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How to Plant and Grow Basil

sweet basil leaves as nice natural food background
Image Credit:
Jirik V/Shutterstock
Botanical Name
Ocimum basilicum
Grown as
Tender Perennial
USDA Zones
10a
10b
11a
11b
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
Moderate
Height
1–3 feet
Spread
1–3 feet
Soil pH
Neutral
Bloom Time
Summer
Flower Color
Pink
Purple
White
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Fragrant
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Heat-Tolerant
Plant Type
Herbs
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener
Almanac Guide to Herbs

Basil isn’t just for pesto—this fragrant, flavorful herb is endlessly useful and a must-have if you want to make caprese sandwiches, fresh margherita pizzas, and much, much more. Whether you’re growing it in your backyard, on a patio, or right on your kitchen windowsill, we’ll walk you through how to plant and grow basil from seeds or transplants and how to harvest everyone’s favorite herb like a pro.

Planting

When to Plant Basil

Basil is a heat-loving plant that’s usually not started outdoors in most areas. Many gardeners grow basil from starter plants purchased at local nurseries. But you can also start basil seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last local frost date and plant the seedlings outside when the soil has warmed to at least 50°F (10°C) and nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F too.

Remember, don’t rush basil. Without heat, this plant just won’t grow!

Where to Plant Basil

Basil grows best in sunny locations that receive 6 to 8 hours of bright light per day, but are lightly sheltered when the sun is high overhead. Direct sun can scorch basil leaves in hot weather, so many gardeners interplant it with taller plants, like tomatoes, for extra sun protection and natural pest control perks. If you’re keeping basil indoors, situate it under a grow light or in a window that receives lots of bright, indirect sun.

Wherever you plant basil, make sure the soil drains well and is moderately fertile yet moist. These plants thrive in containers or raised beds, but you can can grow basil in in-ground gardens, hydroponic setups, and windowboxes too. Ideally, the pH of the soil should be slightly acidic to neutral with a range of pH 6.0 to 7.5.

Information about spacing for basil.

How to Plant Basil

  • To start basil seeds indoors, fill pots or seedling trays with seed starter mix and plant 2 seedlings per pot or cell by burying the seeds no more than ¼ inch deep. Keep the seeds under grow lights, add a heating mat if you have one, water regularly, and expect the seeds to germinate in 5 to 7 days. Once the seedlings have true leaves, snip off the weakest plants with fingernail scissors so you have just one plant per cell or pot.
  • To transplant starter plants or seedlings outdoors, wait until temperatures are warmed sufficiently and then plant the basil plants at the same depth they were growing in their nursery pots. Multiple plants should be spaced 10 to 12-inches apart, while a single basil plant will do just fine in a 6 to 10-inch container.
  • After planting, consider adding a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch or compost around the base of your plants to retain soil moisture and minimize weeds. These plants are ideal for companion planting with tomatoes and other nightshades!
Basil and tomato plants growing in a garden in proximity.
A tomato plant (center) growing alongside basil.

Growing

Watering

Basil craves water and soil should stay consistently moist around these plants. If you live in a hot area, adding mulch is a handy way to cut down on watering and keep basil hydrated longer.

Fertilizing

Feel free to fertilize basil after the seedlings have produced several sets of true leaves. Then regularly fertilize your plants with a liquid balanced or 5-10-5 fertilizer diluted to 1/4 strength throughout the growing season. 

Pruning or Maintenance

Harvesting or pinching back basil regularly keeps plants compact and slows down the bolting process, which leads to basil flowers and changes the flavor of basil leaves. Once your plants produce their first few sets of true leaves, pinch the leaves back to just above the second set of leaves to encourage branching. Then, continue to harvest or pinch back your plants to a leaf node every week or two.

If any flowers appear on your basil, pinch them away — unless you want to feed the bees and aren’t so concerned with harvesting the leaves!

Seasonal Care

Basil doesn’t do well in cold weather and you may need to cover your plants with cloches or frost blankets, or move potted plants indoors, if a late chill threatens. If a sudden frost is imminent, harvest your basil as the plants won’t survive.

During summer, basil needs more frequent watering and protection from hot, direct sun. Potted plants may need to be watered once or twice a day if temperatures climb super high.

tBasil growing in a pot.

Harvesting

When to Harvest Basil

You can start picking basil leaves as soon as the plants are between 6 to 8-inches tall and continue harvevsting your plants until season’s end. Your plants should start to leaf out more aggressively once temperatures hit 80°F (27°C). For best flavor, harvest basil early in the morning when the leaves are full of juices.

How to Harvest Basil

Basil grows quickly and should be harvested regularly once the plants start to take off. Even if you don’t need the leaves, pick basil to keep the plant going and store or freeze the leaves for later use. To harvest, simply pinch the leaves off at a leaf node and never harvest more than 1/3 of your plant in one go.

If you harvest often, 12 basil plants can produce 4 to 6 cups of leaves per week.

How to Store Basil

Basil can be used fresh from the garden or you can keep cut stems in a vase like flowers or wrapped in a dry paper towel in a Ziploc bag in your fridge. Stored in this manner, basil should last a week or two. Just be sure to keep it from getting too chilly as this can turn the leaves black!

If you want to keep basil longer, you can freeze the leaves — whole or chopped — in airtight containers, or in ice cube trays filled with oil or water.

Basil also dries beautifully in food dehydrators or the oven set at the lowest setting; however, it’s not the best candidate for hang-drying. Once basil is fully dry and crispy, store the leaves in airtight containers in your pantry.

Pests and Problems

Unlike many herbs, basil is typically grown as an annual and won’t survive the winter in most locations. Luckily, these plants are quick to grow from seed, but if you want basil to last as long as possible, here are a few common problems to avoid!

Common Problems

  • Watering issues can lead to root rot and plant death if you water basil too much, but underwatered basil can also wilt and dry out.
  • Temperature stress can cause basil to turn black if plants get too cold; however, heat stress can result in sunscorched or wilted leaves.
  • Bolting is a natural process, which leads to flowering and changes the flavor of basil leaves. The best way to slow it down is to harvest or prune basil often.

Common Pests

  • Aphids feed on basil sap and can coat plants with a sticky residue or cause leaves to grow deformed. Companion planting basil with trap crops like nasturitums and spraying plants with organic soap spray is the best way to manage these pests.
  • Slugs and snails may nibble ragged holes in basil leaves or chew stems or entire plants down to nubs. Slug pubs or traps can help reduce slug issues naturally, while hand-picking is helpful in a pinch too.

Plant Diseases

  • Fusarium wilt can cause basil to grow stunted, develop brown-streaked stems, or die away. The best way to avoid this problem is to purchase disease-resistant cultivars, rotate plants into new areas of your garden each year, and thoroughly clean up diseased plant debris in fall.
  • Powdery mildew can coat basil leaves in a powdery fungus and stunt plant growth. To avoid it, space basil plants well apart, water plants at the soil line, and use a preventantive mildew spray made with 2 parts milk and 3 parts water.

Types

  • Cinnamon basil tastes a bit like cinnamon and adds a unique twist to any dish.
  • Purple basil adds rich color to gardens, but can also be steeped in white vinegar to create an intriguing condiment.
  • Thai basil adds a sweet licorice flavor to cooking and is a must if you love Thai fare.

See our post about basil varieties in the garden.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Basil has a lovely fragrance. Pick the stems and just put them in water for a few days as you would with cut flowers!
  • Common sweet basil likely originated in India and other tropical parts of Asia.
  • According to the language of plants, basil is highly associated with love and romance and sprigs of it were often worn in Italy by suitors who wanted to express romantic intent.

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>Pat</span> Thu, 04/10/2025 - 11:56
I love my basil, for the past 2 years I have been planting it in a shady spot with only late afternoon sun and it does wonderfully. Both times the plant has reached 3 feet! So I’m guessing that’s all the sun it needs.
<span>Aa</span> Tue, 05/12/2026 - 17:11
Sounds great!
<span>Faith Alcala</span> Mon, 01/13/2025 - 18:01
Growing microgreens. You can eat microgreens as early as eight days after harvesting and as late as twenty five days after harvesting. When harvesting a microgreen it can grow as short as three fourths of an inch or as tall as two feet tall (They are typically harvested when they are about 1 to 3 inches tall). Growing plant cuttings. Sexual propagation This method involves growing plants from seeds, which is common for many self-pollinated and cross-pollinated plants. It is often the least expensive method and allows for long-term storage of plant material. However, it can result in genetic variation, which may not always replicate the parent plant's characteristics exactly. Asexual propagation Asexual or vegetative propagation involves using parts of a plant to reproduce new plants, ensuring the offspring are genetically identical to the parent. This method is advantageous for maintaining specific plant traits and can be faster than seed propagation. When growing microgreens choose seeds specifically labeled for microgreens. Popular options include radish, broccoli, kale, and sunflower. Ok so I’m going to talk about basil cuttings because I feel like that is the most important topic that I’m writing about in this essay. So first let’s just talk about basil plants and what cuttings are. Later we will discuss how you should plant or replant a basil cutting. Basil cuttings are sections taken from the basil plant, specifically from the stem, leaf, or root (usually you would cut from the stem leaf and root cuttings are unusual in my science class) There are many benefits from just one basil plant!! So in order to have a cutting you must have: 1 A mother basil plant 2 Soil 3 Water Benefits of having just one basil Mother plant: From one plant come several plants Takes up less space Even one basil plant can provide a steady supply of fresh leaves for cooking use Steps on how to plant, grow and tend to basil First you want to choose a healthy stem from the basil plant, ideally one that is about 4 to 6 inches long. Be sure to check that the cutting has more than a few leaves. Next you want to Use clean, sharp scissors or pruning shears to make a clean cut just below a leaf node (the point where leaves grow from the stem). Remove the leaves from the bottom half of the cutting leave a few sets of leaves at the top Now you want to plant the cutting in soil and place it by a window to get plenty of light!
<span>Nebrija</span> Thu, 01/30/2025 - 01:27
This was great information, hopefully I can do this with my Basil at home! -Nebrija
<span>Nebrija</span> Tue, 12/31/2024 - 22:45
Thanks for this! I love basil but I have trouble caring for it. Here’s to some in my future garden! -Nebrija
<span>Nebrija</span> Tue, 01/07/2025 - 03:17
Just bought some seeds for spring! - Nebrija
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Tue, 01/07/2025 - 09:10

We are excited to hear how it goes, Nebrija!

 <span>Mary Cates</span> Tue, 05/21/2024 - 17:44
I planted my basil outside and 3 of them did amazing, but 1 of them turned brown and looks dead. Do you know what happened?
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Wed, 10/16/2024 - 08:53

Hi, Mary, Were all the basils in the same bed? Was there something different about this basil? Was it shaded by another plant, preventing sunlight? Was it crowded and affected by airflow? Was it planted in a corner that was waterlogged or didn't drain well? Sometimes it's a pest or disease. 3 out of 4 ain't bad!

 <span>Pam</span> Thu, 06/15/2023 - 20:36
HI, I have been buying basil from my local market. These come in plastic containers in the vegetable section. Most of the leaves are lovely green , but several have purpleish or brownish portions, some in mid-leaf , some barely at the edges. I usually pluck these spots off before eating, but I am wondering if they are safe to eat, or safe but maybe a little bitter. What do you advise? What is the cause? This is organic basil harvested leaves-- not plants.