How To Grow Basil Indoors To Enjoy Fresh Herbs Year Round

Basil's fresh taste can help improve almost any dish, and its smooth leaves and fragrant smell are a great addition to summer herb gardens. Unfortunately, since basil plants can't survive in freezing temperatures(only hardy in USDA Hardiness Zones 10 and higher),  gardeners in cooler regions have to replant their basil each summer and go without the herb during the winter. That doesn't have to be the case, though. Consider instead finding a spot to grow basil indoors to ensure you're never without this essential herb.

Native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia, basil requires plenty of sun and warm temperatures to grow its best. But as long as you're able to provide that, it can make a wonderful houseplant and provide you with useful additions to salads, soups, and other dishes. Whether you're a fan of growing cinnamon basil, Thai basil, or the Genovese cultivar, they are all the same species and have the same growing needs. 

Basil can easily be purchased as a young plant at most garden centers, but you can also opt to grow your basil from seed. Growing from seed often provides you with a wider range of flavor profiles to choose from. You can also propagate basil from a cutting from a plant in your garden.

Regardless of how you start your basil, it's important to make sure you provide your plant with the right type of growing medium. Basil needs well-draining soil with plenty of rich organic matter to thrive. A basic veggie and herb potting mix should work just fine. Otherwise, a container mix should be selected over an outdoor soil amendment.

Basil grown outdoors needs plenty of sun to thrive, so it's important to try to mimic that indoors. If possible, locate your plant in a south-facing window. You may also need to use grow lights. It's not just light basil needs, though. It requires temperatures that stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and prefers daytime temperatures in at least the 70s. So be sure to find a nice warm spot for your plant where it won't be exposed to any chilly drafts during winter.