Growing Basil In Pots
A must-have ingredient if you love pesto or Caprese salad, fresh basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a popular herb that can be easily grown in a vegetable or herb garden.
However, if you’re working with a limited growing space, basil can also be kept outdoors in small containers on your patio, or it can be grown indoors on a sunny windowsill.
Pot Selection
Basil plants need at least a 6 to 8” wide pot to grow properly; however, larger containers are always better. Growing your basil in larger pots gives the plant’s roots plenty of room to grow and it can also allow you to grow multiple basil plants together or sow basil with a companion plant like tomatoes.
Soil
Like most other plants, basil will grow best in rich, well-drained soil. Potting soil with a pH level of between 6.0 and 7.5 is ideal. Basil will grow even better if you amend your potting mix with some compost before planting.
Growing Basil From Seed
Growing basil is not complicated, and it’s a great way to save money on your herb garden.
The best time to start basil seeds indoors is in early spring, about 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date. Basil can be planted in either seed starting trays or pots, but the seeds will need warm temperatures and a window with a bright exposure or a grow light to germinate.
Plant basil seeds about ¼” deep, sowing 1 to 2 basil seeds per planting cell in seed starting trays or space seeds at least 1” apart in pots.
These planting instructions will work well for most basil varieties; holy basil seeds should only be lightly pressed into the soil to germinate.
Once your basil seedlings are a few inches tall and have true leaves, thin them out, leaving only the strongest plants behind.
Mini basil
If you live in an urban setting, you may not think you can grow any edible plants. But there’s good news! Basil actually comes in a mini variety that’s ideal for small spaces.
Mini basil is packed with flavor but only grows about 8 to 10” tall.
Watering
Basil hates soggy soil, and you should never water basil when the soil is already very wet. Instead, only water basil about once a week or when the top 1” of soil feels dry to the touch.
Outdoor basil plants should only be given about one inch of water per week. Watering more often can promote soggy soil and lead to issues like root rot. For consistently moist soil, consider adding a layer of mulch around the base of your plants.
Exposure Indoors & Outdoors
Indoor basil should receive about 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Locating your basil in a sunny spot near a south-facing window is recommended, but you can also use a grow light.
Outdoor basil can be grown in full sun, but it may benefit from some light afternoon shade, particularly in hot weather. When exposed to too much bright light, basil leaves can suffer from sunscald and start to discolor.
You can prevent sunscald from occurring by placing your basil pots beneath taller plants or keeping your pots on a lightly shaded patio.
Harvest and Store Basil
You can harvest basil throughout the growing season by pinching off leaves as needed for fresh salads and other recipes. Since basil is an annual, you can also harvest the entire plant in the fall and dry or freeze it for later use.
Fresh basil can be stored in your fridge for about 7 to 10 days. For longer-term storage, dry basil with a dehydrator or chop it and freeze it in ice cube trays to make future food prep a breeze.
Conclusion
Basil is one of the most flavorful herbs you can grow, but it’s also a highly adaptable plant that can thrive in even the smallest spaces. Whether you have basil pots on your patio or a single basil plant in your kitchen, you can harvest an impressive amount of fresh basil from a small container garden.
Happy Gardening,
-JoyUsGarden
Here is a short video I made for Youtube on how to grow Basil from seeds.
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Basil is my favorite herb!! I’ve been growing it in my kitchen all summer…directions said to water from the bottom. But as of late, the plant is turning lime green/yellow (too much water/not enough??) and has gotten leggy - (too much harvesting/need a bigger pot)? Will it come back? Should I cut it all back? And when you say it’s an annual, should I expect it to die out - I’m in Michigan but it’s indoors.