Red Leaf Holy Basil is a beautiful peppery, clovey tasting herb with purple stalks, lavender flowers, and reddish-tinged slightly toothed leaves. It is a beloved ingredient across Thailand and Southeastern Asia, and Hindu cultures for its "holy" medicinal and purifying properties. Holy Basil is an essential ingredient in Holy Basil Chicken (Pad Kra Pow Gai), and many Thai national dishes. Holy Basil grows 12-24 inch-tall subshrubs with hairy stems and 2-inch long blades. Excellent as a border plant or in pots and containers. Also Known As: Holy Basil, Krishna Tulsi, Thulasi, 圣罗勒, Sacred Flower Basil, Purple Holy Basil, Kraphao, กะเพรา, ម្រះព្រៅ, Phat Kraphao, Bai Gkaprow, Sacred Basil, Ocimum Sanctum, Holy Basil, Red Tulsi, Ayurvedic Basil, Indian Basil, Queen of Herbs, Purple Holy Basil, Shyama Tulsi. Plant Name: Holy Basil, Red Leaf Latin Name: Ocimum sanctum (tenuiflorum) Days to Germinate: 7-14 Days to Harvest: 60-90 Plant Height: 2 - 4 Feet Spread: 18 - 24 Inches Growth Habit: Bush USDA Zones: 3-12 Lifespan: Annual, Perennial in Zones 10-12 Brand: TomorrowSeeds Sunlight: Full Sun, Partial Shade Pollination: Heirloom, Open-Pollinated GMO: No Fungicide-Treated Seeds*: No Seeds Packed For**: 2026 *Fungicide-treated seeds protect the seedlings from diseases until they are up and growing. Do not eat treated seeds. **Seeds are freshly packed for the growing season of the year listed. Seeds are still viable beyond pack date. Store in a cool and dry location such as the refrigerator or basement to best preserve germination rates. Planting Instructions: Soil Preparation: Choose an area with heavy, well-draining soil that receives at least 6 hours of sunlight each day. Remove weeds, large rocks, and litter from the planting area. Leave small weeds and dead grass, they will enrich the soil when turned under. Spade or till the soil 8-12 inches deep. Loosening the soil will help the plant establish strong roots. Plants grow best in soil with lots of organic matter. You may optionally add fertilizer or organic material such as compost, leaves, or rotted hay to mix into the soil at this point. For small gardens, scatter 2-3 tablespoons of fertilizer evenly and work into the top 2-3 inches of soil for each hill or 2 foot by 2 foot planting area. For larger gardens, scatter 2-3 pounds of a complete fertilizer for each 100 square feet of planting area. Work fertilizer or organic material into the soil and leave the surface smooth. Form rows of soil beds 4-6 inches high and at least 2 feet apart. This formation of ridges will help with drainage. Planting: Starting Indoors: For an earlier basil harvest, you may optionally start planting indoors in containers 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date in Spring, keeping seedlings at least 70F. Harden off then transplant seedlings outdoors in a sunny location when temperatures are consistently above 50F. To transplant seedlings, prepare a transplant hole outdoors in a sunny location. Remove the plants carefully from the pots or flats and set them in the transplant holes, burying some of the stem in the ground. Pack the soil loosely around the plant and leave a slightly sunken area around each plant to hold water. Water the plants after transplanting. Directly Sowing: If directly sowing basil outdoors, plant basil in late spring when the soil warms to at least 50F. For fall crops, start seeding indoors and transplant seedlings outdoors 4-6 weeks before the first expected frost. To plant, make holes 1/4 inch deep and spaced 12-18 inches apart down the rows of raised beds. Plant 2-3 seeds per hole. If choosing to thin to the strongest plant, determine the strongest and healthiest plant, then remove all other plants, narrowing to a single plant per hole. Cover seeds thinly with soil and water after planting. Planting Depth: 1/4 inch Within-Row Spacing: 12-18 inches Between-Row Spacing: 18-24 inches Care During the Season: Watering: Water the plants deeply, soaking the soil to a depth of 6-8 inches, once a week. If there is no rainfall, water 2-3 times a week. Sandy soils may need to be watered more often than heavy clay soils. Weeding: Keeping plants weed-free improves production. If plowing or hoeing, do not dig deeper than 1 inch to prevent from cutting the feeder roots. Fertilizing: Once seedlings are established, 2-4 weeks after planting, you may optionally apply 2 tablespoons of a complete fertilizer around each hole, or 1-2 pounds per 100 square feet, without letting the fertilizer touch the plants. Water plants after fertilizing. Insecticides: Insecticides may be used to protect plants. Bt-based insecticides and sulfur are organic options that can be used for prevention. Sulfur also has fungicidal properties and helps in controlling many diseases. Before using a pesticide, read the label and follow cautions, warnings and directions. Diseases: If spots or mold appear, treat plants with an approved fungicide. Neem oil, sulfur, and other fungicides may be used. When using fungicides always follow label directions. Harvesting: Basil is ready to harvest once plants have several sets of leaves, about 3-4 weeks after planting. Pinch out leaves as you need them and remove flower heads to keep plants producing vigorous leaves. To harvest whole basil plants, cut plants 4-6 inches above the ground once the plants start flowering.
