Basil is one of the most popular herbs to grow and eat! In many areas, basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow from seed. In this complete guide, you’ll learn which basil is best to grow and the step-by-step process to follow to grow this herb successfully.

What type of basil should you grow?

If you would like to grow fresh basil from seed then the first thing to think about is which type of basil seedlings you would like to grow.

Most of the varieties of basil that are commonly grown in gardens, as culinary herbs, belong to the species Ocimum basilicum.

Ocimum basilicum is also known as sweet basil or "purple basil". There are numerous varieties and named cultivars to choose from within this species, all of which have distinctive characteristics when it comes to their appearance and taste.

There are also other species within the Ocimum genus, also commonly called basil. And there are hybrids of sweet basil and other Ocimum species too.

Some common types of basil that you might like to consider growing include:

Sweet basil variants such as:

Genovese basil
Lettuce leaf basils
Purple/ red basils
Globe basil/ Dwarf basil/ French basil
Thai basil
Cinnamon basil/ Mexican spice basil
Greek basil.

Hybrids such as:

Lemon Basil
Spice Basil
African Blue Basil.

Or other basils such as:

American basil/ Lime basil
Holy basil
Camphor basil
Clove basil.

Most of these, while they differ somewhat, and often quite markedly, in their appearance, aroma and taste, are usually broadly similar when it comes to the conditions and care they require.

Is it hard to grow basil from seed?

Growing basil from seed is not typically too much of a challenge, as long as you follow the right method, and choose the right location for your basil to grow. Generally speaking, growing basil is a breeze in a warm climate, and a little more complex, though still relatively easy, in cooler climate areas.

There are numerous reasons to grow basil, even where it is slightly more challenging to do so. The herbs listed above not only have edible uses, as pot herbs. They also often have fascinating medicinal properties, are a good companion, and possess other uses within your home.

In the garden, basil really comes into its own – as a wonderful boon for wildlife and a help to the gardener in attracting pollinators and in organic pest control. Basils in the garden can look great too – and there are options with green leaves and purple leaves, and some plant flowers are particularly attractive ... Some smell wonderful too.

In order to decide where to grow basil in your garden, it is important to think first of all about the fundamental needs of these plants. You should begin by thinking about sun/ light levels, temperature, and soil.

What lighting conditions does it need?

Basil in temperate climates typically does best under hours of full sun or only very light shade. In most gardens, therefore, it is best to grow basil in a sunny spot, with at least six hours of sunshine per day.

However, in warmer climes, some shade can be beneficial for basil in order to help retain soil moisture or growing medium and to make sure the plant's leaves are not scorched by the sun during the hottest part of the day.

What temperature does it need to grow?

Basil requires reasonably warm temperatures to grow well. Remember, this is a plant that originated in tropical climates. It is native to tropical climate zones from Central Africa to Southeast Asia. So when growing it in cooler climates, this is something that we need to bear in mind.

Basil can be a perennial plant outdoors in areas where the temperatures do not fall below 5-10 degrees C. However, in temperate climates, these herbs are typically grown as annual plants and sown and grown for a single growing season, over the summer months.

What is the best soil to grow basil in?

Basil requires a fertile, and moist but free-draining soil or growing medium. It will do best with a pH of between 6 and 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).

In order to determine whether it would be best for you to grow in the ground, or in larger pot, it can be helpful to think about the soil in your garden, and whether it already provides (or could be amended to provide) those conditions.

Deciding Where to Grow Basil

Once you have a basic understanding of the needs of basil plants, you can start to think about where you might be able to grow it where you live, and which growing location and methods will allow you to grow this herb most successfully.

Is it better to grow it indoors or outdoors?

If you live in an area where the right conditions can be provided in your garden, it will certainly be best to grow basil outdoors. Basil grows best outdoors because of its light requirements, and because of the challenges in maintaining the right humidity levels inside your home.

Growing outside, where possible, also makes pest control easier. Since you will have a range of beneficial creatures aiding you in your gardening efforts. Inside your home, you will have to take care of all your plant's water needs, and will need to deal with any pests on your own.

However, in cooler climates, basil can struggle outdoors, even in summer. Remember, when choosing plants for our gardens, we need to think about summer heat as well as winter weather. Cold weather can come with the danger of frost, which can result in damage to new leaves, flower buds, and busy growth. Cooler summers and early spring may not be ideal for basil to grow as well, so indoors or under cover cultivation will often provide the best results.

Where to grow it in your garden

When growing basil outdoors in a garden, whether in cooler temperate climates or warmer climate zones, there are a number of different places that you might choose to place the plant.

You might grow basil:

In pots or other shallow containers outdoors, either on their own or in planters with other herbs or leafy greens that like similar growing conditions.
In a vertical garden structure, within planting pockets.
In a dedicated herb garden (either a regular in-ground or raised bed, or a specialized growing area like a herb spiral).
In your vegetable garden (as a companion plant, basil makes a great companion for a number of common annual crops and we will discuss this in a little more depth later in this guide).
In flower beds or borders. Some basils in particular are extremely ornamental and look great mixed in with other flowering herbs and other edible and/or ornamental flowers.
In the sunny fringes of a food forest/ forest garden, where, again, basil can be useful as a companion plant.
Selecting the right spot means not only thinking about basil and its needs, but also thinking holistically about your space, and about the planting schemes you have, or wish to create.

Step-by-step Instructions: How To Grow Basil

Once you have selected your basil and thought about where you will grow it, now is the right time to get started.

How and when to sow seeds.

Typically, basil seeds in temperate climates are sown indoors around 4-6 weeks before the last frost date in the area. Though you can also sow basil seeds later and still obtain a worthwhile harvest by the end of the year – perhaps even as late as mid-summer in some regions.

Basil can also be direct sown into the garden once all risk of frost has passed where you live. The latter can be more successful in warmer areas, and where the warm soil will ease the sowing process. In cooler climates, it can be more of a challenge to get good germination rates when direct sowing outdoors.

It is important to note that some basil varieties and cultivars have better germination rates than others, and some are more finicky when it comes to germination temperatures. Some may do best if heated propagators or heat mats are used.

However, generally speaking, sweet basil is rather easy to germinate successfully, and germination rates tend to be reasonably high. The seeds will typically germinate well, providing the soil temperature is sufficiently high, on a sunny windowsill.

When sowing indoors, the seeds can be sown into seed trays, small pots, or soil blocks, filled with or made from a good quality, peat-free seed starting compost. The medium should be moist yet friable and free draining.

Place the seeds on the surface of the growing medium and then cover them lightly with around 1/4 inch of the potting mix or soil. (But Holy Basil needs some light for germination, so sow more shallowly than other basils.)

Within a week or two, young seedlings will emerge. Make sure these are kept in a bright, warm location and keep the soil moist but not saturated.

Once the seedlings develop their first true pairs of leaves, you can prick them out and pot them on as required into their own individual pots around 7.5cm / 3 inches wide, filled with a peat-free multi-purpose compost or potting mix.

If you plan on keeping your basil in containers, you can keep potting up your basil into a larger container every time roots show through drainage holes at the base.

How to plant basil seedlings.

Though growing basil from seed packets is pretty easy on the whole, you might also consider purchasing basil in pots from garden centers, grocery store(s), plant nurseries, or other shops.

Whether you have started your own basil from seed indoors or purchased potted plants or starts, you should make sure that you plant out your basil in your garden only after any risk of frost has passed in your area.

Basil plants should typically be placed around 10-20cm / 4-8 inches apart for most varietals and cultivars, 18 inches between rows if row growing. Though, of course, some basil grows much larger than others, so this should be taken into account when considering how you will space plants in your garden.

What should you plant next to basil?

When planting basil in your garden, it is a great idea to think about what other plants should be grown close by. By choosing the right companion plants in your garden, you can ensure a healthy system with great biodiversity and as many beneficial interactions as possible to boost resilience and keep the system functioning as it should.

Basil is a great companion plant for numerous other plants that you might grow. It can bring benefits by attracting beneficial wildlife, including pollinators, when the plants are in flower. And can also repel, confuse or distract pest species as an aromatic herb. What is more, basil can be great for ground cover – helping to protect the soil and conserve moisture.

In the vegetable garden, basil is famously a wonderful companion for tomato plants. It is also great paired with any other member of the mint family, such as thyme and lemon balm, for example.

Remember, when choosing companion plants for basil, that basil needs well-draining soil conditions but also consistent moisture through the growing season. Well-drained soil helps avoid dreaded root rot, so keep good drainage at the top of your mind.

Caring for basil.

As long as basil is placed in an appropriate position, the most important thing when it comes to its care is ensuring consistent moisture through the growing season. Make sure that you have plans in place for watering/irrigation, especially where plants won't get natural rainfall or where rainfall is scarce.

Remember that plants growing in containers will typically require more frequent watering than those growing in the ground.

When watering, aim to direct water to where it is required – in the soil at the base of the plants where it can be taken up by plant roots.

Basil growing in moist soil will take the nutrients it requires from the soil. So ensuring a healthy soil ecosystem is the most fundamental step in ensuring the fertility needs are met. Mulching around the plants with organic matter can help provide the nutrients your basil plants need throughout the growing season.

Where soil may leave something to be desired, and especially when growing in pots or other containers, maintaining fertility through feeding basil with organic liquid plants feeds through summer can also be beneficial. A nitrogen-rich balanced plant feed such as nettle tea, or compost tea, can help these leafy herbs to thrive.

When should you harvest basil leaves?

Basil leaves can be harvested at any stage once plants reach a reasonable size and are fairly well established in their growing position. Leaves can be taken little and often and in fact, regular harvesting is part of the care of these plants, since taking tip growth encourages the plants to bush out and grow into healthier specimens with lots of leaves. The more you harvest (within reason) the more fresh leaves will grow.

Basil tastes better before the plant flowers. So gardeners will often nip out flowering stems when these arise, to encourage the plant's bushy growth production for longer. However, for the environmental and gardening benefits, it is a great idea to let at least some of your basil flowers – for the benefit of bees and other wildlife.

How long does a this plant last?

In USDA zones 10 and above, in warmer and tropical climate zones, basil is a perennial plant that can survive over several years. However, it is worth noting that the flavor of basil is generally best in its first year. So even where it can perennialize, it is often still best in many cases to consider it an annual when you wish to use it for culinary purposes. However, providing that temperatures can remain high enough in the growing location throughout the year, many basil plants can last several years before it is best to replace them. In cooler areas, such as the PNW, basil plants need to be replanted each year.

FAQ

Basil is a relatively easy herb to grow, which will be somewhat easier in a warmer climate. However, as long as you choose the right location to grow basil where you live, it can be pretty easy to grow even in cooler areas.
There is generally no need to soak basil seeds before planting, as the seeds will typically germinate well as long as sufficient temperatures and the right conditions are provided.
Seeds will typically germinate within 5-10 days or so. You can start to harvest from the growing tips of a basil plant as soon, generally speaking as 5-6 pairs of leaves have formed. How long this takes will depend on a range of factors, but you can usually expect to harvest basil from spring-sown seed by early-mid summer.
In many areas, July is a little late to sow basil seeds, but is the last month that you might be able to get away with it. Whether or not sowing this late is a good idea depends on where you live and the conditions to be found there – the summer temperatures, length of growing season, precipitation levels and more all come into play. But generally speaking, it is best to sow seeds earlier because it will give you a longer harvesting period.
Coffee grounds contain nutrients, especially nitrogen, that basil requires. When laid as a mulch around plants, they provide slow-release fertility. However, it is important to be careful how you use them around your plants, even ones like basil that like plenty of nitrogen because they also contain caffeine which has been shown in various studies to stunt plant growth. As a slow release fertilizer, coffee grounds could potentially be added to a mulch containing other organic materials with beneficial effect. But it is not a good idea to use coffee grounds as a mulch on their own around your basil. They compact too easily, reducing air flow to the soil and preventing water from reaching plant roots where it is needed. Adding coffee grounds (but only in moderation, in small amounts mixed in with other ingredients) to your compost heap and then using the compost around your basil is a better idea.

Final Words

Basil is one of the world's top favorite herbs, making growing it yourself at home that much more special. You can do so relatively easily no matter where you live, as long as you choose the right growing location. So why not give it a go and grow your own basil from seed.

How To Grow Basil From Seed: Your Complete Guide

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What type of basil should you grow?