Basil - Ocimum basilicum
Full sun.
Jul–Sep depending on sowing time.
Mar–May outdoors after risk of frost.
40–60cm height; 30–50cm spread.
Overview
A tender, fragrant herb with soft green leaves. Grow in sun and well-drained soil, and pick little and often to keep plants bushy. Perfect for pesto, pasta, salads and tomato dishes.
- Vegetable Type: Basil
- Key Characteristic: Fragrant leaves ideal for pesto and Mediterranean dishes.
- Hardiness: (tender annual) – protect young plants from frost.
PLANTING ADVICE
Grow in well-drained compost in pots on a sunny windowsill or patio. Not suitable for cold ground planting.
- Outdoor cultivation
Grow outdoors only in a warm, sheltered, frost-free position from late spring to early autumn. Protect from cold nights.
- Greenhouse cultivation
Well suited to greenhouse cultivation. Maintain warmth, ventilation and regular feeding for best yields.
CARE & HARVEST
Keep soil moist and weed free. Harvest little and often to keep plants bushy and productive. Remove flower stems where leafy growth is preferred. Trim back lightly after flowering to maintain shape.
- Watering: Keep compost evenly moist and avoid letting it dry out completely.
- Feeding: Feed lightly with a general-purpose fertiliser during active growth; avoid overfeeding.
- Cutting and prunning: Remove any damaged or diseased growth as needed.
- Harvesting: Snip leaves regularly, ideally before flowering, for the strongest flavour.
- Pest and diseases: Monitor regularly for pests and remove affected growth promptly.
Verve recommends...
- Harvest regularly to keep plants compact and encourage strong new growth.