Basil – Dark Opal

$4.50

A popular sweet basil with regal, purple-black glossy foliage that gets darker as the plant matures and pale pink flowers. A colourful garden plant that is also perfect in any dish, from tomato sauce to pesto, vinegars and oils, and even tea, there are a variety of uses for this sweet tasting, highly aromatic herb. A perfect combination of ornamental appeal and intense, spicy flavour.

Price is for seed packets. Plants are available at store. 

Shipping Options Available
Local Pickup yes
Specialty Items yes
Canada Post yes

This item is a SEED
SKU: 48eeced82811 Categories: , ,

Description

Botanical name
Ocimum basilicum ‘Purpurascens’

Family
Lamiaceae

Spacing
1 per square foot

Depth
6 mm (¼”) deep

Requirements
Bright light indoors. Good ventilation for seedlings. Herbs do best in a hot, sunny spot. In these conditions they’ll make the highest level of the aromatic oils that give them their taste and aroma. They also prefer well-drained alkaline soil, pH 6-8.

Germination
Seeds will sprout in 5-10 days

Pests
Aphids and slugs. Aphids can be washed off with a strong jet of water. Slugs can be removed by hand. Basil is generally quite resistant when outdoors.

Timing
You can grow basil indoors all year. Start indoors in April / May for transplant to garden in June when the soil is warm.

Growing
Pinch tips for bushier growth when plant reaches about 15 cm (6″).

Harvest
75 days

Season
Warm, annual

Links
An easy recipe that only takes a few minutes to prepare:
Basil Pesto