[rhysdad]

Basil!!!

[onthebeach]

I've just planted some basil seeds never grown them before so I'll let you know outcome.

ive never grown anything in my life and have trays of cherry tomatoes peppers and basil on my kitchen windowsill. the tomatoes have come up well already in 2 weeks and the basil is showing itself now too. must just be lucky eh.

[shutterbug]

Planted basil for the first time last year. 4 or 5 germinated but all the plants died before getting past the first set of proper leaves.

I ended up buying some of the ready cut kind from the supermarket. It was limp and lifeless, as you'd expect, so I stuck it in a glass of water on the kitchen windowsill to revive.  A week later it had taken root in the glass. It even went on to flower as I just kept topping up the water level.

Going to try the seeds again this year but maybe add in something to lighten up the compost so it drains better.

[purplebean]

I start mine off in January (I know that is early but it works) on the living room windowsill, they always germinate really well and grow happily. As they start to look a little straggly just take some cuttings put in a jar of water (so the bottom inch or so of stem is submersed) and wait for roots then pot up and keep cropping

[mumofstig]

I never knew that basil cuttings will root in water....everyday's a schoolday

[Greendream]

Mine too!! 

I was chuffed to bits when i bought one of the off the shelf ones at LDL's early last year, just put it on my windowsill (SW facing), watered it daily, and i am still using it now!

Having tried and failed at growing Basil and even keeping bought ones alive, i am now gonna get more of the same for this year and plant it with hundreds and thousands tomatoes in window boxes. fingers crossed!

[craggy]

Basil likes a lot of warmth and a stable temperature

I'll agree with that, and it also hates being overwatered.............so try a little less of the wet stuff

sun,sun,and more sun.just like toms,there perfect partner.

[purplebean]

I never knew that basil cuttings will root in water....everyday's a schoolday

Yep they root really easily in water 

[gawk]

What I do is get six 10cm pots and evenly sow 5 to 6 seeds in each. Put the pots in a tray and cover the tray with a plastic lid or each pot with some cling film until germination, remove lids/film once germinated. The tray sits on the conservatory window sill near the radiator so gets plenty of light and warmth. Water into the tray, not the individual pots.

5 to 6 seeds in a 10cm pot means you don't need to transplant and so far they have germinated and grown wonderfully, the only trouble is visitors keep asking if they can take a pot or two!