BASIL-ITALIAN LARGE LEAF
BASIL-ITALIAN LARGE LEAF
A$3.50
Availability: 56 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.
Guaranteed Safe Checkout
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 Garden Supplements
Further reading
https://www.growables.org/informationVeg/Basil.htm
Scoville Heat Units (SHU)
Plant Height
30 - 60
Season of Interest
Spring/ Summer / Autumn
Temperature Range
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
pH
6 - 7.5
Soil Temperature
20 - 30
Seed Preparation
Soak seeds in warm water for 4-6 hours before planting
Sowing Depth
1
Plant Spacing
20 - 30
Row spacing
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
When I started this journey in 2009, I found nothing existed commercially, that was reasonably priced and easy to use. There was a homemade system which I also found was not that user-friendly.
Then a friend of mine told me about a homemade method she used. However, when I tried her method, I found this also didn’t suit my needs, as it too had flaws that I considered where important. It did not keep vermin out, did not have a lockable lid and (to me) looked unsightly in the garden
