Genovese Basil Seed
Description
The best basil for pesto. Sweet, fragrant slow-bolting variety is very productive. Shiny, heavily ribbed leaves have less tendency to become bitter in slow-cooked sauces. Keeps producing until frost, as long as you keep picking the leaves. Pinch off any flowers that appear to keep the plant focused on leaf production. Outstanding chopped and sprinkled over fresh pasta and in Caprese salad. Extremely popular with home cooks and very easy to grow.
Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed.
- Days to germinate: 7-14
- Days to maturity: 68
- Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost. Sow ¼” deep in sterile planting medium.
- Transplant spacing: 24”
- Sow outdoors when temperatures reach 60º.
- Seed spacing: 4”, then thin to 24”, use thinnings as baby leaves
- Seed depth: ¼”
- Produce size: 2-3” leaves
- Yield: 6-10 cups of leaves per plant, more if constantly picked
- Mature plant height: 24-30”
- Suitable for container growing: Yes
- Year of discovery: Records in India date back to 807 A.D.
Tools & Supplies
Having the proper tools and supplies when growing your own can make the difference between a good harvest and a great harvest! Here's a list that our experts recommend for this variety.
