Basil is the fastest, most rewarding herb you can grow indoors. Seeds from a dried basil jar work perfectly — and in 3–4 weeks you'll have fresh leaves for pasta, salads, and teas, forever.
Step 01 — Get Your Seeds
Open a jar of dried basil from your kitchen spice rack and look for whole seeds at the bottom — or buy a fresh basil plant from the supermarket and let one stem dry out completely. Tiny black seeds will fall out naturally.
🌿 Supermarket basil plants are also a great shortcut — they're already sprouted and cost almost nothing.
Step 02 — Plant in a Pot
Fill a small pot or tray with moist seed-starting mix. Scatter 5–6 seeds on the surface, press them lightly into the soil — do not bury deep, basil seeds need light. Mist gently with water. Place in a warm spot at 20–25°C near a bright window.
Step 03 — Sprouts in Days
Basil is one of the fastest sprouters — tiny seedlings appear in just 5–10 days. Keep soil moist but not wet. Once seedlings reach 4–5 cm, thin to the 2–3 strongest plants per pot. Give them 6–8 hours of sunlight daily for bushy, full growth.
💡 Pinch off any flower buds as soon as they appear — this keeps the plant producing leaves longer.
Step 04 — Harvest & Regrow Forever
Start harvesting when the plant reaches 15 cm tall. Always pinch from the top — never strip the bottom leaves. This triggers the plant to grow bushier and produce more. Water every 2 days and your basil will keep giving for months.
✂️ Rule of thumb: Never harvest more than ⅓ of the plant at once — it always grows back stronger.
Why Basil Is the Perfect Starter Herb
| Basil | |
|---|---|
| 🌱 Seeds from | Kitchen spice jar / supermarket plant |
| ⏱ First harvest | 3–4 weeks |
| ☀️ Sunlight | 6–8 hours daily |
| 💧 Watering | Every 2 days |
| 🌡️ Ideal temp | 20–25°C |
| 📦 Pot size | Any small pot or tray |
Part of the Instantly Grow Series by Seedora Store — grow fresh herbs from your kitchen, one seed at a time.