[fatbelly]

Hi we have been given some Basil seeds free.
No info on the packet of what variety or when to plant.
Can anyone help?
I do have an unheated greenhouse to start them off if needed.

[agapanthus]

They do need a fair amount of heat to get them going....try putting pots on the windowsill with clingfilm over the top if you hav'nt got a propagator

[DD.]

This is what I've done in the past & doing this year - seems to work.

Time is now.

Sow under a very thin (1/16") layer of moist compost, keep indoors where it's warm. Cover with clear lid of some kind, (meat tray, plastic bag etc - don't believe in paying for propagators), keep in the light.

AS SOON as you see germination, remove cover & place in greenhouse.

When large enough to handle transplant seedlings into plant cells & then later on into 3" pots.

Harden off & plant outside.

(You could skip the plant cells & go straight for 3" pots, but you waste more compost if the seedling doesn't take).

[mashauk]

Sigh, I'm just trying a 4th attempt to get some to germinate, have seen one minute thing so fingers crossed!

[DD.]

Sigh, I'm just trying a 4th attempt to get some to germinate, have seen one minute thing so fingers crossed!

And the minute thing is.............................?

[mashauk]

Sigh, I'm just trying a 4th attempt to get some to germinate, have seen one minute thing so fingers crossed!

And the minute thing is.............................?

Who knows, my eyesight isn't good enough to tell, I'd need a magnifying glass!

[Stripey_cat]

I germinated some earlier this spring with my chilli seeds.  Modules, seed compost, covered with plastic, about a week on the windowsill of a south-facing bathroom, moved to a shelf out of draughts overnight.  Once they were up, I took the plastic off and kept them on the sill to toughen them up a bit.  They're now in a window box in the kitchen and growing like weeds.

[gobs]

Should be pointed out though that basil is very frost tender and sulks on low temperatures, so those with a cold gh, might need extra protection at night for them or better off leaving them indoors for a while.

[charley1980]

Had no luck at all last year and wasn't even going to bother trying this year, but someone bought me a miniature kitchen greenhouse herb set, which came with 6 varieties of herb seeds, 6 tiny little plant pots and a little plastic "greenhouse" that you propogated them in.
I went with it and grew them on my south facing windowsill in my conservatory, which gets pretty warm in the day and has sun all day long (when it's out ). Anyway the basil grew brilliantly. i put a few seeds in the little pot and a couple of weeks later I was transplanting them into 3 inch pots!
I have some that are about 8 inches tall now and in bigger pots, another lot in 3 inch pots which are about 2 inches and another lot just going in!!  Don't itend to put any outside until about June, pending on weather, will just keep on my windowsill, and at this rate give lots to friends and family!!  

[newseed]

I have bought some Basil seed mats, not tried these before, and reading the above it looks like I should get on and get them planted.  Will let you know how I get on.

[purplebean]

Mine germinated on the windowsill in January with no heat, we have already had a couple of meals from them. Going to get some more going soon.

[Scribbler]

I sowed mine in kitchen roll tubes this year, as they don't like their roots being disturbed.