How to Grow Basil Year-Round

Fill pots with good-quality potting mix, a cactus mix or a mixture of 2 parts potting soil with 1 part perlite or sand. Place the pots on a drainage tray.

Dampen the mix. Sow two basil seeds 1/4 inch deep in each pot or plant several in larger containers.

Place the pots in a location that has six or more hours of full sun, such as a south-facing window. Keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge in about 14 days.

Thin the basil seedlings when they reach 3 inches tall to one per pot or at the spacing suggested on the packet if the plants are growing in larger pots, boxes or planters.

Water the basil when the top 1 inch of soil dries. Water until water runs out the bottom of the pot. Fertilize the basil plants twice a month with a high-nitrogen fertilizer diluted to half strength while the plant is actively growing.

Pinch the tips of the basil plants to collect the leaves and to encourage branching. Remove any stems that emerge on the plant before flowers develop to extend the life of the basil plant.