Description

Basil Mix

Ocimum basilicum

These are my top favourite Basil varieties available as a ‘mix’, so you only need to buy ‘one’ packet of seeds.

Summer salads don’t have as much flavour as spicy winter varieties, so I simply add a scattering of these sweet aromatic leaves to make more flavoursome salads!

The plants also make handsome patio containers and as the seeds emerge either ‘Red’ or ‘Green’, you can easily distinguish between the two and choose to grow them on separately or together.

How to grow

Cold sensitive, don’t start them too early, then sow roughly every 4 weeks until the end of June or even into July for young leaves.

Sow into individual cells on the soil surface covering only lightly with compost or vermiculite. Place somewhere warm for germination.

For more detailed growing instructions join our ‘Grow-A-Long’  and for busy gardeners you can now plan ahead with our Spring Grow-A-Long Handbook.

Details:
Variety:  Ocimum basilicum
Type: Half Hardy Annual
Position: Full sun, excellent in containers
Sow: Spring
Spacing: 10-20cm
Height: 35-50cm
Seeds per packet: 300
Harvest: June onwards

Pick basil leaves regularly when required to promote new growth. Pinch out any flowers as soon as they appear to prolong lush leaves – however I find the flowers so pretty that I do let a few of my pots bloom and I find the leaves are still delicious if a little smaller.