How to Grow Basil in an Apartment

Plant your basil seeds in a suitable pot. Any container works to begin the growing process, although if you want to avoid repotting when the seedlings grow, plant the basil seeds either in individual pots that give each 2 to 3 inches of space or spaced apart in a single container by a similar distance. Whichever pot you choose, it must have drainage holes in the base.

Fill your pot with soil. Basil prefers a moist but well-drained soil with a pH level between 5.5 and 6.5. Mix mulch mix with standard compost soil to provide drainage to the plant. Avoid adding too much fertilizer to the soil, as this tends to inhibit the development of the fragrant oils in the plant. Fertilize just enough to maintain the desired pH level in the soil.

Keep the plants moist. Moisture is essential for the effective growth of your basil plants. Ensure that the soil is always moist but not saturated to the touch. Typically, you need to water basil every day or at least every other day.

Give the basil as much sunlight as possible, ideally six hours or more. The soil temperature initially needs to be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit to prompt germination. After the seedlings have developed, they need sunshine to perform photosynthesis. If such levels of natural sunlight are not possible, you can use artificial fluorescent growing lamps. Give the plants 10 to 12 hours of exposure per day if growing solely by artificial light or three hours in sunlight and six hours under artificial lights if using a combination.

Prune your basil, as regularly cutting the plant back encourages new growth. Once the plants are established – or has three to four full pairs of leaves per plant -- prune them back every two to three weeks by pinching off the flower buds. Taking leaves from the plants for your cooking endeavors also helps the pruning and regrowth process.