How to Grow Basil Microgreens
Ocimum basilicum
Basil microgreens offer a quick harvest of aromatic basil leaves for salads and garnishes. Gardeners value them for their intense flavor and ability to grow in small spaces.
📷 Wikimedia CommonsStarting Basil Microgreens: indoors or direct sow?
🌾 Sow directly in the garden — Basil Microgreens is not usually started indoors.
Direct sow seeds outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm.
Soil, care & harvest
Prepare loose, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Since basil is a warm-season crop sensitive to cold, start seeds indoors after the last frost date when soil temperatures are consistently above 50°F. Sow seeds densely at a shallow depth of about 1/4 inch. Expect germination within 3 to 7 days under warm conditions.
Keep seedlings moist but avoid wetting leaves to prevent fungal issues. Water using bottom watering or gentle misting rather than overhead sprinkling. These microgreens do not require trellising or staking as they remain small. Feed lightly with a balanced liquid fertilizer if growth slows, though they often thrive on initial soil nutrients alone.
Watch for aphids, spider mites, and fungus gnats; improve air circulation to reduce fungal pressure like damping off. Harvest the entire tray of microgreens approximately 74 days after sowing when plants are young and tender. Snip them just above the soil line with clean scissors or cutters.
When to Plant Basil Microgreens
Planting windows vary by USDA hardiness zone. Look up yours by ZIP code.
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 2 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 3 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 4 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 5 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 6 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 7 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 8 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 9 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 10 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 11 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 12 | January – December | — | January – December |
| Zone 13 | January – December | — | January – December |
Companion Plants for Basil Microgreens
✓ Good companions
Chives repel aphids and other soft-bodied insects that target basil
Compatible growing conditions and cilantro attracts beneficial predatory insects
Basil provides natural pest protection for lettuce while both prefer similar light conditions
Attracts beneficial insects and repels nematodes that could affect basil root systems
Both herbs have similar growing requirements and complementary pest-repelling properties
Similar water and light requirements, and parsley attracts beneficial insects like hoverflies
Basil deters aphids, spider mites, and thrips that commonly attack pepper plants
Basil repels tomato hornworms and aphids while potentially improving tomato flavor
✗ Keep away from
Can stunt basil growth through competitive allelopathy and different moisture requirements
Releases growth-inhibiting compounds that negatively affect most herbs including basil
Produces allelopathic compounds that can inhibit basil seed germination and growth
Nutrition Facts
Per 100g serving (USDA FoodData Central)
