Italian Sweet Basil Seeds - Classic Heirloom Basil Herb Garden Seeds Perfect for Pesto & CookingOcimum basilicumListing is for 1 packet minimum of 50 seeds Italian Large Leaf Sweet Basil is a classic, must-have herb for every home garden and kitchen. This variety is known for its big, tender leaves packed with rich, sweet flavor—perfect for making fresh pesto, caprese salads, herbal oils, or simply adding a fragrant punch to your favorite dishes. It thrives in warm weather, full sun, and well-drained soil. For best results, pinch back the growing tips regularly to encourage bushier growth and prevent flowering. Harvest leaves often to keep the plant productive all season long. In Florida we have issues with black spots forming on basil leaves usually caused by fungus from high humidity in the air. In my garden I get black spots due to leaf miners. This tends to happen at the end of summer like in September. I recommend the use of garden soap sprays, hydrogen peroxide spray (1 cup of hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water), or just prune the entire plant to encourage new healthy growth. Ideal Growing Conditions Sun: Full Sun Water: Allow the soil to dry out a little bit in-between watering. Fertilizer: Herbs dont really need fertilizer. However, plants grow lush and green when given nitrogen, like blood meal. I like to amend the soil with blood meal before sowing seeds or add some into the planting hole if transplanting basil. When & How To Sow Seeds: To direct sow, sprinkle a few seeds over the soil surface after your last spring frost date, pat down, cover with 1/4 inch of soil, and water in. Keep the soil moist and it will germinate quickly. Or if you prefer, sow a few seeds in a container, like a 4 inch pot or 72 cell seed tray. Transplant once the root system has developed and filled the container. Start fertilizing seedlings with a liquid fertilizer at half strength once the first set of true leaves appear. Germination: 5-10 days Days To Maturity: Around 2-3 months after direct sowing the seed or transplanting into the garden. How & When To Harvest: Pick stems/leaves as needed Common Diseases: Basil might get powdery mildew or other fungal issues in constantly wet conditions. Proper plant spacing to improve air flow, not watering overhead, and pruning out excess foilage helps. Spray with 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide per gallon of water every 3 to 5 days until you notice the spread has stopped. Common Pests: Basil can get leaf blotch miners which are tiny moth or fly larvae that hatch inside basil leaves, creating white trails or black star burst shape blotches. Sprays don’t work because they live inside the leaf. Thankfully, the damage is mostly cosmetic and rarely harms the plant’s growth. To control them, remove the affected leaves, or prune heavily if the problem is severe so new healthy leaves can grow. Covering plants with row covers can help prevent adults from laying eggs on your basil.
