On 8 May, 15:10, K wrote:
Frank Booth Snr writes



On 7 May, 19:04, Sacha wrote:
On 2009-05-07 17:36:54 +0100, Frank Booth Snr said:

I haven't grown Basil before, but does this grow very s-l-o-w-l-y?

I sowed some seeds in March which sprouted normally after 2 weeks.
Then they formed their first pair of true leaves by mid April, when I
potted up 2 of the 12 seedlings sprouted. Since then all the seedlings
seem to have made hardly any further progress including the 2 that
were potted on. The 2 true leaves have slightly expanded but that's
about all.

Is this slow progress normal for Basil?

AIUI, they need bottom heat to really get them going.

I think that's for germination purposes but I had 100% germination
fairly quickly without bottom heat. I think I've discovered my
problem. I left them outside over the past few weeks and we've had
some rather cool nights 40%-45% on some occasions which may have
stalled them.

I'd have said it was far too cool for them to be outside yet. Even in
summer, they're borderline for outside. I always grow mine in the
greenhouse and on the kitchen windowsill.

I've also read that they hate water on their stems and
should be watered from the bottom which I didn't do, so I probably
added to the problem. Oh well!

Really? I had no idea they were that tropically inclined. I left them
outside to harden the seedlings off, but it seems they're more tender
than your average half hardy plant from what I've read since.