Basil
Optimal Conditions
| Parameter | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Day temperature | 72-82°F | Below 60°F causes chill damage. Sensitive. |
| Night temperature | 62-68°F | Below 50°F = leaf damage |
| VPD | 0.8-1.2 kPa | Moderate |
| DLI | 15-20 mol/m²/d | Minimum 12. More light = more oil = more flavor |
| pH (hydro) | 5.5-6.5 | Flexible |
| EC | 1.0-1.6 mS/cm | Moderate feeder |
| Photoperiod | 14-16 hours | Long days delay flowering |
Diurnal Target Profile (Spring)
| Hour | Temp Min (F) | Temp Max (F) | VPD Min (kPa) | VPD Max (kPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 (midnight) | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 1 | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 2 | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 3 | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 4 | 62 | 68 | 0.28 | 0.62 |
| 5 | 62 | 69 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 6 (dawn) | 63 | 71 | 0.38 | 0.78 |
| 7 | 65 | 74 | 0.48 | 0.90 |
| 8 | 68 | 78 | 0.58 | 1.05 |
| 9 | 70 | 80 | 0.68 | 1.18 |
| 10 | 72 | 82 | 0.75 | 1.28 |
| 11 | 72 | 82 | 0.78 | 1.30 |
| 12 (noon) | 72 | 82 | 0.80 | 1.30 |
| 13 | 72 | 82 | 0.80 | 1.30 |
| 14 | 72 | 82 | 0.78 | 1.28 |
| 15 | 72 | 80 | 0.72 | 1.20 |
| 16 | 70 | 78 | 0.62 | 1.08 |
| 17 | 68 | 76 | 0.52 | 0.95 |
| 18 (dusk) | 66 | 74 | 0.42 | 0.82 |
| 19 | 64 | 72 | 0.36 | 0.72 |
| 20 | 63 | 70 | 0.32 | 0.68 |
| 21 | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 22 | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| 23 | 62 | 68 | 0.30 | 0.65 |
| If planted again, basil would set a high nighttime floor (62F min). Below 50F causes chilling injury. Its VPD ceiling is moderate at 1.30 kPa, making it a future crop that could constrain the upper VPD bound during peak hours. |
Varieties
| Variety | Leaf Size | Flavor | Growth Habit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Genovese | Large | Classic Italian | Bushy, 18-24” | The standard. Best for pesto. |
| Sweet | Large | Mild, classic | Bushy, 18-24” | Versatile culinary |
| Thai | Small | Anise/licorice | Compact, 12-18” | Purple stems. Doesn’t bolt as fast. |
| Lemon | Medium | Citrus | Bushy, 18-24” | Different flavor profile |
| Purple | Medium | Mild | Compact, 12-18” | Ornamental + culinary |
| Recommendation: Genovese as the primary. Thai basil as a complement — it’s more bolt-resistant and adds variety. 5-8 hydro positions per batch. |
Zone Recommendation
Primary: East Zone hydroponic system Basil likes warmth but not extreme heat. The east zone’s 75-91°F range during peak days is within basil’s comfort zone. The critical factor is night temperature — basil is one of the most cold-sensitive herbs. Even the east zone’s overnight lows (mid-60s with house heat contribution) are comfortable. Winter consideration: Basil is the most temperature-sensitive herb. In January, if overnight greenhouse temps drop toward 55°F (the heater engagement point), basil will show chill damage. Keep basil in the warmest available position during winter months, or accept it as a spring-through-fall crop.
Hydroponic Growing Notes
- Fast cycle: Harvestable in 30-45 days from transplant. Fastest productive crop in the greenhouse.
- Pinching is essential. Remove flower buds as they appear to extend leaf production.
- Harvest method: Cut above a leaf node. New branches grow from the node. One plant produces 4-6 harvests over its life.
- Spacing: Every other position for bushy varieties. Can go tighter for Thai basil.
- Value: USD 2-3 per grocery-store bunch. At 4-6 harvests per plant with 8 plants, that’s USD 64-144 in grocery-equivalent value from 8 hydro positions over 3 months.
Succession Planting
| Week | Action |
|---|---|
| 0 | Seed in Jiffy mix, east shelf with heat mat |
| 2 | Transplant to hydro when 2-3 true leaf pairs |
| 4-6 | First harvest (pinch top growth) |
| 6-8 | Second harvest |
| 8-12 | Continue harvesting until plant declines |
| 10 | Start next batch seeds (overlap) |
Longmont-Specific Notes
- Frost sensitivity: Basil is tropical. Longmont’s outdoor frost-free season is too short for outdoor basil to reach full production. The greenhouse eliminates this constraint.
- Dry air benefit: Basil actually tolerates lower humidity better than many herbs. The greenhouse’s dry air (VPD 1.0-2.0) reduces fungal disease risk on leaves.
- Essential oil production: Higher altitude light intensity at 4,979 feet benefits flavor development. → See Other Herbs → See All Crops
Current Light Availability
Catalog Entry
Slug basil; category herb.
Cycle 30-45; scientific name —.
Default DLI; default VPD 0.80-1.20 kPa.
Launch Taxonomy
Does not count toward the active-control crop total. No active planting in v_position_current; kept as a crop profile and prior planting record.
Current occupied positions from v_position_current: none.
Target Bands
66.1–74.0°F; 0.49–0.90 kPa; DLI 14.0. Hours covered: 24.
Current Plantings
No active plantings of this crop type right now.
Latest Vision
No camera observations have been linked to this crop yet.
Planting History
—2026-04-06 to 2026-04-071 days; final stage seedling; events 3.