If you have ever made pesto with supermarket basil and thought “this is fine but not quite right”, this is why. Genovese basil has a depth of aroma that the generic stuff cannot touch.
The leaves are large, tender, and intensely fragrant. Pinch off the growing tips regularly and the plant bushes out and keeps producing. One pot on a warm windowsill will give you fresh basil from May to October.
🌱 Sowing information
Sow indoors February to July, surface sow or barely cover. Seeds need light to germinate. Keep warm (18 to 25°C) and moist. Germination takes 7 to 14 days. Can be sown in succession every 3 to 4 weeks for a continuous supply.
☀️ Light exposure
Full sun and shelter from wind. Basil hates cold draughts. A warm windowsill, conservatory or polytunnel is ideal. In Ireland, outdoor growing works from June in a sheltered spot.
💧 Water needs
Water regularly but do not let the soil get waterlogged. Morning watering is best. Avoid wetting the leaves, which can encourage fungal problems. Well drained compost in pots is ideal.
🌡️ Germination temperature and time
Seeds germinate in 7 to 14 days at 18 to 25°C. They need warmth and light. A heated propagator or warm windowsill speeds things up. Do not sow outdoors until soil is reliably warm.
📏 Plant spacing and final size
Grows to 30 to 50cm tall. Space 25 to 30cm apart if planting in a bed, or grow one plant per 15cm pot. Pinch out the growing tip when the plant has 6 to 8 leaves to encourage bushy growth.
🌼 Harvesting notes
Harvest continuously from spring to autumn. Pick or pinch leaves regularly to prevent flowering. Once basil flowers, the leaves lose some of their flavour, so keep pinching.
🍽️ In the kitchen
Pesto alla genovese, caprese, torn over pizza margherita, stirred into pasta at the last second. Never cook it. Always add it fresh, right before serving.
📖 Want to make the most of your herbs? Our recipe guide “Welly to Belly: Italian Herbs at Home” has simple, real Italian recipes for every herb you grow. Get your copy and start cooking with what you grow.
Technical Data
🌱 Sowing depth: surface sow (needs light)
📅 Sow: February to July (indoors or warm spot)
☀️ Light: Full sun, sheltered from wind
🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days at 18 to 25°C
📏 Height: 30 to 50cm. Space: 25 to 30cm
🪴 Container friendly: yes, 15cm pot minimum
⏳ Harvest: continuously, spring to autumn
🧪 Approx. seed quantity: 8g per packet
Vintage 1928 variety from Franchi Sementi, est. 1783. Open pollinated, OGM free.
