How to Grow Holy Basil
Holy Basil At a Glance
Difficulty
Easy
Category
Herb
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Frost Tolerance
Frost Tender
Cold Hardiness
Survives to 4°C
Plant Family
Lamiaceae
Growing Season
Warm Season
Plant Lifecycle
Annual
How to Start It
★ Recommended for beginners
Holy basil hates cold, so sow it 1 to 2 weeks after your last spring frost, once the soil feels warm. Press the tiny seeds onto the surface and barely cover them, no deeper than 0.5 cm, since they need light to sprout. They sprout in 7 to 14 days: thin them (pull the extras) so each plant has 30 cm of room.
Holy basil, also called tulsi, is a different plant from the sweet basil used in pesto: its leaves have a spicy, clove-like smell and are mostly used for tea. Bees love its flowers, and a plant left to drop seed often sows itself for next year.
When To Start
Holy Basil needs warmth. Wait until your last frost has passed and the soil has warmed before sowing.
We do not have exact sowing dates for this one yet.
When should you plant Holy Basil?
Your planting dates depend on your local climate. Sign up and add your location to unlock personalized dates.
Your Holy Basil Planting Window
Start planting
May 15, 2026
Last chance
Sep 10, 2026
Your Holy Basil Calendar
Set your location to turn these into exact dates and reminders.
Sow holy basil outdoors now that the soil is warm
1 week after your last frost
Optional: start holy basil indoors for a head start
6 weeks before your last frost· optional
Start picking holy basil leaves and flower tops
About 60 days after you plant it
Did you water your holy basil seedlings today? Keep the top of the soil damp until they are up and growing.
About 1 days after you plant it
Your holy basil is growing! Pinch off the top pair of leaves to make it branch and get bushy.
About 36 days after you plant it
Harvest time is here! Pick leaves often and pinch off flowers to keep it leafy.
About 57 days after you plant it
Picking time may be here: check your holy basil.
About 65 days after you plant it
The Journey Ahead
Holy Basil's Lifecycle
Seedling
Mature Plant
Seed Production
Step 2
Planting & Sprouting
Expect sprouts in 7–14 days
Growing Tips
- 1Give holy basil your warmest, sunniest spot, with at least 6 hours of sun a day.
- 2Plant it in soil with compost mixed in, or in a pot at least 20 cm wide.
- 3Water at the base when the top 2 cm of soil is dry, and never let it sit soggy.
- 4Feed with compost tea or worm castings once a month.
- 5Pinch off most of the flower spikes to keep the leaves coming, but leave a few for the bees and for seed.
- 6Spray aphids off the stem tips with a strong stream of water.
Seedling Phase
Step 3
Growth & Maturity
~65
Days to Maturity
50 cm
Mature Height
40 cm
Mature Width
Pests to Watch For
Diseases to Watch For
Mature Plant
Step 4
Harvesting
Harvest Window
90 days
When to Pick
Pick leaves and flowering tops anytime; pinch flowers to keep it leafy
How to Harvest
- 1Start picking once the plant is about 15 cm tall.
- 2Pinch the top few leaves off each stem, just above a pair of leaves, so the plant grows bushier.
- 3Pick in the morning, when the leaves smell strongest, and use both the leaves and the flower spikes.
- 4For tea, steep a small handful of fresh leaves or 1 teaspoon of dried leaves in a cup of hot water for 5 to 10 minutes.
- 5To dry it, hang small bunches in a dark, airy spot for 1 to 2 weeks, then crumble the leaves into a jar.
Step 5
Saving Seeds
How to Save Seeds
Holy basil can cross with other holy basil types growing nearby, so grow one kind if you want it to stay true, and remember that hybrid F1 seeds will not grow true. Leave a few flower spikes on the plant until they turn brown and dry. Rub them over a bowl to release the tiny black seeds, and blow gently to clear away the bits. Store them labelled in a cool, dark, dry place, where they keep about 5 years, and expect a few seedlings to pop up on their own next spring.
Seed Production
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