Growing and Using Fresh Basil
You cannot beat the taste and aroma of fresh basil. And it’s easy to grow indoors, in the garden or in pots outdoors. Gertens Experts provide caring techniques, different recipes including drinks!
Certified Organic
Ocimum basilicum
Sweet anise flavor compliments stir fries and curries.
Start your garden from scratch with Gertens' wide variety of seed packets! Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, we have seeds for every skill level and garden size. From colorful flowers to delicious vegetables, our seeds are carefully selected for their quality and performance.
When a sprig of Thai Basil lands on your taste buds, it's hard to sum up that flavor in one word. The herb is a mingling of sweet and spicy woven with anise and mint. But there's always something else, deeper in the flavor profile, that lends this basil its magic. It's not surprising, then, that over the centuries basil has been associated with legends and deities. We are grateful that it is still with us today, like ancient Thai scrolls come to life, imparting its mythical flavor to our favorite stir fries and curries.
Though they are the same species, Thai basil and Italian basil have many differences. Thai basil is a more concentrated, spicy flavor, with smaller leaves on sturdy purple stems and a much more compact habit. The plants are highly ornamental, with deep purple flower buds that open in lavender. Widely adapted to a range growing conditions, it grows well in containers, too.
This variety is suitable for growing as a microgreen.
Growing Instructions
Direct sow after frost, or start indoors up to 1 month before last frost date. To have fresh basil the whole season, start in succession at 1-month intervals. Pinch off tallest growth in order to keep basil from flowering; flavor becomes too strong once in bloom. Good for garden or container plantings.
Quick Facts
Days to Germination: 4-10 days
Days to Maturity: 65 days
Planting Depth: ¼"
Spacing in Row: 8-12"
Spacing Between Rows: 12-24"
Height at Maturity: 12-24"
Width at Maturity:12"
Sun Preference: Full to Partial Sun
About the Artist
Artwork by Skowmon Hastanan: www.skowmon.com About the Artist: Skowmon Hastanan born in Thailand, lives and works in NYC since 1973, received her BFA from School of Visual Arts. Hastanan exhibited her works at various venues including Penn Museum in Philadelphia, Bronx Art Space, The Bronx Museum, Longwood Art Gallery, Wave Hill, The Drawing Center, Artist-s Space, New Museum, The Krause Gallery, Jamaica Center, and The Elizabeth A. Sackler Center For Feminist Art at Brooklyn Museum, Aljira, NJ, Mills Gallery, Boston, The Women-s Building, SF, Davis Museum, MA, and Real Art Ways, CT. She is a recipient of commissions from MTA Arts for Transit, Asian Arts Initiative-s with funding by The Pew Charitable Trusts and Pennsylvania Humanities Council, NYC Percent for Art; fellowships including Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Italy, Urban Artist Initiative, The Lambent Fellowships, BRIO/ Bronx Council on the Arts, and BRIC. Her work has been written about in Art In America and The New York Times, in publications by NYU Asian/Pacific/American Institute, Bronx Museum/Fordham University Press, and San Francisco State University and in collections of Civitella Ranieri Foundation, Italy, and Davis Museum, MA. About the Art: Suspended between layers of glass, the elements of this 5" deep layered work reflect the deep flavor and history of Thai Basil. Artist Skowmon Hastanan chose to use traditional Thai Kinnaree- a type of mythical being- to interact with this myth-worthy herb.
Brand | Hudson Valley Seed Co |
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Seed Packet Type | Organic Herbs |
Common Family Name | Basil |
Sun Preference | Full-Sun, Part-Sun |
Bloom or Harvest Time | Summer, Fall |
Plant Life Cycle | Annual |
Mature Height (Range) | 13" - 24" |
Spacing Between Rows | 12-24" |
Spacing in Row | 8-12" |
Planting Depth | ¼" |
Days to Germination | 4-10 days |
Days to Maturity | 65 days |