Planting Basil Seeds
Follow these steps to successfully plant and harvest basil right in the comfort of your own home or garden. We will all start seeds indoors, and those lucky enough to have an outdoor, sunny garden can transplant seedlings to the garden after 6 to 8 weeks. The rest of us will keep our basil indoors.
Selecting the Right Container:
Drainage holes: Choose a container with drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
If your basil is going to stay indoors, find a container that is at least 2 gallons: Ensure it's large enough to accommodate the basil plant's root system and leaves room for growth. The recommended pot size for growing indoor basil is at least 2 gallons in volume and 8-10 inches wide. This provides enough room for the roots of 1 basil plant to spread out and prevents overcrowding. If you only have a smaller container, that is fine for now, but make sure to transplant your basil to a larger container as it grows.
If you are transplanting your basil outdoors after 6-8 weeks, then a 2” container is big enough for each basil seedling.
Selecting Soil: Use a high-quality potting mix. It should be well-draining and nutrient-rich. If you are re-using potting mix, add compost to ensure there are enough nutrients for the basil to thrive.
Filling Your Container(s): Fill your chosen containers with the potting mix, leaving about an inch of space between the soil surface and the rim of the container.
Sowing Seeds:
With your finger or a pencil, create a shallow indent, about ⅛” deep, in the middle of the container.
Add 3-5 basil seeds to that indent.
Cover with soil.
Watering: Seeds sprout best when in constantly moist soil. Water the soil slowly and around the seeds (not right on top) to avoid the seeds to float away.
Lighting: During sprouting, plants don’t need light. But the second the seeds sprout and you see green, make sure that your container is in a location that receives at least 8 hours of sunlight each day, ideally more. If natural light is limited, consider supplementing with a grow light.
If you have an outdoor garden, you can transplant your basil seedlings outdoors after your region’s last average frost date. If you’re not sure what yours is, you can find it here: https://www.almanac.com/gardening/frostdates.
For outdoor growing:
Timing: Plant basil seedlings outdoors after the danger of frost has passed in your area.
Selecting the Right Location: Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well-drained soil for planting basil. Basil thrives in full sunlight, so aim for a location that receives at least 8 hours of direct sunlight each day.
Preparing the Soil: Before planting, prepare the soil by loosening it, for instance with a garden fork, to a depth of about 6-8 inches. Remove any weeds, rocks, or debris, and amend the soil with compost or aged manure to improve drainage and fertility.
Spacing: Space plants about 8-12 inches apart. Gently water the soil after planting, around the seeds and not on top of them as that may cause the seeds to float away.
Watering: Water your plants when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Even though they say “water your plants,” water your soil and not the plant itself. Instead, water a circle around the seedling.
Water your plants deeply, meaning, give it a lot of water, and wait as long as it takes for the top inch to dry. Avoid watering your plant if the top inch of soil is still moist.
Mulching: Apply a layer of organic mulch, such as straw or shredded leaves, around your basil plants to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.
