Repotting guide

When & how to repot Genovese Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese')

Also called Sweet Basil, Italian Basil.

More about genovese basil

About Genovese Basil

Ocimum basilicum 'Genovese' · also called Sweet Basil, Italian Basil · herb

'Genovese' is the classic Italian sweet basil, with large, glossy, cupped green leaves and a warm, clove-sweet aroma that defines pesto. A tender annual herb, it craves warmth and full sun and sulks in cold, wet soil. Pinch it regularly to keep it bushy and leafy, and it crops abundantly from late spring through summer indoors or out.

Mature size: 45-60cm (18-24in) tall, 30cm (12in) wide

Watch for — Damping off / root rot: Seedlings collapse and mature plants wilt in cold, soggy soil; use free-draining mix, water sparingly in cool weather, and avoid overwatering.

How to tell genovese basil needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For genovese basil, watch for these signs:

Roots circling the bottom of the module or pot, or poking out of the drainage holes.
The seedling dries out within a day and growth has visibly stalled.
Roots are white and matted in a tight spiral when you tip the plant out.
It has outgrown its current container for the stage of the season — pot genovese basil on before it becomes hard root-bound.

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot genovese basil

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. Genovese Basilis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Upright, branching tender annual that bushes out when the growing tips are pinched. Regularly removing flower spikes keeps it producing tender leaves; once it flowers and sets seed, leaf production and flavour decline as the plant ages..

What size pot to step genovese basil up to

Pot genovese basil on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot genovese basil

Pot genovese basil on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting genovese basil

Pot on before it is root-bound. Check genovese basil regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh rich, well-drained loam or quality potting mix, ph 6.0-7.0 at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water genovese basil in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for genovese basil

Genovese Basil wants rich, well-drained loam or quality potting mix, ph 6.0-7.0. Wants fertile, moisture-retentive yet free-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. In pots use a good peat-free potting mix; sharp drainage is essential, as cold, waterlogged soil quickly causes root rot and damping off. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting genovese basil — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot genovese basil?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for genovese basil. Genovese Basil is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into rich, well-drained loam or quality potting mix, ph 6.0-7.0 so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does genovese basil need?

When is the best time of year to repot genovese basil?

Can you put genovese basil straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing genovese basil should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise genovese basil after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting genovese basil. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.