Italian Basil

Also known as: Sweet Basil;
Tamil Name: Tulasi; Scientific Name: Ocimum basilicum;

Beginner Level

B G I T W

Planting/Sowing

Oct – Dec;

Harvesting

Jan – Mar;

First Harvest

~90 Days

General Info

Crop category	Herb
Life span	Annual
Type of crop	Herb
Part(s) of the crop to harvest	Leaves
Avg. Height	12-24 inches

Climate & Humidity

Basil is easy to grow in warm, sunny conditions.

Planting / Sowing

When to plant / sow seeds (ideal season):
October to December

How to plant:
Direct sowing & transplanting

Soil Depth & Spacing Requirements

Seeds to be raised in nursery bed and it will germinate after 8 to 10 days. Seedlings to be transplanted once the plant reaches 4 leaf stage.

NOTE: Please go through the Guides in the Knowledge Base for more details on topics ranging from Spacing & Lighting to Soil and Nutrients.

Irrigation

Irrigation twice a week in the initial period and once weekly in the subsequent months.

NOTE: Irrigation should depend on how moist / wet the soil is. Check your plants everyday to see if they require irrigation or not. Check the Watering & Irrigation guide for more info.

Harvesting

When to harvest
First harvest 90 days after sowing. Start picking basil leaves as soon as the plants are 6 to 8 inches tall. Harvest early in the morning, when leaves are at their juiciest.

How to harvest
Make sure to pick the leaves regularly to encourage growth throughout the summer.

NOTE: Harvest periods can vary depending on environmental, climatic, and soil conditions.

Pests & Diseases

Pests	Leaf roller
Common Diseases/ Problems	Powdery mildew
Pest and Disease prevention measure(s)	Read Pest & Disease Control for more information.

Did you know?

Dried basil has little resemblance to the fresh herb and tastes like hay. If you need to store basil, quickly blanch in hot water and then freeze, but your best bet is to have a pot of basil growing in your kitchen garden to always have fresh basil on hand. It is also an excellent mosquito repellent.