Did you know that even though the summer growing season might be over – you can easily grow fresh basil inside all winter long?
If you live in a location that features fall and winter seasons that bring frigid cold weather and the threat of ice and snow – it can be a bit depressing when your outdoor growing season comes to an end in the latter months of the year. But don’t let it be – not at least when you can still grow herbs like basil to fill your kitchen and dishes with fresh flavor!
Basil is actually one of the easiest herbs to grow indoors. All you need for success is a sunny windowsill or a small grow light to provide adequate light – and with regular watering and occasional trimming, you can enjoy a steady supply of fragrant leaves all season long.
How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside All Winter Long
There are many ways to start to grow your basil indoors. In fact, if your plants are already growing outside in potted containers, they can easily be brought inside to continue growing.
You can also dig up and pot up existing plants – or take cuttings from them if they are too large. Last but not least, you can also easily grow from seed. Here is a look at how to do each method, starting with bringing in potted plants.
Bringing In Potted Plants
Once the outdoor temps start to drop to 50º Fahrenheit or below, if you plan on bringing in potted basil plants, it’s time to take action. The important thing with pots is to bring them in before a light frost or cold temperatures start to take their toll.
For potted plants, simply trim back any wild growth and place in a sunny southern window. Also, be sure before bringing inside to check for any unwanted pests on the plant looking for a ride indoors!
Digging Up & Transplanting Existing Plants – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
For digging up and potting existing plants growing in the garden or raised beds, know that smaller plants usually work better for transplanting. Larger, older basil plants usually have roots that can be well over a foot deep in the soil, so if your plants are too big – it’s best to start fresh with seeds or a cutting from the plant.
When digging out plants, use a small garden trowel to dig a few inches away from the plant’s base to help loosen the soil. Carefully lift up the root ball. Try to keep as much of the root ball intact as possible when transplanting to make the transition go smoother.
When potting up, use a container that is at least an inch larger than the plant’s base. Also, make sure that the container has good drainage holes. Use a well-draining potting soil mix like you would if you were sowing seeds from scratch. Affiliate Product Link: Burpee, 9 Quarts | Premium Organic Potting Natural Soil Mix Food
Fill the container up a third of the way with soil and compost. Next, add the plant, keeping it at the same growth level as it was in your garden and backfill with additional soil. Tamp down lightly and water well to help set the plant. Keep the soil moist but not overly saturated.
Taking Cuttings From Existing Plants – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
If your existing plants are simply too big, you can also take cuttings of basil to transplant instead. To do this, cut a piece of the stem where you can see a node. Remove all lower leaves and place in a glass of water.
Before long, you will start to see roots grow from the nodes. After the roots are a few inches long, transfer the new plant into a container filled with potting soil mix. You now have an indoor basil plant ready to grow!
Growing From Seed – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
It’s easy to start growing basil indoors from seeds. All you really need to begin is a seed packet, container, potting soil mix – and good lighting.
Choose a small container that is around 4 to 6 inches wide and features a drainage hole in the bottom. Since basil is such a compact plant, you can grow it even if you are lacking in space, and the 4 to 6-inch size works well for most households.
Start by filling the container with a good-quality potting soil mix. Carefully sprinkle the basil seeds on top of the soil, trying to space them apart as you go. Lightly cover with a thin layer of potting mix and use a spray bottle to lightly moisten the surface.
Keep the soil moist but not overly saturated. Your basil should germinate in around 8 to 10 days. Once it germinates, place in the warmest room in a sunny, southern facing window – or under a grow light for at least 8 hours each day.
Thinning Seedlings
Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, thin so you only have a few plants per container. Aim for around 3 to 4 plants per 4 inch sized pot. You want the basil you grow indoors to have plenty of good airflow, and thinning helps to avoid overcrowded plants.
It works easiest to just clip the stem off at the soil line as opposed to pulling the seedlings out. Pulling can disturb the other seedlings’ roots and cause more issues in the long run.
Proper Lighting – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
Basil is a sun-loving plant, so it grows best in bright locations. The plants need around eight to twelve hours of bright light in order to grow properly.
In order to help your potted basil receive enough light, choose a location in your home that is next to a southern facing window. If you don’t have a south facing window, you can also use supplemental lighting.
Using Artificial Lighting – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
If you choose to use artificial lighting, keep in mind you don’t have to purchase expensive grow lights to have good luck growing basil indoors. Ordinary LED or fluorescent lights and fixtures will do the trick of helping the basil to grow just as well as those marketed as “grow lights” special bulbs.
Not only are LED grow lights often easier to come by, but they are usually a lot less expensive to purchase and operate as specialty grow lights. Affiliate Link: GoingTop LED Grow Light,6000K Full Spectrum Clip Plant Growing Lamp
Whichever type of light you use, a light timer will help ensure your plants receive the required 8 hours of light each day without you having to remember to turn the lights on or off all the time.
You may need to rotate your potted basil occasionally if your light source is only on one side of the plant. This will help allow the basil to grow uniformly and avoid leaning. If using supplemental lights, keep the lights only a few inches above the top of the basil and move up as needed. This will help avoid leggy and thin plants.
Harvesting – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
After about four to five weeks, your basil plants should be established enough to start harvesting. You can harvest the leaves at any size you prefer or you can take entire stems.
As basil grows, its flavor will change slightly, getting stronger as it ages. Once it has flowered, some people find the flavor of the leaves to be quite bitter. At this point, it’s probably time to move on to a new plant.
By sowing a few containers of basil a couple of weeks apart, you can always be sure to have fresh basil on hand for when flowering occurs in one of your older plants.
Pinching Off Leaves – How To Grow Fresh Basil Inside
You can help basil grow bushier by pinching off the leaves once it begins growing. This encourages the plants to grow more leaves from the pinching point.
Any time your harvest the basil, you are essentially pruning the plant. The more you harvest, the more it will keep on producing for you. Harvesting often will also help prevent the plant from growing too out of control.
As long as your basil receives plenty of light and the occasional watering, you will be able to enjoy harvesting this aromatic and delicious herb all winter long. For more herbs you can grow indoors, be sure to check out our article: How To Grow Herbs Indoors – 8 Amazing Herbs For Year Round Flavor!
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