Permapotes

Basil

Basil: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

Common basil, Ocimum basilicum, is an aromatic herb in the mint family. Its fragrant leaves have an important role in the kitchen, but its appeal is not limited to one flavour or one shape. Depending on the variety, the foliage can be green or purple, small or broad, smooth or more puckered. This diversity allows you to choose a plant for both its scent and its appearance, whether in a herb garden or among other plants in pots.

The leaves grow in opposite pairs on branching stems. The plant generally forms a bushy clump, with a size and density that vary according to the type of basil. Large leaf forms have a different presence from varieties with small leaves, which look more delicate. Purple foliage brings a dark colour among other green herbs. These differences are especially visible when several varieties are together: basil then offers a range of shapes and colours that goes beyond its use as a culinary seasoning.

Fragrance is another essential characteristic. It can suggest sweet, spicy or anise notes, depending on the variety. The basils commonly used in pesto therefore do not give exactly the same impression as Thai types with their anise accents. The variety name helps describe this aromatic identity more precisely. Other plants in the genus Ocimum are also called basil: the common name covers a wider diversity than common basil alone. The scent is consequently an important part of comparing different plants.

In the kitchen, the leaves accompany tomatoes, salads, pasta, sauces and vegetables. Pesto and pistou show their role as the main ingredient of an aromatic preparation, while a few leaves add fragrance to a simpler dish. Combinations with olive oil, garlic or cheese are familiar in Mediterranean cooking. Depending on its aromatic profile, basil also belongs in Asian dishes. Choosing the type of basil therefore contributes to the character of a meal, rather than simply adding a green leaf to the plate.

Flowering adds spikes of small flowers, with colours that vary between types, including white or purple tones. The flowers offer a resource for pollinators and a contrast with the foliage. Common basil is frost tender and is associated with the warmer months in temperate regions. Its bushy habit and diversity of leaves make it an interesting herb for small spaces, while it retains a very distinctive culinary identity.

Basil
Basil
Characteristics
  • Lifecycle : Annual
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
  • Mature height : 30 cm
Sowing & Planting
  • Greenhouse crops : Unheated greenhouse
  • Greenhouse Growing : Recommended
  • Sowing Depth : 0.5 cm
  • Plant Spacing : 20 cm
  • Row Spacing : 20 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : High
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Sowing