That basil, it’s a picky little thing, ain’t it? Just like my old rooster, always fussin’ about somethin’. You gotta treat it right, or it just won’t give you nothin’ good. And one thing it surely hates is the cold. What temperature is too cold for basil? Well, lemme tell ya, it ain’t much.
If it gets down to 50 degrees, that basil gonna start complainin’. Leaves gonna get all droopy and sad lookin’. And if it gets any colder, like 45 or below? Forget about it! That plant’s gonna be a goner. Just like that time the frost got my tomato plants. Ruined the whole lot of ’em. So, 50 degrees is bad for basil, and 45 is a killer. Keep that in mind.
Now, I ain’t no fancy gardener with all them tools and gadgets. I just got my two hands and a little common sense. But I know what basil likes. If you see the temperature is gonna go below 50, better do something. It is a delicate plant.
That basil, it loves the sun. Just like me sittin’ on the porch in the afternoon. It needs that warmth to grow big and strong. 80 to 90 degrees, that’s when it’s happiest. That’s when it’s really gonna give you them big, beautiful leaves. Perfect for a nice tomato salad, with a bit of onion and some good vinegar.
But when it gets cold, oh boy, it’s a different story. The leaves get dark, almost black. They don’t look so good at all. It’s like when my old dog got sick, just not itself at all. You need to watch the temperature for your basil, just like you need to watch your kids and pets.
- If it gets near 50 degrees, watch out!
- If it gets to 45 degrees or below, you might lose your basil!
- Basil loves the sun, 6 to 8 hours a day is good.
- 80 to 90 degrees is the best temperature for basil.
You know, I remember one year, we had a real cold snap. Came outta nowhere. I had my basil in a pot on the porch, and I nearly lost the whole thing. Had to bring it inside real quick, set it by the window where it could get some sun. It was a close call, I tell ya. The leaves turned all black and ugly. I thought it was a goner for sure, but I brought it inside, and wouldn’t you know, it perked right back up! It is a miracle, that thing lived.
Some folks, they got them fancy greenhouses. They can keep their basil goin’ all year round. Me, I just bring mine inside when it gets cold. Find a sunny spot, keep it watered, and it does just fine. Nothin’ fancy, just good old-fashioned care. That’s all it takes. This herb is easy to grow if you find a sunny spot for it. If you can’t find a sunny spot, you can use those grow light. It is easy.
If you got your basil in the ground, well, you can try coverin’ it up when it gets cold. Some folks use them plastic things, like little tents. I just use old blankets. Anything to keep the frost off. It ain’t foolproof, but it helps. You gotta do what you can, right?
And if you don’t have a sunny spot inside, well, you can use a lamp. A good strong light, close to the basil. You need a lot of artificial light, or it is not gonna work. Those basil need the light. If you do that, you will have basil even in the winter, that thing is tasty. Some people dry them or put them in oil, that will make them last longer.
So, remember, what temperature is too cold for basil? Anything below 50 is bad, and 45 or below is gonna kill it. Keep it warm, give it plenty of sun, and it’ll give you plenty of good eatin’. Just like my old rooster, treat it right, and it’ll reward ya. And that’s all there is to it. It ain’t rocket science, just good old common sense. And that’s somethin’ you don’t need no fancy schoolin’ to learn.
