Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is more commonly called holy basil and is grown in India for medicinal treatment and for religious worship. The plant is similar to traditional basil and can also be grown in the UK. Grow it in pots in indoors or in greenhouses because it stops growing when the temperature drops below 17.8 degrees Celsius (64 degrees Fahrenheit).

Fill a bucket with 2 parts seed-starting potting soil and 1 part coarse sand. Mix the two together using a hand spade.

Fill a 12.5 to 15 cm (5 to 6 inch) plant pot with the soil mixture until it is 2/3 full.

Spread the seeds on top of the soil mixture. Spread a 3mm (1/4 inch) layer of vermiculite on top of the seeds just until they are covered.

  • Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum) is more commonly called holy basil and is grown in India for medicinal treatment and for religious worship.
  • Spread a 3mm (1/4 inch) layer of vermiculite on top of the seeds just until they are covered.

Water the soil until it is saturated, and place the pot on a bright windowsill that has a temperature of at least 18.3 to 21.1 degrees Celsius (65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit).

Water the pot when the top of the soil feels dry to the touch. When the tulsi seedlings reach approximately 5 cm (2 inches) high, transplant each one to a 27.5 cm (11 inch) diameter pot.

Apply an all-purpose liquid plant fertiliser to the soil once every two weeks.