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How to Plant and Grow Basil

sweet basil leaves as nice natural food background
Photo Credit
Jirik V/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Ocimum basilicum
Plant Type
Herbs
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Slightly Acidic to Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
White

A Fresh Take on Everyone’s Favorite Herb

Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener
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Basil isn’t just for pesto—this fragrant, flavorful herb is a garden MVP. Whether you’re growing it in your backyard, on a patio, or right on your kitchen windowsill, basil is easy to grow and endlessly useful. From starting seeds indoors to snipping the perfect leaves for your next meal, we’ll walk you through how to plant, grow, and harvest basil like a pro.

About Basil

Basil is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae) and one of the most popular culinary herbs. It’s a warm-weather annual that can be planted outdoors once temperatures are consistently above 50°F. 

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Basil is not usually seeded directly into the soil; typically, gardeners transplant small starter plants purchased at a nursery. Or, they may start the seeds themselves indoors under grow lights.

Common or sweet basil, Ocimum basilicum, is the most common basil; other types include purple basil (less sweet than common basil), lemon basil (lemon flavor), and Thai basil (licorice flavor)

If you’re planning on making pesto, grow several plants. For other uses, one or two basil plants yield plenty.

Read Next

Planting

Where to Plant Basil

Basil will grow best in a location that gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun daily, though it can perform well in partial sun, too.

Soil should be moderately fertile and moist but well-draining. Basil works great in containers or raised beds, as these allow for better drainage. The pH of the soil should ideally be in the range of 6.0 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).

If you plan on cooking with these plants, plant in clean soil, don’t use insecticides, and grow them away from driveways and busy streets so exhaust won’t settle on the plants.

When to Plant Basil

  • To get a jump on the season, start the seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before transplanting outside. (See local frost dates.)
  • To plant outside, wait until the soil has warmed to at least 50°F (10°C)—preferably around 70ºF (21°C) for best growth. Nighttime temperatures shouldn’t drop below 50°F (10°C).
  • Don’t rush basil. Without heat, the plant won’t grow well!

Spacing for Basil

How to Plant Basil

  • If you are sowing seeds directly into the ground, sow no more than 1/4-inch deep. Seeds should germinate within 5 to 7 days. Once they have developed 2 to 3 pairs of true leaves, transplant them.
  • If you are planting the germinated seedlings or starter plants in the ground, spaced 10 to 12 inches apart, basil should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height.
  • A 2- to 3-inch mulch of compost or ground-up leaves retains soil moisture and minimizes weeds around the plants.
  • Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate—so many gardeners will plant the two warm-weather friends around the same time.
Basil and tomato plants growing in the garden
A tomato plant (center) growing alongside basil.

Growing

How to Grow Basil

  • Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture.
    • If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the plants (the mulch will help hold in moisture and suppress weeds).
    • During the dry periods in summer, water the plants freely.
  • After the seedlings have produced their first six leaves, prune above the second set. This encourages the plants to start branching, resulting in more leaves for harvest.
  • Every time a branch has six to eight leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves.
  • Fertilize sparingly throughout the season with a 5-10-5 fertilizer.
  • After about 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.
  • If the weather is going to be cold or if a sudden frost is imminent, be sure to harvest your basil beforehand, as the cold temperatures will destroy your plants.

Basil growing in a pot

Types

  • Cinnamon basil, to add a hint of cinnamon to a dish
  • Purple basil adds some nice color to your garden (when steeped in white vinegar, it creates a beautiful color)
  • Thai basil adds a sweet licorice flavor to a dish.

See our post about basil varieties in the garden.

Harvesting

How to Harvest Basil

  • Start picking the leaves of basil as soon as the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall.
  • Once temperatures hit 80°F (27°C), basil will really start leafing out.
  • Harvest in the early morning, when leaves are at their juiciest.
  • Make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer.
  • Even if you don’t need the leaves, pick them to keep the plant going. Store them for later use!
  • If you pick regularly, twelve basil plants can produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.

How to Store Basil

  • The best method for storing basil is freezing. Freezing will prevent the plant from losing a good portion of its flavor. To quick-freeze basil, package whole or chopped leaves in airtight, resealable plastic bags, then place them in the freezer.
  • Another storage method is drying the basil (although some flavor will be lost). Pinch off the leaves at the stem and place them in a well-ventilated and shady area. After 3 to 4 days, if the plants are not completely dry, place them in the oven on the lowest heat setting with the door slightly open. Remember to turn the leaves (for equal drying) and check them frequently. See more about drying basil, tomatoes, and paprika.

Gardening Products

Pests/Diseases

Wit and Wisdom

  • Basil has a lovely fragrance. Pick from the stems and put in water for a few days as you would with cut flowers!
  • For other greens to use in your cuisine, see our Leafy Greens: Health Benefits page.

Where salt is good, so is basil.
–Italian saying

Recipes
Fresh Tomato and Basil Quiche
Tomato, Basil, and Mozzarella Sandwiches
Farro Salad With Basil and Feta
Fresh Basil and Tomato Frittata
Green Bean and Basil Soup
Caprese Bruschetta
Basil Pesto
Roasted Red Pepper, Mozzarella, and Basil–Stuffed Chicken

Cooking Notes

Make herbal vinegar using basil; it retains the flavor and makes a great gift! See how to make herbal vinegar.

Herbs
About The Author
Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the website companion of The Old Farmer's Almanac. She covers gardening, plants, pest control, soil composition, seasonal and moon c...
Read More from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Joyjb</span> Sat, 01/11/2014 - 07:52
I'm thinking of starting my first-ever herb garden, indoors. We have a bay window on a south wall, which I thought would be a good spot. I have been doing some research and would like to include Basil, but I don't care for Pesto. What are some other uses for Basil? I am particularly interested in Lemon and Purple Basil.
<span>Aykareem</span> Mon, 05/12/2014 - 16:37
I also like to roll several large leaves together, slice thinly and add to salad. It imparts a delicious flavor to salad greens.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Sat, 01/11/2014 - 11:08

Fresh basil is wonderful in many dishes. Add fresh basil leaves to thick soups, salad mixes, stir-fried vegetables, olive oil marinades, sliced tomatoes and mozzarella, and atop pizza. The list goes on. Usually, you want to add basil at the last minute so it doesn't wilt.

 <span>Joyjb</span> Sat, 01/11/2014 - 11:44
Oh, good tips. I didn't know about putting it in last minute, so I especially appreciate that. Thanks!
<span>Joseph Lee 14</span> Mon, 12/09/2013 - 20:12
I did a project with basil recently. Use ground green coffee grounds. These are obtainable at most starbucks coffee shops in th U.S. Basil love itand grow quite fastqnd tall.
<span>Shelly2G</span> Sun, 12/01/2013 - 21:42
Help! I am quite new to the gardening scene, and was given a basil plant by a student if mine as a gift. It was doing great, but now one of the stems has turned completely black, and the others are starting to show some signs if blackening near the base. Also, the new leaves near the top of the stems are drying up. I'm not sure what to do, if it can even be fixed. The evening here in Florida are also starting to get much cooler.
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 12/03/2013 - 13:01

Basil loves warmth. The black stems and drying leaves is a sign that the plant needs more heat. Prune the plant and bring it into a protected sunny area with no drafts.

 <span>Thomas Lew</span> Tue, 10/15/2013 - 08:18
When the basil stop growing for the winter, will it grow back in the summer?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 12/03/2013 - 12:55

Basil is an annual in colder climates and you need to start with new plants next year. You can extend the season by bringing the plant indoors. Prune the plant first and then put it in a sunny spot with no drafts.

 <span>Renu Ramkumar</span> Sat, 09/14/2013 - 05:20
I live in india. Here we use basil seeds, popularly known as "sabja" in desserts. would this be the same kind of seeds used to grow basil plants?they are available with the local grocery store. they are really tiny black seeds that swell up when soaked in water to become soft and glutinous .