Growing Basil Indoors
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: David Patroch
Posted on: November 02, 2004

We would like to grow basil under grow lights for use during the winter. Are there certain types of basil that are better for this use?

Bush type basils work much better than the larger growing varieties. The latter tend to sprawl too much under the lower light levels found in an indoor environment. Try Profusion basil, Compatto FT Genovese basil and possibly Bush basil, Greek Bush basil, Purple Bush basil, Spicy Globe basil, Green Globe basil and Marseillais Bush basil.

Can all herbs be grown indoors or just certains ones?

If I were to tell you that a certain herb cannot be grown indoors, someone would be bound to write me back to say that they grew that one just fine indoors, thank you!

It all depends on how much effort you are willing to expend to grow a herb that needs special conditions to do well. The only generalization I am willing to make is that a large percentage of herbs like a lot of sun and a well-draining, but moist soil. Some such as tarragon and chives needs a month of freezing in the fall to prevent them from gradually petering out and dying. Tha annuals are probably the easiest to grow, since unlike perennials, they do not do very little growing for the first six months. Also the seeds of annuals tend to germinate quicker.

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