Sweet Basil

Growing sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) from seed is a wonderfully optimistic act: sprinkle a few tiny seeds into warm, moist soil, give them plenty of light, and soon you’ll have enough basil to convince yourself you’re running a small Italian restaurant. Keep the soil gently moist but not soggy, thin the seedlings so they have room to grow, and pinch off the growing tips as they mature to encourage bushier plants. Before long, the real challenge won’t be growing basil—it’ll be finding enough tomatoes, mozzarella, and pasta to keep up with it.