How to Grow Basil Indoors

Light: the one thing basil will not compromise on

Basil is a tropical annual and it photosynthesizes hard. In less than six hours of direct sun it survives but stretches, with pale leaves and long gaps between them. A full-spectrum LED 6–10 inches above the plant for 14 hours a day fixes this completely.

Sowing and potting

1. Sow 3–4 seeds per 6-inch pot, barely covered with mix.
2. Keep the surface damp until germination, usually 5–10 days at 70°F.
3. Thin to the single strongest seedling per pot.
4. Keep temperatures above 60°F — basil blackens in cold drafts and on cold windowsills in winter.

Watering and feeding

Basil likes consistent moisture but not wet feet. Water when the top inch is dry, drain the saucer, and feed with half-strength liquid fertilizer every two weeks while it is growing actively.

Pinching: how to get a bush, not a stick

Once the plant has three sets of true leaves, pinch out the top growing point just above a leaf pair. Each cut becomes two new stems. Repeat every week or two and remove any flower buds on sight.

Troubleshooting

• Yellow lower leaves — usually overwatering or an exhausted pot of soil.
• Black spots after a cold night — cold damage; move away from the glass in winter.
• Tiny webs under leaves — spider mites from dry air; rinse foliage and raise humidity.
• Leggy, pale growth — not enough light. Nothing else will fix it.

Frequently asked questions