Yes, basil replanted annually is the reality for most gardeners. Basil is a warm-season herb that dies when frost hits. If you live anywhere that gets cold winters, you'll need to start fresh each spring after your last frost date passes.
The big question of is basil annual or perennial depends on your climate. Basil grows as a perennial only in USDA zones 10 and 11 where temps stay warm all year. If you garden in zones 3 through 9, basil is an annual that completes its full life cycle in one growing season. It sprouts, grows leaves, flowers, sets seed, and dies before winter arrives.
I start my basil seeds indoors 6 weeks before the last frost each spring. I use small pots with seed-starting mix under a grow light set to 12 hours per day. The seedlings get about 4 inches tall before I move them outside. I wait until the soil hits at least 60°F (15°C) before transplanting because cold ground stunts basil roots and slows growth for weeks.
The basil life cycle garden timeline runs from late spring through early fall in most areas. Your plants grow fast once the summer heat kicks in and you can harvest leaves every week. Basil puts out new growth from every cut point, so regular picking makes the plant bushier and more productive. The whole run ends when the first fall frost turns your basil black overnight.
Basil dies in the cold because it evolved in tropical regions. The plant can't handle soil temps below 50°F (10°C) for more than a few hours. Its cells freeze, the stems go limp, and the leaves turn dark and mushy. No amount of covering or mulching saves outdoor basil once a hard freeze rolls through your area.
I've found two great ways to stretch your basil supply without buying new plants each spring. First, take 4-inch stem cuttings from your healthiest basil plants in early fall before frost hits. Strip the bottom leaves and stick the stems in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill. Roots appear in about 7 to 10 days and you can pot them up for an indoor winter harvest.
Second, let a few basil plants flower and set seed at the end of the season. Once the seed pods dry out and turn brown, shake them into a paper bag. Store your seeds in a cool, dry spot and you'll have free basil plants for next year. One plant produces hundreds of seeds, so you'll never need to buy a packet from the store again.
Replanting basil every year gives you a chance to try new spots in your garden and test different varieties. Succession plant a new batch every 3 weeks from late spring through midsummer. This keeps fresh young basil coming while your older plants start to flower and slow down. You'll have a steady supply of tender leaves from May through October without any gaps in your harvest.
Read the full article: Best Companion Plants for Basil
