Basil – Lemon

A compact, bushy plant with pointed green leaves and delicate white flowers, lemon basil exudes an intense citrus fragrance. It thrives in the sun and in pots. Pleasant to smell, it is also appreciated for its versatility in cooking, in cocktails, desserts and savory dishes.

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 seeding after any risk of frost, when the soil is warm

Sowing technique: in pocket

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: 50 to 60 cm

Soil: rich and well drained

Exposure: sun

Days to harvest (from sowing): 60 days, but younger leaves can be harvested (after +/- 25 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