Ever bought a bunch of fresh basil for your pasta, used a few leaves, and watched the rest wilt in the fridge? What if you could simply step onto your balcony and pick a handful whenever you needed them? You don’t need a sprawling garden to grow your own basil. With a small pot, some sunlight, and a little care, you can have this fragrant Italian herb growing right at home.
But how do you get your basil plant to grow lush, healthy leaves instead of struggling after a few weeks? Dr Mayur Mandrah, a former army major and gardening content creator, shares what works for his own plant.
From getting the soil mix right and knowing when to water to a simple pruning trick that encourages bushier growth, he breaks down six practical tips to help you grow fresh basil on your balcony.
Here are his tips for growing a healthy basil plant.
1. Choose the right pot
Basil needs sufficient room to spread as it grows. He grows his plant in a six-inch pot and recommends choosing a container that gives the roots enough space.
Make sure that the pot has drainage holes at the bottom to allow excess water to escape. His pot has around four holes, which he finds sufficient for his watering routine.
He recommends clay pots where possible, although fibre and plastic pots can also be used. Good drainage is important to prevent water from collecting around the roots.
2. Prepare a suitable soil mix
For his basil plant, Dr Mayur uses equal quantities of vermicompost and cocopeat.
He mixes half vermicompost with half cocopeat to create a growing medium that retains moisture while supplying nutrients. Vermicompost provides nourishment, while cocopeat helps hold water.
This easy mix can be used for container gardening, provided the pot drains well.
3. Adjust watering to the weather
Basil needs adequate moisture, but its watering requirements change with the season.
During the rainy season, the gardener waters his plant about once a week. When watering, he thoroughly soaks the growing medium.
In summer, he says the plant may need water every two to three days. For basil growing in a clay pot, he suggests watering every three to four days.
You don’t need a sprawling garden to grow your own basil. Photograph: (LoveFood)
These intervals are based on his experience. Check the soil regularly and adjust watering according to the weather, pot material, and how quickly the growing medium dries. Avoid keeping the soil waterlogged, as this can damage the roots.
4. Provide three to four hours of sunlight
Basil needs adequate light to grow well. Dr Mayur recommends keeping the plant on a balcony where it receives around three to four hours of sunlight daily.
Morning sunlight is ideal, followed by shade during the hotter part of the day. If you are growing basil indoors, place it near a kitchen window that receives morning sunlight.
He prefers growing his plant on the balcony because he has observed that indoor plants tend to develop smaller leaves.
5. Feed the plant regularly
The gardener follows an alternating Sunday routine for fertilisation. On the first Sunday, he sprays the plant with seaweed extract. On the second, he uses magnesium sulphate, also known as Epsom salt.
He says this routine helps maintain the plant’s green foliage. He also adds a little vermicompost to the soil once a month and mixes it into the growing medium.
If you follow this approach, use fertilisers according to their product instructions and avoid excessive application.
6. Prune to encourage bushier growth
Regular harvesting can help basil develop a fuller appearance. Dr Mayur recommends pinching or cutting the upper growing tips of the stems when picking leaves.
Removing these tips encourages lateral branching, allowing more shoots to develop and making the plant bushier.
Basil needs sufficient room to spread as it grows. Photograph: (Better Homes & Gardens)
He credits his own plant’s numerous branches to his wife’s frequent harvesting. By regularly picking the upper growth, you can enjoy fresh leaves while encouraging the plant to produce more branches.
With the right pot, suitable soil, adequate sunlight, and regular pruning, basil can survive in a small balcony garden. Follow these simple steps to grow this fragrant herb at home and enjoy fresh leaves whenever you prepare your favourite pasta dishes.
