Pot size for Basil?

[hqueen13]

I know basil can get a bit large, and I have several large pots, that are probably 8" + in diameter. Would the basil do ok in a pot that size or is that overkill?

I gotta get it repotted, its been in the bitty pot for tooo long and I'm going to lose it if I don't do something!

 

[ORChick]

I think a 6" pot would be fine, but if all you have is an 8" then that is also fine. The top can get quite large, but I don't think the roots will mind a pit of restriction - would be different if it were a perennial, but basil won't live past the first frost anyway. And you will be keeping it pinched back through the growing season, won't you?

 

[Wannabefree]

I planted mine in a 10 inch planter and it is doing really well. I wouldn't go too big when repotting, that can kill it too. I've heard not to go over 3 more inches round than the pot you're moving it out of.

 

[Bettacreek]

Really? Is that just for basil or is that all plants? I'm really hoping to be able to toss my peppermint into a 55qt sterilite container, which would be much larger than the 10" pot it's in now...

 

[Wannabefree]

Supposedly it's for all plants. It's supposed to prevent transplant shock. It makes sense, but if you're very careful I think you could still go bigger. I mean on one hand it makes sense that a lot of the roots would be exposed to new soil after being somewhat rootbound and may or may not be a good thing as far as shocking the plant, buuuuuuuut OTOH, when you transplant tomatoes into the ground in the garden that is DEFINATELY a much larger "pot" so to speak, and most of them do fine. I'd just be careful about it and make sure it if firmly in there and thoroughly watered in. Basil is pretty hardy anyway.

 

[sunsaver]

I don't think pot size matters. Just loosen up the roots so they can spread out into the new soil. Rootbound plants have to be watered and fertilized much more often. It's better to have a pot way too big then a plant that needs to be watered twice a day.

 

[hqueen13]

Good points, all. I was hoping to keep it inside for the winter to keep it alive. Is it really going to die, or can I keep it alive?

The wee little rosemary that I got at the same time has died, that one is going to be a learning curve! I didn't transplant it fast enough and over watered it. Oops.

I only have half a green thumb, that's the hard part... I can manage spider plants and pathos pretty darn well. Peace Lilys don't really like me, though, LOL. Outdoor things that require minimal attention do pretty well, too, like the hostas and iris. Course so do the weeds, sooooo.....

 

[terri9630]

Good points, all. I was hoping to keep it inside for the winter to keep it alive. Is it really going to die, or can I keep it alive?

The wee little rosemary that I got at the same time has died, that one is going to be a learning curve! I didn't transplant it fast enough and over watered it. Oops.

I only have half a green thumb, that's the hard part... I can manage spider plants and pathos pretty darn well. Peace Lilys don't really like me, though, LOL. Outdoor things that require minimal attention do pretty well, too, like the hostas and iris. Course so do the weeds, sooooo.....

With rosemary I just stick a cutting in the ground (very sandy/rocky here) and water daily. Once established they do well. We are in the desert and I haven't watered them in several years. Best part is the wild life doesn't eat it.

 

[Dawn419]

I don't think pot size matters. Just loosen up the roots so they can spread out into the new soil. Rootbound plants have to be watered and fertilized much more often. It's better to have a pot way too big then a plant that needs to be watered twice a day.

I totally agree with sunsaver on this one. I do a lot of annual culinary herbs in pots and never worry about how big the pot is (as in the pot being over-sized). From my perspective and experience, the larger pot allows the roots more room to grow which benefits the plant overall.

Since Basil is an annual (grows and produces seed in a season, then dies) you may have better luck starting a basil plant from seed in the late summer and over-wintering it indoors for the winter. I've never been able to keep a Sweet Basil plant alive over winter but it could be from a lack of ideal growing conditions.

Concerning Rosemary...I tried growing it for years, both indoors and out, and never had any luck. We moved to AR in '09 and I planted a small, $1.00 rescue in a 4" pot to the hill behind the camper and it is thriving!!! It gets full sun, rocky/clay soil but is protected from the north wind in winter and it's a nice-sized bush now.

 

[ORChick]

I was well into adulthood before I realized that rosemary is considered (by some) to be a difficult plant to keep going. It is used as hedging (the tall ones) and groundcover (the trailing kind) in coastal California.
My friend in Connecticut was telling me about her vast rhubarb bed, and I was lamenting that I had trouble keeping my rhubarb going. She said "Yes, but you have to cut your rosemary back with a machete!"
Now I live in Oregon, and am able to have both rosemary AND rhubarb