Basil ( Ocimum basilicum ) in Massachusetts |journal=Plant Disease |volume=93 |issue=3 |pages=318 |doi=10.1094/PDIS-93-3-0318B |pmid=30764191 |doi-access=}}</ref> Basil cultivars resistant to ''P. belbahrii'' have been developed.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/2020/02/21/basil-bounces-back-with-downy-mildew-resistant-cultivars/ |title=Maryland Grows Blog |date=21 February 2020 |access-date=29 September 2023}}</ref>

Non-pathogenic bacteria found on basil include ''[[Novosphingobium]]'' species.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ceuppens |first1=Siele |last2=Delbeke |first2=Stefanie |last3=De Coninck |first3=Dieter |last4=Boussemaere |first4=Jolien |last5=Boon |first5=Nico |last6=Uyttendaele |first6=Mieke |date=21 August 2015 |title=Characterization of the Bacterial Community Naturally Present on Commercially Grown Basil Leaves: Evaluation of Sample Preparation Prior to Culture-Independent Techniques |journal=International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |volume=12 |issue=8 |pages=10171–10197 |doi=10.3390/ijerph120810171 |pmc=4555336 |pmid=26308033 |doi-access=free}}</ref>