Can I Use Any Peat Moss in My Basil Plants?

Garden Growing

• Sow basil outdoors in full sun after the last expected frost. Basil thrives in well-drained, loose soils, but the flavor becomes diluted with excessive nitrogen fertilizer. Peat moss makes an ideal soil amendment for basil because it does not provide extra nitrogen like compost or manure. If using compost or manure, dig it into the soil several weeks before planting basil.

Starting Seeds Indoors

• To start basil indoors, plant the seeds in a sterile, soil-less starting mix, which usually contains peat moss and vermiculite. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of starting mix, and mist them so they are moist, but not soggy. Store them in a warm location and move them outdoors when they stand 4 inches high.

Pots

• Grow basil and other herbs in pots placed near the kitchen door for easy access. Use a commercial potting mix, which likely contains peat moss, compost, vermiculite and pasteurized soil, to plant basil. Pots dry out more quickly than garden soil does, so water basil daily during summer heat if necessary.

General Care

• In addition to well-drained soil, basil benefits from full sun and occasional fertilizing. Pinch the plants back to encourage compact growth and to keep them from producing flowers, which causes the leaves to taste bitter. Basil does not tolerate cold. Grow it as an annual, or bring it indoors before the first frost.