Basil – Cinammon

The pinkish-fuchsia flowers of the cinnamon basil give off a pleasantly sweet and rather unusual fragrance for a basil. The flower spikes embellish the plant, which can reach up to 75 cm in height, and are an interesting spicy addition to many recipes, from tagines to infusions.

Growing tips

Germination conditions:

depth of sowing: 2.5 mm or on the surface (no covering of soil)

optimal temperature for germination: 18 to 22ºC

time for germination: 7 to 21 days

When to sow:

indoor sowing 4 to 6 weeks before the last date in your area OR

direct seedling after any risk of frost, when the soil is warm

Sowing technique: in stacks

Inside the same hole, sow 3 to 5 seeds spaced 1 to 2 cm apart; when the seeds have germinated and the seedlings have reached a height of 5 cm, keep all the plants if space is available or keep only the best plants.

for indoor seedlings: transplant into individual containers while waiting for transplanting in the garden OR

for direct seedlings: transplant to their final location in the garden

Transplanting outdoors (for seedlings started indoors):

When all risk of frost is removed

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 25 cm

between rows: 45 cm

Height of the plants: 60 to 75 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Exposure: sunny

Days to harvest (from sowing): 75-80 days, but younger leaves can be harvested (after +/- 35 days). To stimulate the branching of the plant and delay the flowering, harvest the basil shoots by pinching the heads of the stems with your fingers.

QUICK STATS

Number of seeds: ±350

Difficulty: Easy

Type: Heirloom / Open pollinated

Lifecycle:Annual

Additional information

Weight            1 g

Difficulty         

Easy

Sowing          

Direct, Indoor

Lifecycle        

Annual

Root cellar     

No

Sowing season        

Spring, Summer