Basil Sweet Genovese
Basil can be grown outside, but it's difficult unless you have a very warm and sheltered patio or roof terrace.
It's much simpler to grow it on a sunny windowsill inside. A bright kitchen windowsill is ideal because the plants will love the heat from cooking - and you can grab a handful of leaves when ever you need them.
Time from seed to plate: 8 weeks
Sowing Calendar
Sow
We think our windowsill boxes are a great solution. They come with a tray so water doesn't run everywhere, and they've got a built-in reservoir so you only need to water every few days.
Fill the windowsill box with compost and firm it down gently with your palm. Scatter your basil seeds leaving about an inch between each one. Sprinkle over a fine layer of compost to just cover the seeds, and water gently to moisten the compost and place on a nice sunny windowsill. A kitchen windowsill is perfect because it will love the warm air produced by cooking.
Grow
Try and keep your basil moist or it will run to seed. Get a finger right into the compost to check how moist it is.
Water into the compost because water left on the leaves will make them turn black.
Should any flowers appear pinch them off.
Harvest
The key to success with basil is to pick it regularly. Pinch off the leafy tips and it will produce new shoots lower down.