Propagating Basil from Cuttings and Seeds: A Complete Guide

The only thing better than basil is more basil. Basil is delicious, it's easy to grow, and it tastes like pure summer. It can be grown as a perennial in USDA zones 10-11, but most of us have to content ourselves with the summer’s bounty. Or do we?

Basil is remarkably easy to propagate, even in the dead of winter. It can be grown from seed, but you can also root cuttings in soil or water, treating yourself to endless basil throughout the year. I’ve done it many times before and I’m here to tell you how to grow basil from cuttings.

Let's dive into this important aspect of basil care.

When to Propagate Basil

If you plant to grow your basil inside or in a greenhouse, you can propagate the plant by seed or cuttings any time of the year. If you want to start from seed indoors for transplant later outdoors, start basil seeds 6-8 weeks before the last frost for your area. If you wish to direct sow outdoors, wait to sow the seed until all risk of frost has passed and temperatures are above 50 F (10 C).

The Best Ways to Propagate Basil

You can grow basil from seed or cuttings. Both are relatively simple. The beauty of propagating basil from cuttings is that you have a continuous, cheap, supply of basil year round, and the wait time until harvest is shorter than if grown from seed. It's also beautiful to look at, especially if it's in a glass propagation station, which you can get on Amazon.

How to Propagate Basil by Seed

Basil seeds are readily available everywhere that vegetable seeds can be found. The seeds are quite tiny but can be purchased coated making them easier to sow.

Folks in cooler climates usually start their basil indoors for later transplant outside but if you live in a warmer climate (zones 7-10) you can also direct sow after temperatures have warmed in the spring.

1. Select an area of full sun that is weed-free.
2. Dig in some organic compost and mix well into the soil or use a good quality potting mix for containers.
3. Sow seeds at a depth of ¼ inch (6 mm).
4. Once the seedlings emerge, thin them to 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) apart.
5. Keep the seeded area consistently moist.
6. Sidedress with liquid fertilizer, like this liquid plant food from Amazon, every 2 weeks.

How to Propagate Basil from Cuttings

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This is my favorite way to propagate basil. I will often take cuttings from a basil plant I’ve been growing outside during the summer. I take cuttings in about September, before any chance of frost is imminent for my area, root them, and then pot them to be grown as indoor basil plants through the winter months. Snips or scissors, like these Fiskars Herb Garden Scissors from Amazon, are good for harvest time.

Basil cuttings are easy to propagate. You can get them from your own plants as I do or from a friend or neighbor’s plant. Another great place to source basil cuttings is the grocery store. Many stores sell live basil plants often year round, either in their garden or florist area or in the produce section. Often these are actually multiple plants that can be separated and later when they get bigger, used to take cuttings.

Rooting Basil Cuttings in Water

1. Snip a 4-6 inch (10-15 cm) long stem just below a leaf node (the area where the leaves emerge from the stem).
2. Remove any leaves from the bottom third of the cutting.
3. Place the cuttings into glasses filled with water.
   1. Some people say to only use filtered water which is a good idea if your tap water is chlorinated. If you don’t have filtered water, leave tap water out for 24 hours to allow the chlorine to dissipate.
4. Place the cuttings in water in an area with bright yet indirect light.
5. Change the water every couple of days.
6. After about 2 weeks, you should see roots.
7. When the roots have grown an inch or two (2.5 to 5 cm), pot the cuttings up in good quality, well-draining potting soil.

Rooting Basil Cuttings in Soil

You can also opt to skip rooting in water and try rooting the cuttings directly in the soil.

1. Pre-moisten your potting soil and fill your chosen containers, then clip your cuttings.
2. As above, remove any leaves from the bottom third of the cutting before planting it.
3. You want the cutting to stay moist so don’t wait, but immediately poke the cut end of the cutting into the prepared soil.
4. Cover the container with a clear plastic bag that will act as a mini greenhouse, retaining moisture and humidity.
5. Mist the cuttings daily and keep an eye on the soil moisture.
6. In about 2 weeks you should be able to tell if roots have formed; a gentle tug can confirm your suspicions.
7. At this point, you can repot it into a larger, permanent container or harden it off and transplant it outside, and voila, you have a beautiful, free basil plant!

Frequently Asked Questions