How to protect your basil from extreme heat
An unmistakable scent and loved by all (or most): basil is the "king" of aromatic plants and is grown all over the world by basil-lovers. But being quite delicate, basil needs to be protected from the extreme heat of summer. Read on to find out more:
How to protect basil from the heat
Although basil is a plant that loves the sunshine, suffers when exposed to winter cold and usually does not last much beyond the end of summer, not everyone knows that basil can wither and die in temperatures above 35°C (even if you water it regularly).
Looking after your basil starts by not letting the plant run out of water: if it does not have a saucer under its pot, add one and to help keep the humidity around the plant to last a little longer as it evaporates. Check your basil two or three times a week (and if it's in a very small pot, more often), to see if the soil is dry - if it is, water the plant asap. When the soil is so dry that it is pulling away from the sides of the pot, then you need to water it throughly, slowly and gently by trickling the water onto it: the aim is to slowly soak the soil thoroughly (but without waterlogging it). Water the plant again only when the soil has dried out - but do not postpone this watering for too long.
The second thing to do is to provide shelter for your basil from the sun during the hottest hours. This can be done in several ways:
- you can move the pot to a place where the foliage of other taller plants provides some shade;
- find a spot - including indoors - where the sun shines in the morning or late afternoon. Be aware that basil cannot be kept in permanent, partial shade;
- if you cannot move your basil, consider providing it with some shade: you could use an awning made of the material used to protect plants from the cold during the hottest periods of the day.
Other factors that can help your basil to survive the heat
If your basil plant is a very young one and/or is one that you just bought at the supermarket, it might well be in a weakened condition: having slightly wilted leaves is not an "emergency", but you will need to keep a close eye on your plant until it has adapted to the "shock" of being relocated/transplanted.
It is usually recommended that you repot your basil immediately after buying it, to give the roots more space to grow. That said, it is also true that repotting basil stresses the plant. So, what is the solution to this dilemma?
It all depends on the condition of the plant: if your basil is doing well just by watering it, leave it in its original pot until the heat of summer has abated. Towards the second half of September, you can repot your basil (into a pot which is at least two sizes larger), with clay on the bottom and rich, well-draining potting soil.
If, however, your newly-bought basil is clearly struggling from the off, you should repot it immediately. Position the pot in a sunny spot but which is not exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest periods of the day. Monitor your basil's water needs daily until the plant has recovered.
Be careful when using fertilizers: when it is hot, fertilizers can "burn" the plant, drying out its roots. This happens when you use too much fertilizer or you fertiize your basil too often. If you do use a fertilizer, make sure you don't fertilize more than once every two or three weeks, following the manufacturer's instructions (which often includes the need to dilute the fertilizer before use).
With a little "tender loving care", you can ensure your basil survives the intense heat of summer!
