Basil Lemon (Ocimum basilicum var. citriodora) is an aromatic annual herb with a bright, citrus-flavoured scent and flavour. Ideal for salads, pasta, fish, and a wide range of culinary dishes, it provides fresh leaves throughout the growing season. Basil Lemon prefers the warm conditions of a greenhouse or a sunny windowsill, but it can also be sown outdoors in full sun during the warmer months. Growing Instructions Sow seeds indoors from late February, or in an unheated greenhouse from late March to June. Fill small pots with multi-purpose compost and sow the seeds thinly. Cover lightly with compost and keep the soil moist until seedlings emerge, but avoid waterlogging. Once seedlings develop their first true leaves, transplant into 20 cm deep pots, taking care not to disturb the root ball. Alternatively, sow outdoors from mid May to June in a fine, free-draining, cultivated seedbed. Keep the soil moist until seedlings are established, watering afterwards only if the root zone becomes dry. Pinch or prune the main stems regularly to encourage bushy growth and delay flowering. Harvest the young leaves as required between May and October. For a longer harvest, make successional sowings every few weeks.
