How to Grow Basil & Oregano

Grow the herbs you need to make pasta sauce by planting basil and oregano. Both herbs will do well in a container on your kitchen windowsill or in a sunny window elsewhere in your house if you lack outdoor space. Both plants need a good amount of sunlight to thrive, at least six hours of sun daily. While you can start basil from seed easily, it's best to start oregano from a transplant or cutting.

2 containers with drainage holes, 6 inches deep or 1 24-inch window box planter with drainage holes
Potting soil
Trowel
Greek oregano seedling
Sweet basil seed
Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Fill one of the 6-inch containers two-thirds full with potting soil or fill the larger container two-thirds of the way full.
- 2
  Loosen the root ball on the oregano plant and gently set it in the container. If you're using the larger container, place the plant in the center of the container.
- 3
  Add more potting soil to the container on the sides of the root ball. You want the top of the root ball to be level with the top of the soil. Press down on the soil to remove air pockets.
- 4
  Sprinkle a few basil seeds across the top of the soil and cover lightly.
- 5
  Water the soil until it is moist. Don't water it so much that water pools on top of the soil.
- 6
  Thin the basil seedlings after they've grown two leaves each so that the plants are about a foot apart.
- 7
  Snip off the sprigs of oregano after the plant reaches 6 inches high. Cut the sprigs just above the lowest two leaves on each stem, so that the plant grows back. Harvest basil leaves before the plant sets flowers for the best taste.

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