Genovese Basil

Certified Organic

Ocimum basilicum

Classic basil for pesto boasts excellent flavor and quality.

Hundreds of years ago, Genovese villagers selected this basil for making pesto. It features large, thick, deep green leaves on sturdy plants. Yes, you can make pesto with a food processor. But why not spend a half hour on some breezy, summery day making it the old-fashioned way with a mortar and pestle? (Ah, now you know where that word comes from!) No time for pesto tonight? Not to worry: this variety is also the ideal basil for stews, soups, and sautés. Buon appetito!

This variety is suitable for growing as a microgreen. 🌱

from $3.99

UnitPriceQuantityAvailability
Art Pack (250 seeds) $4.79 In Stock
250 Seeds $3.99 In Stock
750 Seeds $6.99 In Stock
1 Ounce $8.39 In Stock

Price as selected:

Direct sow after frost, or start indoors up to 1 month before last frost date. For young, tender basil plants, space 2" apart; for bigger, heartier plants space 8-12" apart. To have fresh basil the whole season, start in succession at one-month intervals. Pinch off tallest growth in order to keep basil from flowering; flavor becomes too strong once in bloom. Good for garden or container plantings.

Days to Germination 4-10 days
Days to Maturity 68 days
Planting Depth ¼"
Spacing in Row 2-12"
Spacing Between Rows 12-24"
Height at Maturity 12-24"
Width at Maturity 12"
Sun Preference Full Sun

Art by Hazel Jarvis. A reverence for travel and tradition shines through Hazel Jarvis's works. Trained in botanical watercolor and traditional Japanese painting, she blends collage and paint to illustrate the Italian basil dish that took the world by storm.

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