Tulsi Seeds (Holy Basil)

Tulsi, or holy basil, earns its spot on nearly every Indian balcony for two reasons at once - it's the herb households reach for in a daily cup of kadha or tea, and it's also the plant kept by the door or in the courtyard for its place in everyday puja. Growing your own means fresh leaves on hand whenever you need them, instead of buying a small bunch that wilts within a day or two. It's also the quickest turnaround in this batch: leaves are ready to start picking in about 45-60 days, well ahead of any of the flowers here. Sow seeds 0.5 cm deep and keep the soil lightly moist rather than letting it dry out between waterings - tulsi is a little less forgiving of dry spells than the flowering annuals. It's happy with slightly less direct sun too, 4-6 hours daily instead of a strict 5-6, and needs just 20-25 cm between plants, so a single medium pot on a sunny window ledge is enough to keep a household in fresh leaves.