By seeds? I would start them indoors. I started basil, oregano, thyme, and a couple others outdoors by seed earlier this month, and it took two and a half weeks to get anything to even start sprouting! I would think you would have much more luck indoors, especially if you have grow lights and a heating pad.

Thanks!

I was just not sure which would be better to do. I will do that. Thanks!

I direct sow basil every year with great results. What I would suggest is to do both - that way you will harvest over a longer period of time.

FataMorgana

Basils are one of the most heat demanding vegatable I know. Eggplants are similar.
So then, the soil and the air temperatures haveto be high for the seeds to germinate and grow.
But it can be done if you are patient.

Honestly, I don't really have to be patient all. The basil sprouts quite well and quite quickly. I grow thai basil and holy basil every year this way. In the years I grow sweet basil too, I grow it this way as well. The only trick is knowing when to drop the seed. You plant the seed only when the air and the soil has become warm. In Western NY State, I direct sow basil around Memorial Day, end of May. The harvest starts mid to late summer, variety dependent. Indoor starts would be harvested sooner - that's why I usually suggest both methods.

I personally find the direct sown plants to be more vigorous than indoor started plants and will direct sow what I can.

FataMorgana

Last year I direct seeded 3 different types of basil amongst my tomato plants. They all did great!

Well, of course, if you wait till summer, they will germinate and grow real easy.
But what I was talking about was if you want them sooner. And for that end
you sow the seeds and forget about it. I have sown some in March along with summer savory.
Now I have lots of summer savory but a few basils.
I have sown more three weeks ago and they are coming up.

As I said they are heat demanding. You can grow them in summer, REAL EASY.

Thank you very much! I just knew I started them out doors too early!!!

I will do some "back ups" indoors. Thanks again!

Cyrus, just so you know, the end of May is summer for some but not here. My last frost date is mid-May. Swimming in the local lakes (we have both the Great Lakes and Finger Lakes here) on Memorial Day is generally only for the polar bears and fool-hardy! ;)

People in warmer zones can shift the timing for planting to match their local conditions. I generally plant the warm-season stuff like basil 2 weeks after the last frost date.

FataMorgana

It's been my experience down here in the south that basil self-seeds prolifically so you shouldn't have any problem with direct seeding, as long as you remember that basil likes heat. If you want to be on the safe side start some plants inside, but my bet is that you'll have no problem at all with direct seeding. I've had basil volunteers pop up 50 feet away from the original plants. I don't know if it's wind or birds or magic, but there they were!

Fatamorgana, So your LFD is mid May and you sow you bails two weeks after,
that is early june and it takes couple of weeks for them to germinate
and that will be the middle of June.
That is almost summer in The Northeast. I have lived in Connecticut for many years.Three months later fall weather will arrive. hehe.

But My point has been that Basils will need good warm soil and air to germinate AND grow. Not necessarilly scortching heat.

I'm so glad I read this! I'm going to throw basil seeds in my tomato garden this weekend after I finish adding my side dressing of worm compost. Maybe I can finally be successful at growing basil.
I think I'll just throw about 5-6 varieties of basil everywhere that I have gardens. Something will have to take and thrive.

I have had great results direct sowing basil. Like others have said, its a VERY prolific self-seeder. If this is your first time with basil, expect to see tons of babies coming up next year in the weirdest areas. We had one come up between the flagstone in this little area we have for our grill. DH mowed it down though, I was really peeved about that.

I think I will direct seed some. I had put some in a raised bed and they have not sprouted yet, I suspect it is because we are still too cold. (soil temp. is 60) so I am going to try both and see who comes up first!

I direct sow two types of basil - green and purple - sometime in June - Just put few seeds in couple spots next to tomato plants. I am in south of Richmond area, they did great!