How to Grow Basil in a Pot on a Windowsill

Buy a packet of basil seeds and plant them in a clay pot. Spread the seeds out so the plants have room to grow. Place the pot in direct sunlight. Water the pot well and keep the soil moist. Within a week or two you will start to see small sprouts coming up out of the soil.

Water the seedlings at least once a week. Keep the soil slightly moist. If sprouts appear right on top of each other, thin out the seedlings.

Let the basil seedlings grow in direct sunlight. Do not use chemical fertilizer on the seedlings. Grow organic basil for the best health and nutrition impact.

As the basil stalks grow tall, start to cut off the top parts of the stalks to use the leaves in cooking. Do not cut the leaves off until shortly before you will use them in a recipe to have the freshest basil.

A tasty salad to create with the first basil you grow is very easy to make. Cut round slices of a tomato and top it with a leaf of basil. Then put a slice of mozzarella cheese on top of the basil. The cover the stack of tomato, basil and mozzarella with salad dressing made with vinaigrette. This salad is a delicious summer appetizer.