BASIL-ITALIAN LARGE LEAF

A$3.50

Availability: In stock

Seeds Per Pack: 375

Ocimum basilicum
BASIL-ITALIAN LARGE LEAF is regarded as the key basil for true Neapolitan cuisine. Pick the large leaves & use fresh or dried in tomato dishes, sauces, & soups. You can use basil in the garden as a companion plant to repel aphids, mites, & tomato hornworms. This basil grows 45 to 60cm high & 30 to 38cm wide. The dark green, shiny leaves can grow up to 7cm long on a tall, erect plant that is slow to bolt. Basils are loaded with volatile oils, responsible for the heady aroma & strong flavour so essential to cooking.

How to Grow Italian Large Leaf Basil

To grow Italian Large Leaf basil, you will need:

Soil: Basil prefers well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter. A mixture of garden soil, compost, and perlite or vermiculite works well.
Sunlight: Basil requires at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you live in a hot climate, it’s best to provide some shade in the afternoon.
Watering: Basil should be watered regularly, but avoid letting the soil become waterlogged. Soak the soil thoroughly, then let it dry out a bit before watering again.
Fertiliser: Basil benefits from regular feedings of an all-purpose fertiliser, especially during its active growing period.
Container: Basil can be grown in pots or in the ground. A container with drainage holes is important to prevent the soil from becoming waterlogged.
Transplanting: If you start your basil from seed, you may need to transplant the seedlings into larger containers or into the garden after they have a few sets of leaves.
Pruning: Pruning the tips of the basil will encourage bushier growth. Pinch back the tips when the plants are about 6 inches tall and repeat when they reach 8-10 inches tall.
Harvesting: Pick the basil leaves as needed, but avoid taking too much from a single plant at one time. Picking regularly will also encourage bushier growth.

SHOP ABSeeds

SHOP Garden Supplements
Further reading
https://www.growables.org/informationVeg/Basil.htm

Scoville Heat Units (SHU)

Plant Height (cm)

30 - 60

Season of Interest

Spring/ Summer / Autumn

Temperature Range (°C)

18- 30

Determine / Indeterminate

Annual / Perennial / Biennial

Annual

Frost Hardy / Tender

Tender

Full Sun / Part Sun / Shade

Full Sun

Sow Direct / Raise Seedlings

Sow direct / Raise Seedlings Indoors

Soil

Well drained, rich in organic matter

6 - 7.5

Soil Temperature (°C)

20 - 30

Seed Preparation

Soak seeds in warm water for 4-6 hours before planting

Sowing Depth (mm)

Plant Spacing (cm)

20 - 30

Row spacing (cm)

30 - 45

Watering

Regular to keep soil moist, not waterlogged

Germination Time (Days)

9-14 days

Harvest Time (Days)

60 - 90

Good Companion Plants

Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants, Beans, Lettuce, Arugula, Oregano, Thyme, Marigolds, Petunias,

Bad Companion Plants

Rue, Anise, Fennel,

Pests

Diseases

Fusarium wilt, Downy mildew, Powdery mildew, Grey mould, Bacterial leaf spot, Verticillium wilt

More About Us

ABSeeds is an Australian owned business trading under the umbrella of Direct Compost Solutions which is owned and managed by Victoria Brun.

We as a company endeavor to provide to the public, Organic, Old Fashioned, Heritage, and Open-pollinated seeds that have not been genetically modified.

We purchased the business in November 2018 and renamed it to ABSeeds (All ‘Bout Seeds) to make the title shorter and represent what we hope to achieve with this business in the years ahead.

Seeds that we can’t grow ourselves we will acquire from people who grow for us, or we may purchase seeds from reputable heritage seed companies.