Growing Basil from Seed

 

Basil is one of my favorite things to grow because it is fast growing and hard kill. You can have fresh basil leaves ready to harvest and use in your home cooking as early as a month after planting! 

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• Ideal Soil pH: 6.0

• Ideal Climate: Anywhere that is moderately warm to hot during growing season

• Daily sunlight for mature plants: 6 - 8 hours

• Watering mature bushes: 2 - 3 times per week (let the soil dry out between watering)

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Step 1: Plant Basil in Containers or Sow in Garden?

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I 100% recommend growing basil in containers because you can start it earlier in the season indoors and then keep it indoors (in your kitchen) if you'd like or move it outside to a back patio. Containers also help keep insects from eating holes in your basil leaves! Basil plants can be planted in just about anything, from mason jars to small pots to homemade herb boxes. 

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Step 2: Where to get Basil Seeds

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You can get herbs seed just about anywhere including; home improvement stores, grocery stores, nurseries, and of course, online. I personally have always used Burpee sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) and have always gotten plants with big tasty leaves that grow very quickly.

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Step 3: Germinating Basil seeds

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Start the germination process indoors around the very beginning of spring. Some people like to start basil seeds in starter cells but I always started them out right in the container that I plan to keep them in and they have always done well. Fill your containers with potting soil that has a pH around 6 and is well-drained. Water the soil until it is moist all the way through (but not soaked), it should be just moist enough to hold its shape if you squeeze some together in your hand. Make holes that are 1/4 inch deep and place 2 seeds in each. Fill in the holes but do not compact soil over the seeds. Add a little more water (preferably with spray bottle) directly over where the seeds were planted and then place the containers in a warm location. If your house is still a little chilly because the the weather isn't playing nice yet, keep your containers next to vents that warm air comes through. I have also used the trick of placing the containers in the bathroom after I shower while it is still warm and moist (don't turn on your bathroom fan when you shower, let it get steamy). Your seeds should take anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks to germinate and you will see little sprouts.

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Step 4: Caring for Basil Seedlings

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If your containers aren't already in a sunny location then it is time to move it to one after the seeds have sprouted. For young basil the more sun the better! This may mean moving it from different windows throughout the day to get it as much sunlight as possible (try to get your plants 10-12 hours of sunlight in these early stages). While the plants are young keep the soil fairly moist but be very careful not to over water. Over watering is generally worse than under watering when it comes to basil. Also it is best not to water the seedlings right at their base, water around the edges of your pot or in between plants and let it soak in. Watering right at the base can make the roots too wet and lead to rot.

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Step 5: Moving the Basil Plant Outside Permanently (if you chose)

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If you choose to move your plants outside you will need to "harden" them first given they are accustomed to indoor conditions. To do this move the plants outside to an area that is protected from wind and excessive direct sunlight for a week. If temperatures are still dropping below 45 degrees Fahrenheit at night then bring them inside until the morning. 

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After a week, you can move your plants to a location of your choosing! Find a place that gets around 8 hours of sunlight a day. If the leaves seem to be getting damaged from too much direct sun or high temperatures then move the basil to an area that gets sun about half the day and is shaded the other half the day. 

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Step 6: Watering Basil Plants

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When it comes to basil remember that under watering is better than over watering. Wait until the soil is dried out before watering. This should be 2 to 3 times a week and try not to water directly at the base of the plant, soaking the roots to much can cause rot. Water around the outside of the container and in between the plants. Try to water in the morning so that the any water that gets on the plant/leaves has time to dry off before the evening, this should help prevent diseases. 

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Step 7: Harvesting Basil

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Your first leaves should be ready to harvest after about 1 to 2 months. You can harvest any size leave you want and they should all have similar flavor but generally harvest the bigger leaves first to encourage continued growth. Pinching off the stem to harvest a set of leaves can increase bushiness over time.

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Step 8: Pluck Flower Buds off of Basil Plant

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When you see flower buds starting to form pluck them off (gently) so that the plant continues to grow. Even if you don't catch the buds until they have started to open and flower, still pluck them and your plants should continue to grow. If the you wait too long the plant will have gone to seed and will no longer produce new basil leaves.