Is It Better To Plant Basil In The Ground Or In Containers? Here's The Best Way

For pesto lovers and those who adore Mediterranean dishes, basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of those must-have herbs every gardener needs to grow during the warmer months of the year. Not only is it quite an attractive plant, but the scent as you brush past it is simply outstanding. That's just one of the reasons you'll want to add basil to your garden asap. Apart from the commonly grown sweet basil, there are plenty of other varieties you can try if you want to experiment with slight flavor differences and growth habits. There are even cultivars with showy purple leaves that can add another dimension to your veggie patch or container garden.

This brings us to the question of whether it's better to plant basil in the ground or containers. Now, in general, the definitive answer is that it's always going to be better to plant them in the ground — but when you look a bit deeper, it's not always that clear cut. There are pros and cons for both. The best way to grow basil, whether in the ground or pots, depends on your yard setup, how much time you have to tend your garden, and whether you have to deal with annoying pests such as slugs and snails. Let's take a look at both methods, so you can decide for yourself which one will work for you.

All in all, basil is a pretty easy herb to grow, and it really doesn't demand that much attention. There are actually many benefits of adding basil to your veggie patch, especially around summer fruiting crops like tomatoes. Not only does this aromatic herb complement any tomato dish, but these two plants grow quite nicely together as well. That's why tomatoes are one of those companion plants that will thrive alongside basil in your garden. Basil enjoys lots of sunshine, so it will do well in a sunny garden bed. It also likes consistent moisture, so planting it in the ground around other plants that you water regularly will keep it nicely hydrated. The only other thing you have to do is harvest often to encourage a bushy growth habit.

One of the few disadvantages of growing basil in the ground is that the tender seedlings are a magnet for garden pests such as slugs and snails, so you'll need to protect your plants from these menaces. The other problem you may experience is that you simply forget it's there if the plants surrounding it overshadow your basil. This might result in taller growth that starts to produce flowers rather than a nice compact bushy plant with lots of lush leaves to pick. That's why harvesting and pruning basil is key to maximum yield, and not something you want to overlook.

If you grow your basil in a container, you can keep it handy to your kitchen so that harvesting the leaves is quick and easy. You can position the pot where it gets plenty of sun, which is great if you don't have a large outdoor growing area. Plus, it's much harder for pests like snails and slugs to find your basil and decimate your plants. You can also bring your plant indoors if nighttime temperatures are predicted to drop.

The major disadvantage of growing basil in a container is that you're going to have to be vigilant when it comes to watering, as pots do dry out much faster than the ground soil. This herb really doesn't like the soil to dry out and will respond with droopy leaves instead of nice lush growth. This means you'll have to hand-water it daily during the heat of summer. You'll also want to apply some half-strength liquid fertilizer regularly to keep your plant strong and healthy.

So, whether you choose to grow basil in the ground or in a container is entirely up to you because each method will work well. Essentially, if you're a weekend gardener and don't have time to tend your plant by watering it daily, it's better to plant it in the ground. On the other hand, if you use basil often and don't have a large outdoor garden space, then it will do perfectly fine growing in a container.