Upon Arrival…
- Remove your plants from all packaging and inspect the condition of the growth. If you are concerned with the condition, please email us an image within 5 days of delivery.
- If the soil seems dry upon arrival this is okay, just make sure to give the plants a good watering! They will perk up once placed in a bright location!
- The new plants will need time to acclimate before they can be replanted or moved outside. We recommend placing the plant start in a bright location inside for 1-2 days. This will help perk them up!
- Any dried or yellow leaves should be removed prior to transplanting. Plants may appear wilted or dried out upon arrival, this is normal during the transit process due to lack of sunlight.
- The new plant start plugs can be safely transplanted outside into the ground or containers once nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.
Planting Advice…
Planting Depth and Spacing: Dig a hole that is a little larger than the size of the plug, the top of the plug should be flush with the soil line once planted. The plug should not be sticking out of the soil. The basil should be spaced 10-12” apart and tomatoes about 36” apart.
Potted Plants: When choosing a container for planting, it is crucial there are draining holes. Any excess water that is trapped can cause the roots to rot.
Basil should be repotted into 8-12” pots and Tomatoes should be repotted into 16-24” pots. This will allow the container to be lush and fill out nicely!
Soil Preparation: It is important that your soil is well draining. Always start with fresh soil or by amending your current soil. Mixing in a multi-purpose potting soil works great!
Watering: Tomatoes produce much better when they are watered thoroughly frequently. Once the top inch of the soil is dry, it is time to water. If the soil gets too dry, the plant can get black spots. Basil does best with water every few days. For both soil should remain moist but not overly saturated. Watering may need to be increased in the hot summer conditions. Avoid getting the leaves wet as this may cause them to burn in the summer.
Fertilize: We recommend using an All Purpose Fertilizer, we recommend using
Jacks All Purpose Fertilizer 20-20-20. This can be used once every 14 days, be sure to only water the soil and avoid the foliage. See package for specific instructions.
Support: Once the Tomatoes gets about 12 inches tall, they will need support. We suggest a large tomato cage!
Harvest time: In the correct conditions, you can start to harvest your basil in about 30 days and Tomatoes can be harvested in about 50 days!
Winter care: Tomatoes will be an annual and can be discarded once they stop producing fruit. Basil can be brought indoors and placed in a sunny location during the colder months. Basil can remain outside as long as temperatures do not go below 50 degrees.