How long does it take for Basil to germinate?

[OrmIrian]

Planted it our about 10 days ago and not a squeak yet?

It ought to have come through by around 10 days I'd have thought, but sometimes things take longer if the conditions aren't ideal.

Where have you planted it? It will like a warm windowsill & a humid environment but the soil shouldn't be too wet or the seeds can rot. Sometimes covering the pot with clear plastic (just until it starts to sprout) helps keep the conditions right.

Well I put it in the garden at first snorkle with cling film over the top. It was very sunny at first. On Saturday I took the film off and brought it inside. It did occur to me that they might have rotted. But never sown it before so didn't know. It's DD's too .

Well don't give up on it yet. I would think the garden was too cold, it might start going now it's in the warm. - I'd put the clingfilm back on though. Do you have any spare seeds? It might be worth starting another lot going inside to increase chances of success if so.

Thanks snorkle.

No spares. DD was a bit overenthusiatic She's come over all green-fingered this spring - has a window box with veggies outside her bedroom window.

I planted basil seeds recently indoors, and after 10-12 days I threw the pot outside ready to compost it 'cos I thought they were dead - and then left it there a week. When I finally went to compost it they had all grown!! I now have a tray full of plants about 2-3 inches high. (despite being left uncovered and unloved for a week)

Don't give up!

Hurray kirsty. Will wait a bit more patiently

I love basil!

Mine germinated quite quickly, but I think I overwatered them and they all keeled over and died within a few days . My only failure so far this year though, so prettty happy really!

Basil seeds take bloody ages, and are obviously quite fussy about their conditions. I planted basil and tomato seeds this year (first time I'd ever planted any seeds) and all the tomato seeds came through within a few days but only 2 of about 30 basil seeds came up. Now, about 4 weeks later, suddenly lots of tiny basil shoots have appeared - so maybe it wasn't warm enough a few weeks ago?

They are indoors too, on my kitchen windowsill, so no exposure to winds or frost. Apparently the plants take ages to grow as well. Still, it's all a good learning experience...

My basil seedlings seem to have come up quite well - but are growing pretty slowly.

The ruddy mint seeds haven't done anything though! I keep reading how vigorous mint plants are - I'd have expected it to have taken over DD's bedroom by now, turning it into a minty forest...

Glad to hear that I'm not the only one with slow growing basil from seed - nearly all of mine germinated (outside in my little grow house thingy) but are growing sooooo slowly in relation to all my other seedlings (carrots, spinach, rocket, lettuce, courgette).

Thell, know what you mean about mint. I planted up a herb garden in an old belfast sink and purposefully kept the mint separate (bought all the plants from our local nursery). All of the others are thriving but the mint hasn't grown much...am hoping it picks up a bit once the weather gets a bit better .

Ours took three weeks but the sun has hardly been out since March

You can grow basil seeds really quickly, you can grow them anywhere - in the winter you can grow basil on the kitchen windowsill but there are masses of herb seeds at gardening seeds and it shows just how many basil plants you can grow. I think you had a duff packet of seeds. Just make sure you give them lots of water and you can make your own fresh pesto all year round - its amazing and so good for you. Good Luck!

This thread's from 2009