Thai basil is a must in Thai cooking. A cousin of the more common sweet basil, this aromatic herb can be used in many dishes. It’s also an easy plant to grow indoors or outdoors.
Learn the steps to grow sweet Thai basil and how to succeed in cultivating your basil plants!
Basils variety, flavor, and color
There are wide basil varieties to try in exciting flavors and colors. The most popular types are Thai basil and sweet basil. The two plants look similar but have different flavor profiles, so you can experiment with matching them to your cooking needs.
You can also mix other basil varieties in your gardening planters. For example, lemon basil is a popular variation that produces a solid citrusy flavor. Cinnamon basil, on the other hand, has a spicy cinnamon flavor and works well in sweet desserts such as chocolate mousse and apple crumble.
Some varieties of basil also come in colors, like purple or bronze, which makes for beautiful cut flowers and will add something different to salads at the dinner table.
However, sweet Thai basil is amongst the most popular to grow. It has a scent similar to licorice and an intense flavor, making it my favorite.
Use it in dishes like tom yum soup and curry because they have a spicy pepper taste that balances the flavor. We like its versatility in salads, smoothies, Thai stews, pestos, and dressings.
Basil is an annual, meaning you must sew seeds for a new plant each year. It is best grown in a container rather than sewn freely amongst other plants in the garden.
Propagate from seed in early Spring and follow our how-to tutorial below.
You will soon have a fantastic sweet Thai basil plant that will grow to around 30-40cm (12-16 inches) tall in your kitchen garden!
17 Easy Steps to growing your Thai Basil
- Buy good quality seeds from your local garden center and a sack of well-draining potting soil.
- Choose the pots or containers you want to use. If you use pots at home, wash them thoroughly to ensure you get rid of any pests or bugs before starting your new planting.
- Ensure the pot or container has drainage holes and adequate air circulation.
- Fill your pots with well-draining potting soil. Water the soil, letting any excess water drain out the drainage holes.
- Sprinkle the seeds sparingly on the surface of the soil. Place a thin layer of potting mix on top and seal it gently with your fingers. Thai basil seeds germinate in 7-10 days.
- Choose a location such as a sunny window sill that gets plenty of sunlight for at least six hours each day and is about 20-25 degrees Celsius (68-77 degrees Fahrenheit). This is important so the plant will grow fast enough to produce optimal yields and flavors.
- Give the seeds their first watering and ensure the soil is always slightly moist. Water them regularly and gently let excess water drain at all times through the holes in the base of your pots.
- Cover your pots or planters with plastic until you see that the seeds have germinated and tiny green shoots start to show.
- When the seedlings are big enough to handle, you will need to transplant them into larger pots with 3 to 4 seedlings each.
Remember always to use nutrient-rich, moist soil for the best results. Separating the seedlings like this gives each room to spread its roots as it grows, resulting in a strong and fruitful plant. - At this point, it is essential to remember not to place the pots in the direct hot sun all day long as there is a risk of scorching the plants.
- As the plants grow, ensure they get plenty of air circulation. Basil is sensitive to heat and will start wilting if temperatures rise above 28 degrees Celsius (82 degrees Fahrenheit).
- It would help if you kept them well-watered but water in the morning to let the plant soak up the water during the day. Basil does not like its root sitting in water all day and night; therefore, morning watering is a good idea.
- You will not need fertilizer if you use quality potting soil when sowing your Thai basil seeds.
- As the plants grow, pinch any flowers that may bloom to promote leaf growth.
- Basil thrives well if you can keep your pots in a sheltered area, such as a greenhouse or a glassed-in balcony. This will protect the leaves from strong winds and become more prominent and sweeter.
- Basil is also a favorite of aphids, slugs, and snails. So keep your containers or pots raised if possible, and regularly check that these creatures are not attacking your plants.
- If you want to keep your pots outside, watch the weather. Move your basil pots indoors if the temperature drops below 15 degrees Celsius (59 degrees Fahrenheit). Thai basil does not like chilly weather.
Grow Thai basil plants from cuttings
We use a lot of Thai basil, and I like to have new plants on the go throughout the year.
My favorite method to start new plants is by taking cuttings from one of my healthy seed-grown plants.
Use precision garden scissors to cut the stem just above the third pair of leaves, starting my count below the top crown.
Cuttings should be 7-10 centimeters (3-4 inches) long. But shorter cuttings can also work.
Remove all leaves below the crown and place the stem in a glass with room-temperature water.
Ideally, give the stem fresh new water every day.
After 2-4 weeks, new white roots form on the stems.
When happy with the root development, plant the stem in a pot with soil. Now you have a new Thai basil plant to care for and harvest.
Harvesting your fresh basil
When your Thai basil is sufficiently large, it will be time to harvest the leaves for cooking. Harvest your basil leaves when the leaves are large, plump, and shiny. At this point, the plant should be around 15 to 20 cm tall.
Depending upon what you are using your Thai basil for and how much you need, either pick the leaves you need, or you can cut entire stems. Cut the stem directly above where you see a pair of leaves at about a third of the plant’s height. Then let that stem grow for another few weeks.
To keep your cut basil from becoming wilted, put it in water with just-boiled cool tap water and then cover or store it in the refrigerator until you need to use it.
Drying basil leaves
You can also harvest and then dry your Thai basil to use later. Place the leaves in an airtight container lined with paper towels, put them somewhere dark and cool, like a pantry or cupboard, and let them lay there until they are ready to be used again. Use dried Thai Basil for flavoring in cooking, or it can be used as an ingredient to make your basil-infused oils.
Freezing basil leaves
Freezing basil is an ideal way to make your home-grown Thai basil leaves last even longer. Wash and pat dry as many leaves as you want to freeze. Please place them in a single layer on a plate or baking tray, and put that in the freezer until they are frozen solid. Transfer the basil from those trays into zippered bags and store it in your freezer for up to six months.
Summary and conclusion
Thai basil is an excellent plant for beginner gardeners as it does not require much attention.
Thai basil is easy to care for, and with its many uses and benefits, we recommend that you make room for it in your herb garden!
