Tulsi, also known as sacred basil, is widely grown in homes across India. It has beautiful light green leaves with a tinge of purple on its stems. And it is good to know that Tulsi is easy to grow from seed.
The online edition of the newspaper, The Times of India, provides a few tips about growing Tulsi in an article titled, ‘Dos and Don’ts’: Facts about Keeping Tulsi Plant in the House‘. Here are three of their tips:
- A Tulsi plant should always be kept in the north and north-east direction because that is the direction of water which helps destroy negative energies.
- No matter how big your garden is, you must never plant Tulsi in the ground. Always plant in a pot.
- Plant Tulsi on a platform which is higher than the base of your house. A higher window area or balcony space would be great.
Use the fresh leaves for tea or to infuse in (unheated) water. Or simply eat the fresh leaves.
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How to Plant: Ease of Germination: Easy. Start indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Or you can start your basil when you start your outdoor garden plants, at the end of May. Sow seeds just below the soil surface, keep soil moist until seedlings emerge. Seed will germinate in 5 to 10 days. Pinch off flowers when they appear to keep the plant producing new leaves.
