Easy Ways to Grow Basil from Seed (Inside or Outside)

Discover all the secrets to grow basil from seed with these simple steps.

You can grow basil indoors, outdoors, in the ground, or in pots with minimal upkeep. Plus, basil is one of those herbs that just gives and gives.

Basil grows very fast, smells and tastes amazing, and can be used in so many recipes. Starting basil seeds is actually pretty quick and easy too, so it is great for the beginner herb gardener.

So, if you are ready to grow some delicious and aromatic basil, then keep reading to find out all about planting basil seeds!

Table of contents:

• Benefits of Growing Basil from Seeds
• How to Grow Basil from Seed Indoors
• Direct Sow Basil in the Garden
• Starting Basil Seeds in Pots Outdoors
• Care and Maintenance of Basil Seedlings
• FAQs

Benefits of Growing Basil from Seeds:

I enjoy starting my herbs from seed because it saves so much money. And the quality just can’t be beat.

Just a few basil seeds (that cost actual pennies) can provide fresh basil all year.

Think about that the next time you are at the grocery store looking at the little pack of wilted “fresh” basil they are selling for $3-$5 each.

Basil is an tender annual herb that prefers warm weather, and will not survive a frost. So, if you can learn to grow it from seed it will save you from having to buy basil plants every summer from the garden center.

And then, to take that further… if you also learn how to save your own basil seeds, then your basil is basically free!

Another great bonus of starting basil from seeds is that you get so much more variety. When you go out to the garden center you usually find Genovese or sweet basil. But, there are so many other kinds; Thai basil, purple basil, lemon basil, cinnamon basil… and the list goes on.

Here is a great website where you can order almost any variety of basil seed or herb seed you could dream of. It is called Richter’s Herbs.

How to Grow Basil from Seed Indoors

You will have much more control when germinating basil seeds indoors. This is because you can easily control the environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and watering. There will also be no pests to deal with (or pesky squirrels digging through the soil).

On the flip side, you will need a little more equipment than when you just direct sow out in the garden.

Here is an extra tip for you: I have tried “seed starting” potting mix in the past and noticed no difference except that it is more expensive and you get less of it.

So, I wouldn’t bother with that and just choose a good quality potting mix instead.

Materials Needed:

• basil seeds
• a small pot with drainage
• good quality potting mix (does not have to be “seed starting mix”)
• grow light or a very sunny window
• spray bottle or watering can

Steps:

1. Pre-moisten soil so it is nice and damp, but not dripping wet
2. gently pack the soil into your pot, and leave a little room at the top of the container
3. sprinkle your basil seeds over the surface of the soil
4. Then sprinkle another layer of soil over top (just cover the seeds about twice their width)
5. mist the soil with a spray bottle to settle it in around the seeds
6. cover with plastic wrap and leave in a warm spot of your home
   • no need to provide light just yet
   • your regular home temperature from 68-72 degrees should be fine
   • if your home is warmer they may sprout sooner, if it is colder it could take longer
7. You should see your first basil leaves sprouting through the soil in about 4 days
   • the minute you see leaves poke through the soil – remove the plastic wrap and provide basil seedlings with good light

I generally do not water my seeds in the beginning until after I see sprouts. You will want to water very lightly at first because the roots are very small and can only take up so much.

You can read more about how to care for your basil seedlings below.

If you are growing basil indoors year-round then feel free to put them in their final home and continue to let them grow. Be sure to check out my complete guide to growing herbs indoors as well.

If you want to move them outside then see below for instructions on how to harden them off before they make their big debut to the great outdoors.

Direct Sow Basil Seeds in the Garden

You will need a lot less equipment and set up to plant basil seeds directly into the garden. This is because you will be relying on mother nature to tend to the seeds (mostly).

You will really need to keep an eye on them as well though.

Since we are relying on mother nature it is important to look at your long range forecast before planting. Try to plant when the whether is more favourable.

Light rain and cloudy is good, very hot and dry, or very heavy rain is not the best. So, I would plant your basil seeds well before or after these types of events.

Also be sure you are beyond your last frost date as basil will not survive a frost.

Materials Needed:

• basil seeds
• small hand rake
• watering can

As I write this, I realize the list really is that small – wow.

Steps:

1. select an area that will get full sun and not have too soggy soil
2. gently fluff up the surface of the soil with a rake
   • you could also work in some nutrient rich compost at this point as well
3. create a small hole with your finger only twice the depth as the seed is wide
4. put about 4-5 seeds per hole
5. gently cover over with soil and water in
6. optional: you can add an old glass pickle jar (or something similar) over your seeds to protect them and create a greenhouse effect until they sprout
   • once sprouted make sure you remove this

Now that you have planted your basil seeds you will want to watch them very carefully.

Be sure to keep the soil evenly moist. You also don’t want the soil to dry out completely if the sun is extra hot. I would check on them daily.

You should see sprouts in about 4-8 days depending on the weather. See below for more on how to care for your basil seedlings.

Starting Basil Seeds in Pots Outdoors

If you are growing a patio herb garden, you can sow your basil seeds outdoors right in the container you want them to live in for the summer.

You may follow the same steps of direct sowing basil in the garden as outlined above.

The only additions will be to make sure you use a good quality potting mix and a pot no smaller than 6 inches in diameter with good drainage.

Care and Maintenance of basil Seedlings

Basil seedlings will be somewhat fragile at first until they get their first set of true leaves. True leaves will look like the mature basil leaves.

You want to provide good lighting so they do not get leggy. This could be from a grow light, or the sun if they were started outside in warm weather.

Watering should be quite minimal at first so your seedlings don’t develope root rot or damping off.

Check the soil daily and make sure it stays lightly moist. Like a damp sponge.

If you started your herb seeds indoors, then you will need to harden them off before moving outside.

You can do this by putting your basil seedlings out on a warm day for about an hour to get them used to the intensity of the sun.

Each day you will increase the length of time that you leave them outside. Until eventually they can just be outside full time.

Bonus tip: if you started a bunch of basil seeds in one pot and are now looking to plant out in the garden or a bigger pot… you can divide the root ball in half or in quarters and end up with more basil plants.

FAQs:

How long does it take to grow basil from seed?

Basil seeds will germinate in about 4-8 days depending on the temperature and soil moisture levels. They will grow slowly at first, but with the right care they really take off.

You should be able to harvest your first basil leaves in about 4-6 weeks give or take.

Should I soak Basil seeds before planting?

Basil seeds do not need to be soaked before planting. This is more beneficial with larger seeds. Since basil seeds are small, they will easily soak up water and start germinating just by being planted in the soil.

Do basil seeds need cold stratification?

No, basil seeds do not need cold stratification. You can easily start them from seed without this step.

when to grow basil?

You can grow basil any time of year depending on how you do it. If you are having cold winter weather, then basil can happily grow indoors with good lighting. If you are growing outdoors, then you will want to wait until after your last frost.

How long does basil take to germinate?

Basil seeds can take anywhere from 4-8 days to germinate. There are quite a few factors that contribute to this and you can read about it in my post all about how long herb seeds take to sprout.

Can you winter sow basil?

No, I would not recommend winter sowing basil. This is because basil is a tender annual and will not be able to handle colder temperatures or a frost. It may stunt or kill your basil seedlings if it gets too cold. It is best to start your basil seeds indoors, or wait until the frost has passed.

Well, I hope you learned something new and feel confident to get out there and grow some yummy basil. Best of luck!

Until next time!