herb

Basil

Warm-season herb. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, or keep it on a bright sill.

Sun

Full sun

Spacing

8–12 in

Days

45–70

Zones

4a–11a

How to sow

Indoors 4 weeks before last frost, or after nights stay above 50°F. Pinch the first flowers.

Harvest

Take tips often. A flowering basil is a tired basil.

Mistakes that waste a packet

• Cold nights
• Letting it bloom
• A pot without drainage

Three packets

• Genovese

  Beginner

  The pesto basil. Pinch early, harvest often.

  Get seed at Botanical Interests

• Lettuce Leaf

  Container

  Big leaves in a small pot. One plant is a summer of sandwiches.

  Get seed at Seeds Now

• Thai Basil

  Flavor

  Holds flavor in heat when Italian types sulk.

  Get seed at True Leaf Market

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