Basil Plant Care Guide

Everything you need to grow vibrant, flavorful basil—from seed, cutting, or starter.

🌱 Option 1: Starting Basil from Seed

• When to plant: Early spring indoors, or direct sow outdoors after frost.

• How to plant: Sow seeds ¼ inch deep in moist, well-draining soil.

• Light needs: Place in a warm, sunny window or under grow lights (6–8 hours/day).

• Germination time: 5–10 days.

• Tip: Thin seedlings to 6–12" apart when they have 2–3 sets of leaves.

🌿 Option 2: Propagating Basil from Cuttings

• Take a cutting: Snip a 4–6" stem from a healthy basil plant, just below a node.

• Remove lower leaves: Leave the top 2 sets of leaves intact.

• Place in water: Use a clear glass to track root growth.

• Roots form: In 5–10 days.

• Transplant: Once roots are 1–2" long, pot in soil and keep evenly moist.

🪴 Option 3: Starter Plant (Nursery or Grocery Store)

• Re-pot ASAP: Don’t let it stay cramped in its plastic pot.

• Soil mix: Use a loose, well-draining mix (Grow Queen aroid mix is great).

• Watering: Keep evenly moist but not soggy.

• Light: 6+ hours of sunlight per day or supplemental grow light.

• Fertilizer: Feed every 3–4 weeks with a balanced organic fertilizer 

✂️ Basil Maintenance & Harvesting Tips

• Pinch tops early and often to encourage bushiness.

• Never harvest more than ⅓ of the plant at a time.

• Avoid flowering: Pinch off any flower buds immediately for better flavor.

• Overwintering: Basil is an annual, but you can root cuttings before frost and keep them indoors.

⚠️ Common Issues

• Yellow leaves = overwatering or poor drainage

• Leggy plant = not enough light

• Wilting = underwatering or rootbound in a too-small pot