Planting Guide – Starting Basil from Seed

Herb gardens are one of the easiest way to start your own little patch of food.  They can grow in window sills, patio containers, garden boxes, or be integrated right into your existing landscaping.  They are pretty versatile that way.  Even if you don’t cook regularly with fresh herbs, they are easy to dry and use all winter long.

Basil is one of my favorite herbs to grow, probably largely because I LOVE me some pesto, and partly because it is low maintenance.

I like to grow:

• Purple Basil 
• Lemon Basil
• Italian Genovese {this makes the BEST pesto}

How to Grow Basil from Seed:

I usually start my basil indoors under grow lights and then transplant it outside when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees.  Occasionally, I’ll leave a couple of the seedlings in pots in south facing windows indoors, instead of transplanting them at all.  To start them inside, plant them about 6-8 weeks before the average last frost.  Fill your containers with grow medium, water it well.  Plant 3 or so seeds per pot about 1/4″ deep.  Thin them to one per pot when the seedlings reach 2″ tall.  Place it under the grow light {set the grow light about 6″ above the dirt line}, and keep it watered consistently.

Basil is happy to stay indoors as long as you need, and is extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, so don’t be in a rush to transplant it outdoors.

When is Basil Ready to Harvest?

Basil leaves can be pinched off as needed anytime after the leaves have grown to about 1″ across.  The more frequently you pinch the leaves, the better the plant will produce.  If you want to pick the whole plant, you can cut off the top 3″ or so, and it will still regrow.  Once a basil plant flowers, it can affect the flavor.

Random Facts That Will Impress No One:

Basil actually belongs to the mint family.  I wonder if that means I should try dropping some leaves into a Mojito?

Basil has long been used in natural medicine.  It contains compounds that give it anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.  While I don’t use it for those reasons, I do find a good pesto pretty darn uplifting.

Basil is an excellent source of iron.  100g of basil will provide you with 40% of your daily recommendation.

What’s in your herb garden?

~Mavis

P.S. For additional planting tips and killer recipe suggestions for your entire herb garden, I highly recommend you check out Grow Cook Eat by Willi Galloway.  It’s a cookbook specifically designed for the home gardener.