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EVEC Microgreens
Basil microgreens: everything you need to know to grow them
How to grow basil microgreens step by step — sowing, light, watering and harvest. Add fresh aroma and flavour to salads, pasta and pizza from your windowsill.
Unlike most microgreens, basil germinates best under a very thin layer of soil, 1 to 2 mm, which helps it hold the moisture it needs. It also wants more light than most microgreens and a longer run to harvest, 12 to 21 days, so it repays a little extra attention. Like the other guides in this series, what follows covers the characteristics of the crop, step by step instructions, and practical notes from growing it ourselves.
Basil is perfect for adding a fresh aroma and flavor to your salads, pasta, pizzas, or even for making a mini pesto bursting with taste. If you think of Italian cuisine, basil has probably already come to mind. Plus, its fragrance is delightful from the very first day it germinates!
What you’ll need
- Basil seeds – You can easily find them in specialty stores or online. There are many varieties, but Genovese basil is one of the most popular for microgreens.
- Growing trays – Flat and shallow, with or without drainage holes.
- Growing medium – Potting soil or coconut coir.
- Spray bottle or fine mist watering can.
- Natural sunlight or LED grow lights – Basil loves bright light, so make sure it gets plenty.
Step by step guide to growing basil microgreens
- Prepare the tray
As we always recommend, clean it well before use, with water and soap if needed. - Add the growing medium
Fill the tray with an even layer of soil and lightly moisten it. - Sow the seeds
Spread the basil seeds evenly across the surface. Unlike other varieties, basil germinates best when covered with a very thin layer of soil (1–2 mm). This helps retain the necessary moisture. - Water gently
Use a spray bottle to moisten the surface without moving the seeds. Basil needs a consistently humid environment to germinate. - Blackout period
Cover the tray for the first 3–4 days to encourage germination. You can use another tray or a piece of opaque cardboard. - Light and ventilation
Once the first sprouts appear, uncover the tray and place it in a brightly lit spot or under LED grow lights. Basil needs more light than most other microgreens to grow strong. - Keep it moist
Mist gently once or twice a day, making sure the soil doesn’t dry out. - Harvest time
In 12–21 days, your basil microgreens will be ready. Use clean scissors to cut just above the soil line.
And that’s it!
Basil microgreens don’t just add an intense, aromatic flavor, they’re also packed with nutrients: vitamins A, C, and K, plus calcium, iron, and antioxidants. They’re an ideal way to add a gourmet and healthy touch to any dish.
The science on basil
Studies from our Science Library that concern basil microgreens, in plain language with links to the original research. This list updates automatically as new studies are added.
No studies specific to this crop yet — browse the full Science Library.
Basil in the kitchen
Recipes and kitchen ideas from our cookbook team that use basil microgreens.
No recipes for this crop yet — the cookbook has plenty to start with.
Growing a different crop next? Every variety has a guide like this one in the Varieties database.
Explore the portal
This article is part of the free knowledge portal of EVEC Microgreens. Wherever you are on your microgreens journey, there is a path for you:
- 🌱 Grow microgreens at home — the full beginner path, free
- 📗 Crop guides — how to grow every species
- 💼 Turn microgreens into a business — and if you have no capital, our cooperative gives you free growing space
- 🏫 Teach with microgreens — free classroom materials
- 🔬 The Science Library — research explained in plain language
Co-funded by the European Union.
This portal presents the microgreens methodology; the organisation behind it is EVEC Athens — the European Voluntary and Educational Center (evec.org.gr). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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