Growing basil in a kitchen window works if the light is strong. Basil wants warmth and long days; on a north sill it gets leggy, weak-scented, and prone to fungus. This is potting mix on a sill, not hydroponics.
South or East Light, or a Lamp
Several hours of gentle direct sun or very bright light. North windows rarely suffice without a grow lamp. See the light guide. A scorching summer balcony is the balcony article, not this one.
Pot, Mix, Water
About 15–20 cm depth with drainage. Light mix with a little sifted compost. Water when the surface dries; constant wetness blackens stems. soil and watering.
Do Not Combine Mint and Basil
Mint is aggressive. Parsley is a bit tougher in cool rooms but still hates darkness. Harvest from the top above a node so the plant branches; the logic matches pruning.
Pests, Feed, Travel
Aphids love soft basil: pests. Very weak fertilizer every two weeks in growth. Herbs dry fast while you travel: while away. In Jaliz log an edible herb and a bright window so reminders are shorter than for snake plant.
Seed or Nursery Start?
Basil seed wants a barely covered surface kept moist, not flooded, until it sprouts. If you are in a hurry, buy a start but do not throw it into midday sun. An oversized pot on a tiny seedling stays wet; size up as it grows.
When Basil Flowers
Flowering makes leaves more bitter. Pinch the bloom spike so the plant returns to leaf. Repeat weekly in warm months. If the plant is woody and bare, root a soft cutting in water and retire the old shrub.