If you’re a fan of pesto and cooking with fresh herbs, you can never have enough basil. While basil thrives in garden beds, it’s also perfect for growing in pots indoors on a sunny windowsill or outdoors on a sunny patio or balcony. Follow these straightforward tips to cultivate basil in pots for space efficiency, fewer pests, and year-round harvesting indoors.

  1. Experiment with Different Basil Varieties: Genovese basil is renowned for pesto and Caprese salads, but there are other flavorful options to explore. Thai basil, purple basil, cinnamon basil, and holy basil all have similar care requirements to Genovese basil and grow well in small pots or window boxes.
  2. Selecting the Right Pot: Basil plants are compact, so they don’t need large pots. A small 6-inch terracotta pot is sufficient for a single basil plant, while larger pots, planters, or grow bags can accommodate multiple plants. Ensure the pot has drainage holes to prevent waterlogging, and use a well-draining, nutrient-rich potting mix.
  3. Providing Adequate Light: Basil thrives in full sun, needing at least 6 to 8 hours of bright light daily. In hot climates, consider placing basil where it gets light shade in the afternoon to prevent leaf scorching. Indoor basil can thrive on a sunny windowsill or under a small grow light if natural light is limited.
  4. Starting Basil from Seeds: Starting basil from seeds is cost-effective. Begin indoors 5 to 6 weeks before the last frost date, planting seeds ¼ inch deep in pots filled with quality seed starting mix. Keep seeds under a grow light, watering regularly until seedlings sprout and can be transplanted into larger containers.
  5. Hardening Off Transplants: If starting indoors, acclimate basil seedlings gradually to outdoor conditions once temperatures consistently exceed 50°F and they have multiple sets of leaves. Purchased nursery plants may skip this step.
  6. Watering Consistently: Basil prefers consistently moist soil. Water when the top inch of soil feels dry, and mulch lightly to reduce evaporation. Water at soil level to keep leaves dry and prevent mildew.
  7. Fertilizing Appropriately: Begin the season with compost-amended potting mix. Basil doesn’t need heavy feeding but benefits from monthly application of half-strength liquid organic fertilizer during the growing season.
  8. Pruning for Bushiness: Encourage bushy growth by pinching back central stems when plants reach 4 to 6 inches tall, just above a leaf set. Throughout the season, prune stems longer than 6 inches back to a leaf node to promote a larger harvest of fresh leaves.