Always have the fresh scents and flavors of basil on hand by starting the seeds in your home.
There’s something refreshing about the summery aroma ofbasilgrowing indoors on a windowsill.
When you gently brush the plant, the vibrant scent quickly fills the air.
Credit: Kim Cornelison
How to Grow Basil Indoors from Seed
1.
Plant basil seed at the right time.
Basil is one of the easiest herbs togrow from seed.
Credit: Jacob Fox
Read the seed packets to know how many weeks of growth your plants need before being moved outdoors.
Gardeners who live in a mild climate can transplant seedlings into the garden most of the year.
Pre-moisten the soil so it’s slightly damp to keep your seeds from shifting whenyou first water them.
Then, loosely fill small containers with high-quality potting soil.
If your pot doesn’t have drainage, create holes in the bottom.
Plant, water, and cover the seeds.
Plant the seeds by gently pressing them into the soil with your finger.
This will keep the soil mix and seed warm to encourage germination.
Provide plenty of light.
Basil grown indoors needs lots of light.
When the seedlings emerge, remove the plastic wrap or covers.
Increase air circulation and humidity.
Fill the tray with water until the water’s surface is just below each pot’s bottom.
Another option is toplace a humidifier nearby.
Once the indoor basil seedlings start growing, don’t let the soil dry out.
It’s essential to keep your basil plants well-hydrated at this stage to encourage healthy root growth.
This helps your plants become larger and more efficient at absorbing water andnutrients from the soil.
Harden off the plants.
About a week before transplanting your seedlings, gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions.
Remember to bring them indoors again at night.
Over the next few days, gradually increase the time they spend outdoors.
By the end of the week, the plants should be acclimated and ready to be transplanted.
To do this, take a basil plant and cut its stems to 3 to 4 inches long.
Strip off any leaves that would be underwater.
Fill a glass with 2 inches of water and place the stems in the glass.
As the stems start growing roots, change the water every few days.
This discourages bacteria that can create an unhealthy situation for your basil cuttings.
When the roots are about an inch long, transplant the cuttings into fresh potting mix.
Keep your newbasil plants well-wateredfor the first week or two.
Thai food fans will devour thischicken curryloaded with basil.
