This is the first time I've tried growing basil from seed. I sowed the seeds about 3 weeks ago, and they started to come through about a week ago but they're looking kind of spindley. I've got them in a pot on the window sill, that I did have covered till they sprouted, then I left it off. They're now at the 2nd leaf stage, but they look so thin and weak. Is this normal? I was planning on hardening them off eventually and growing outdoors, but they just look so feeble??? The leaves are TINY - not even as big as my little finger nail

I have the same thing with my basil....I think they're temperamental plants to be honest! However, my opal basil is doing better than the sweet green basil, but like you, still spindly looking things! would be grateful for advice also!

Seedlings become spindly when they do not have an adequate light

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I sowed two types back in February. they don't look spindly, but they are very small and don't seem to eb growing at all. they are on a heat pad in a greehouse which is sited in the sunniest part of the garden. Just think we need more sun!
Jools

Last year I started some off in Feb, and some in April. The April ones caught up easily and were sturdier plants. Given that we have had such a poor start to the spring, I expect it's just light levels.

If you've more seed, sow another batch. I think it will probably make better plants.

Thanks, I think I'll sow another batch tomorrow

don't sow too early, personally I think it is light levels affecting the seedlings, i planted some 2 weeks ago on the windowsill in a propogator and they are growing beautifully, i always take cuttings during the winter from shop bought for an endless supply

sorry forgot to add, i always water from the bottom not the top and grow indoors on the windowsill and not outdoors all year, hope this helps

It sounds like they are not getting enough light. I have a couple of 6" pots of sweet basil under lights. They are stocky, full of leaves, and branching nicely. The only problem I am having is that the leaves aren't flat. They are curled down on the sides. Does anyone know if this means they are getting too much light? I am using 4' T5 bulbs that have high lumens.

I sow 3 types of basils around late february by the south facing windowsill. Now they are 12 to 20 cm tall (and I have been pinching them down twice). They do need more light and warm and respond very well to some light liquid fertilizer.
The Thai basil is the tricky one, it do nothing for weeks yet other type has romp away, but now he is cathing up too and growing to the similar height. Give it some light feed and move it somewhere sunnier and don't overwatered them.
Good luck.

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I had the same problem with coriander. I tried growing some from seed on a window sill and also some in the greenhouse. The indoor ones came through more quickly then were really leggy whilst the greenhouse ones were shorter and stockier. I put the indoor ones into the greenhouse then killed them the next day when I forgot to open the greenhouse up before leaving for work!
My basil in the greenhouse looks really healthy - any chance of putting them out in a greenhouse or coldframe until they've grown on a bit?

I've not got a greenhouse or coldframe, but I've sown some more today outside and put half a clear plastic bottle over them in the hope this'll get em going

my black basil is doing great, seems to like the greenhouse, so fingers crossed, first time growing it!

Have given up growing basil outside but do have a few pots of it over the summer on window ledges. I find that it gets too much wind and rain damage outside.

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This has been my worst experience yet with any plant - I had some in the tropics
for a while and they grew like beanstalks, couldn't stop them...they were easily over a metre high

I've tried three sowings indoors here and they seem stunted...nothing much is happening.

I guess it's down to temperature and availability of light??

Regards
Crosbie

Is there a known problem with growing basil outside? I started mine from seed in the greenhouse and it was doing really great... I moved it outside last week (at the same time as my other herbs) and it has keeled over and died, but everything else seems to be thriving outdoors.

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pjh75

We sow the seed, nature grows the seed, we eat the seed.

I've tried from seed both inside and out it never lives very long before dying, I get better luck with basil bought in the supermarket, potted on and kept on the kitchen windowsill

I can't speak for growing basil inside, but here in Western Washington State basil requires warm soil. I normally don't plant basil outside until late in May or early June due to the chance of frost. Here is a link that may be of help:
Basil

As others have written, light may be a factor for plants being grown indoors.

Well I sowed another batch, this time sowing outside in a patch that I'd put some potting compost on, then placed a plastic lid over it to warm it up for a few days before sowing, and hey presto, they've come though and are looking fine. I also sowed some coriander too and thats just started to come though. Fingers crossed they go ok

Watch the weather very carefully, any sign of a cold spell and I'd cover it over again if I was you.

I have loads of trouble getting basil to establish healthily either indoors or out. If I grow it indoors it goes very leggy because we don't have enough light even on windowsills so I then put it outside only to find it gets cold and withers.

I have some succeeding in the greenhouse at present and one or two plants in my herb bed which I cover over with an old 5 litre water bottle at night and on cold wet days

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