Holy Basil
is easy to grow from seed, or you can buy it as a nursery-grown plant at Lowes or other garden centers. I grow my basil herbs in raised garden beds or containers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow them in the
ground.
The herb
holy basil, also known as Tulsi, has many health benefits. In the past, I have harvested holy basil leaves for tea. Drinking two cups of tea daily was a great way to relax and unwind and boost my immune system. You can also cook with this basil; it will add
a delicious flavor to many foods.
Here’s a
step-by-step guide for growing Holy Basil
- You will need the following
- Holy Basil seeds
- Seed starter soil mix
- Seed trays with covers or containers
- Plastic wrap
- Watering can / spray bottle
- A sunny window for indoor growing or a grow light.
Plan to
start your Holy basil seeds indoors in early spring to protect them from a late
spring frost.
Fill the
seed trays or containers with seed-starter soil mix or potting soil.
Use a water sprayer
to moisten the soil. The soil should be moist but not muddy.
Sow your basil seeds by sprinkling them lightly on the soil surface.
Use your
index finger to press the seeds into the soil.
Do not cover the seeds with soil, as the seeds need light to germinate.
Water your newly
planted seeds with a spray bottle. Mist
the soil lightly so that the soil is moist.
Set the seed
tray in a sunny location, by a window or under a grow light. Put the plastic
cover on the seed tray or wrap the trays or containers with plastic wrap. (The
cover will help maintain humidity, which is needed for germination.)
Holy basil seeds will germinate indoors where the average temperature is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Seedlings will be healthy if they get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.
Your
seedlings should emerge in about 7 to 14 days.
Once they germinate, you would remove the plastic covering.
Keep the soil
moist and continue to provide light and warmth to your seedlings.
When the threat
of late spring frost has passed and your seedlings have a few leafy branches, transplant them outdoors. You can grow in a raised garden bed, containers, or in
the ground.
*AI generated watercolor images created by Susang6
