I've had mine out for a few weeks. It seems to be doing fine. The other herbs like thyme and sage are going wild.

The tipoff that hot climate plants are being chilled is yellowish growth tips. Basil in particular is very good about sporting these when it has gotten too cold for it. Retail nurseries here have had their tomato plants etc. all sitting out through the recent cold, damp weather patterns. And they look like it.

You must be in a cool location, 5 Celcius!? . I've not seen anything on my digital thermometer below 50.6F (10.3C) for the last couple of months. Then again, I've not seen anything above 70F (21C) since the end of May.

Cheers, Barrie.

Yup, Barrie, 5C. We've put winter blankets back on the horses some nights because they've been so miserable. And then, back around the end of May, we had a few days in the upper twenties.

Well, I might give the basil a go.

Of course, Barrie does have the sensor for that thermometer located inside his greenhouse...

Since we have cool nights most of the year it's really better to grow tender crops under plastic anyway.

Ron B, you're right!
So...I acually have 2 thermometer units. One for the North shaded side of the garden, and one inside the greenhouse. It's interesting to experiment with placing the sensor in different locations to find micro-climates.

Cheers, Barrie.

Too cool at night here in Nanaimo, 5 C lastnight and the basil has yellowed. Other herbs are fine. Cool and damp.
At least, no snow or frost. :)

cheers
David

My basil hasn't grow at all. Still 2" tall and they were out in the beginning of May. Sigh. Guess I better just but some seedlings now. They must've been stunted.

My yardlong beans are also yellowing. Guess the weather has been kinda chilly. Night time temperature in Vancouver is about 10'c.

Helen

I'm no basil grower, but 5 degrees centigrade is way off the scale for me. Here in Lantzville I recorded an over night low of 11.2C. It did warm up nicely to 21C today. Forcasts called for rain but none came (yet). I'm waiting for the heat to come so my grass will die off for the summer.
Cheers, Barrie.

I've hesitated to put mine outside yet because of the cool nights. I started numerous seedlings inside under lights, and some are +/- 6" tall from small cell packs, though not too bushy. Others that were transplanted into bigger pots are better looking (bush types are nice). Guess I could put at least some of them outside in mini-greenhouse; they need potting up.

I bought an African blue basil plant and wanted to make it bushier... put some of the stems in water and they have rooted. Haven't tasted it separate from other basils but am wondering if I can keep it (& others?) going by cuttings, rather like coleus, over the winter.

We might end up with a bigger electrical bill this winter... the basils seem like they like it indoors, and yum, it's so nice to snip some leaves for dinner :-). Maybe will try some dwarf tomatoes and peppers over winter too; have some peppers fruiting indoors, albeit not prolifically so far.

I have genovese Basil seedlings that have been up since early may. They still have just two leaves! I haven't ever had them inside, as I winter sowed them. We have had a few warmer days this week and I keep looking for a second set of leaves but no go yet! :-)

Tender plants may dawdle for a long time, once they have been checked by low temperatures.

I planted three rows of basil in my vegetable garden during that warm spell early May and they all stunted. However at the same time I planted five plants in a container on my south-facing deck and they are doing beautifully (at least eight inches tall now). Could be a difference in soil, but I believe that the difference was the result of temperature and plant protection.