Genovese basil has large dark-green leaves with a pointy end. The aromatic leaves have hints of clove and mint.
The best time to start basil from seeds is 6 weeks before the last frost. Start the seeds indoors, and transplant them to the garden when the weather warms up. Alternatively, you can transplant them to pots and keep them growing indoors. Here’s how to plant basil outdoors.
Fill a tray with a general-purpose potting mix, and sprinkle it with water to get it moist.
Spread the seeds over the potting mix, and cover them with a thin layer of soil.
Water the seeds to keep the soil moist and cover them with a clear sheet of plastic to trap the heat and moisture.
Check the potting mix regularly, and water to keep moist.
After 7 to 10 days, the seeds will germinate. Remove the plastic cover and bring the plant to a window sill facing the sun.
When the garden soil becomes workable and daytime temperatures stay above 70℉, you can transplant the seedlings to the garden.
Choose a sunny spot that gets 6 to 8 hours of sunlight. Turn up the soil, and mix in a generous portion of organic compost.
Make a hole for each seedling as deep as its root ball, and plant the seedlings 12 inches apart.
Backfill each hole with soil, firm it, and water immediately.
Cover the rows with mulch to suppress weeds and improve water retention.
Apply organic compost once every 4 to 6 weeks.
Prune basil leaves to the second set once they have six sets of true leaves.
Pinch off the main stem around week 6 to prevent premature flowering.
