Basil seeds are an excellent choice when you want to grow fresh basil at home, in pots, on a balcony, in a greenhouse or in your own herb garden. Basil is one of the most popular culinary herbs, and its aromatic leaves are widely used in pasta dishes, pesto, salads, pizzas, tomato-based recipes and Asian cooking.
Herbova’s selection includes different basil seeds for many uses. Classic green basil varieties are especially suitable for pesto and Italian cooking, Thai basil adds notes of liquorice, anise and spicy aroma, while purple basil and red-leaved varieties bring colour to pots, balconies and food presentation.
Basil is easy to grow from seed when the growing place is warm, bright and sheltered. The seeds can be sown in pots, growing trays or started indoors before moving the plants outside. Regular pinching helps basil branch out and produce more leaves throughout the growing season.
Which basil seeds should you choose?
Choose basil according to how you want to use it. Sweet Basil and Italiano Classico are good choices for classic kitchen use, such as pesto, pasta dishes and salads. Thai Basil and Thai Basil ‘Siam Queen’ are especially well suited for stir-fries, curries, soups and other Asian dishes.
If you want basil that also looks beautiful in pots or on a balcony, choose varieties such as Purple Basil ‘Dark Opal’, Basil ‘Purple Ruffles’ or Basil ‘Red Lizzy’. For small spaces, windowsills or compact pot growing, small-leaved bush basil is a practical choice.
Growing basil from seed
Basil seeds should be sown in warm growing medium, and the seedlings grow best in a bright location. Basil does not like cold conditions, so it should only be moved outdoors once the weather is warm enough. When grown in a pot, basil is easy to keep close to the kitchen so that fresh leaves can be used directly in cooking.
Keep the growing medium evenly moist, but avoid excessive wetness. Once the plant has become established, pinch the shoots regularly. This helps basil grow bushier and produce a better harvest. Basil leaves can be used fresh, and some varieties are also suitable for drying for later use.
