DESCRIPTION
Growing Organic Italian Large Leaf Basil Seeds
Organic Large Leaf Basil Growing Habits
Organic Ocimum Basilicum var. Italian Large Leaf is an annual seed that does best in a summer that lasts at least 3 months. Basil herbs in general, including Organic Italian Large Leaf, are considered a "bumper crop", meaning they produce a huge yield over their lifecycle if they are trimmed correctly. Basil can grow tall but, when pinched, it can become bushy with a 12-inch spread. Yes, Italian large leaf basil can be "dwarfed" but it must be at least 6 inches tall to produce correctly.
Uses and Benefits of Organic Italian Basil
Always harvest your Organic basil leaves before the plant goes to flower. Most popularly they are used right away, but it is possible to dry the leaves, crumble, and store for later use. First, cut the stems and tie them together with a string. To harvest, pinch the stem just above a set of leaves as needed from the top this will help to keep the plants bushy. Make sure you don't harvest too much at once as it can cause irreparable damage. Although you don't want basil to flower while harvesting, at the end of the season, if you allow it to flower"it's a pretty showy flower that looks nice as summer wanes into autumn.
ATTRIBUTES
Basic Info
Latin Name: |
Ocimum basilicum
|
Italian Large Leaf Color: |
Green, ranging from pale to dark |
Flavor: |
Sweet anise flavor, the most popular of basil varieties |
Growing Info
Days to Maturity: |
Annual, depends on the length of the warm season |
Planting Depth: |
1/4 Inches |
Growth Habit: |
Upright |
Light Preference: |
Full sun |
Other
Sow Spacing: |
12-18 Inches |
Seed Soil Preference: |
Well-drained and moist |
Plant Temperature Preference: |
Warm; the longer the season, the better |