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Italian Sweet Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Classic Italian Basil for all your favorite recipes. This variety actually emerged from an Italian Lettuce Leaf Basil. We grew them separately because the leaves were not savoyed/curly, and these plants turned out to be beautiful, robust, healthy, disease-resistant additions to our backyard garden. We've saved the seeds, increased them, and are now offering them to you. Personally, I harvest and use them in my favorite eggplant parmesan recipe (alongside mint!) from Cooking with Nona. - Owen
Days to maturity: 60
Seeds per pack: 125-150
Germination rate: 63% on 01/30/2024
Planting / harvesting notes
Sow seeds on the surface of moist potting soil and keep it evenly moist and in the sunlight until germination. Start indoors, and later transplant in full sun 10-12 inches apart. Cut and come again harvest - this plant is a vigorous grower in warmer months. Once established, keep evenly watered, this plant is not drought tolerant and can suffer heat damage.
Seed keeping notes
Allow seedheads to dry on the plant. Cut the stalks below the lowest seed clusters. If necessary, dry the seedheads further in the sun on a sheet or table away from moisture and precipitation. When fully dry, whack the seedheads in a bucket, allowing the ripest seed to fall. Sift through strainers to remove the largest chaff, and then winnow off the lighter chaff with your breath, a fan, or the wind.
