Easy Basil Herb Garden – How to Start

By Amanda

How to Start Your Garden

  • Start by purchasing hydroponically grown herbs from your favorite grocery store.
  • We will start with Basil, but could also use Mint of any type.
  • Purchase one pack or container of hydroponic (grown in water with nutrients) plants.
  • Each pack may yield up to 12 plants.
Basil in container from grocery store.
Carefully tease clump into individual plants – with roots intact.
Place soil – bagged potting soil or clean soil from garden into containers. Make hole in soil to place division.

Carefully place basil division into prepared hole – don’t push in soil
or you will rip tender roots right off.
Cover hole with soil, patting gently. Plant a bit higher in soil – it will settle when watered.
Water new plants very well – from bottom of containers.

Put newly potting plants into a larger container with an inch or so of water. Place the plants in a shady spot in the garden or covered patio – no direct sun. The plants were grown in just water and need time to adjust to living in soil. Slowly –  in 4 or 5 days reduce the amount of water in the outside container till the soil is very moist and then over the next few days it can drained out completely. But, for the first month or so, make sure the new plant is quite moist but not soggy. Once the new plant is strong, you can put it in morning sun and later – all day sun, but if it looks like it is wilting, back into the shade it should go. (This is called ‘hardening off’ and may take a little time!)

The new plants can be harvested by removing the top few inches or by removing the bottom 2 or three largest leaves. Remove the top if blossoms start to form. You want the energy of the plant to make new roots, not flowers.

Your plants will continue to grow all summer and fall. Late fall the plants can be brought in to a cool spot (they will die if they freeze) and will regrow next spring.