Starting Basil

  1. 1

    From a seedling (easiest)

    Buy a basil seedling from a nursery or supermarket. Supermarket basil pots are heavily overcrowded — gently separate the clump into 2–3 smaller bundles and repot each in its own pot. This transforms a struggling supermarket bunch into thriving individual plants.

  2. 2

    From seed

    Sow seeds 0.5cm deep in seed-raising mix. Keep moist and warm (above 20°C) — germination takes 5–10 days. Thin to one plant per 20–30cm when the first true leaves appear. Sow in spring after frost risk has passed.

Ongoing Care

  1. 3

    Full sun — 6+ hours daily

    Basil is a sun-lover. Indoors: the sunniest south-facing windowsill you have. Outdoors: full sun, sheltered from strong wind. Insufficient light produces leggy, weakly flavoured basil.

  2. 4

    Keep warm — basil hates cold

    Below 10°C, basil wilts and blackens rapidly. Bring indoors or protect when temperatures drop. In Australia basil grows outdoors year-round in tropical regions, and spring-to-autumn in temperate zones.

  3. 5

    Water consistently

    Check daily in summer — basil wilts fast when dry. Water deeply when the top 2cm of soil feels dry. Ensure the pot has drainage holes — root rot sets in quickly in waterlogged soil.

  4. 6

    Pinch flower buds immediately

    This is the single most important basil care tip. The moment you see small flower buds forming at the top of stems, pinch them off entirely. Once basil flowers, it puts all energy into seed production — leaves become small and bitter, the plant rapidly declines and dies. Removing buds extends productive life by months.

  5. 7

    Harvest regularly to encourage growth

    Pinch off stems just above a leaf pair — never pull individual leaves. Regular harvesting signals the plant to produce more. The more you pick, the bushier and more productive it becomes.

Propagate from cuttings for free basilPut a 10cm stem cutting in a glass of water on a sunny windowsill. Roots develop in 1–2 weeks. Pot up when roots reach 3–4cm. This is the cheapest way to maintain a continuous supply indefinitely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Black leaves are almost always cold damage (below 10°C) or overwatering causing root rot. Cold damage is rapid and irreversible in the affected leaves — move to a warmer spot and trim the black sections. Check drainage if overwatering is suspected. Root rot smells unpleasant and soil stays wet for days.
Yes with enough light. A south-facing window in full sun works in summer. In winter, supplement with a grow light (10 hours per day). Keep away from cold drafts and heating vents which dry the air. With adequate light and warmth, basil grows happily indoors year-round.