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You are here: Home / Self Sufficiency / Food / Homesteading Guide To Growing Basil Indoors

Homesteading Guide To Growing Basil Indoors

Reading Time: 3 minutes

March 6, 2025 By Riley E. Carlson 8 Comments

So you want to know how to grow basil indoors? Good! Starting your own indoor herb garden is a great homesteading way to stay nourished with flavorful dishes, no matter the weather or time of year!

Growing Basil Indoors for a Homesteader’s Indoor Herb Garden

You’ll need to carefully watch the soil, the container, the sunlight and water needs, the fertilizer, and the prunin of the basil plant. Keep reading for all the details.

The Basil’s Soil – Indoor Herb Garden

image via samir bharadwaj

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Growing basil indoors means that you’ll have to use a pot or container, which can make maintaining proper moisture levels a challenge. Basil thrives in soil that drains well, so you will want to use soil that prevents standing water. Use a coarse-textured growing mix instead of your ordinary garden soil. Also,  make sure pots provide adequate drainage. Refrain from lining the bottom of your pot with gravel or rocks. Contrary to popular belief, this will not improve drainage but it will certainly inhibit plant growth.

Healthy pH levels are another important aspect of quality soil. Sufficient pH levels are usually between 6.0 and 7.5. Check the pH of your soil about once a month or every four to six weeks for optimal growth.

The Basil’s Container – Indoor Herb Garden

via The Seasonal Gourmet

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Plastic containers work well if you leave in a cooler climate because they retain heat. They are also light and inexpensive. Clay pots are also excellent choices but they are porous so you might have to water more often if you use these.

 

The Basil’s Sunlight and Watering Needs | Indoor Herb Garden

via bonnie plants

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For optimal growth,  basil should receive 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day.

Check your soil for moisture every other day to determine whether or not your basil needs some watering. If your soil is dry, water at the base of the plant until the soil is wet to a depth of about 1½ inches.

Pruning

via AeroGarden

|

Prune your basil  several times throughout the season. This will encourage new growth and is especially important if using the herb for culinary purposes. You can start pruning your basil after they have grown at least 6-8 inches. To prune, cut a stem just above a pair of leaves. Leaflets next to the topmost leaves are then converted into new stems.

Fertilizer Needs

via MG Home

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For indoor basil, use a low potency fertilizer and apply more frequently, perhaps every 3-4 weeks. Mix 5-10-5 liquid fertilizer with water at half the recommended strength. Apply the fertilizer solution to the base of the plant and never on the leaves or stems.

 

Artificial Light

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It is best to place the herb as close to a window as possible. However, if this is not possible, these potted plants may need to be grown under fluorescent lights. Basil can thrive indoors with artificial light. The least expensive (and a very energy efficient) option is fluorescent grow lights.

 

That’s all, fellow homesteaders! Did you enjoy this tutorial on growing basil indoors? Let us know in the comments section below what you thought of this tutorial on growing basil indoors. Do you have a favorite method for growing basil indoors that’s a staple on your homestead? Share it with us and we’ll give it a shot.

 

 

We love doing DIY homesteading projects and becoming more self-reliant by learning more about how everything works around the homestead. That’s why Homesteading was created. We want all folks looking to lead a self-sufficient life, either on a homestead or in an urban environment, to come together and learn from each other! Of course, we welcome your help in creating a community of homesteaders.  Come and share your homesteading tips and ideas, recipes and expect the best advice on self-reliance and homesteading trials from our team of long-time homesteaders, self-reliant wilderness, and preparedness experts. Want to write for Homesteading? Shoot us an e mail and make sure to stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

Filed Under: Food, Garden, Growing Herbs, Projects, Self Sufficiency Tagged With: grow basil, grow basil indoors, growing basil, growing basil from seed indoors, growing basil indoors, growing basil indoors from seed, how to grow a basil plant indoors, how to grow basil, how to grow basil in a pot, how to grow basil indoors, indoor herb garden

Comments

  1. Jeff Schwersinske says

    May 30, 2015 at 9:48 PM

    like

    Reply
  2. Bilal Amjad says

    June 19, 2017 at 6:48 AM

    What temperatures this plant likes from seedling to a good plant. I am Saudi Arabia
    I have a little sprout with 4 leaves and want it to grow into a healthy plant. I am trying hard to save it. These days temperature go at 50 degrees Celsius in noons and very sunny.
    I always have good tips from the blogs but not most people talk about favorable temperature ranges for growth.

    Reply
  3. Debbie says

    February 5, 2021 at 11:07 AM

    Your ‘pin’ includes your watermark placed on MY photograph, originally used in my blog approximately seven years ago. That is my intellectual property, please remove your watermark claiming ownership.

    Reply

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