Basil Genovese is relatively easy to grow and is one of the most popular herbs for use in the kitchen. There are several varieties available, and Genovese is renowned for its fragrance and is the traditional basil used in pesto.

Basil leaves can be added to salads or used for most types of Italian cooking including pizza and pasta dishes. It is also the main ingredient for pesto sauce. Fresh basil is far superior to dried basil, which has a slightly different taste, and can be harvested all through the summer months. Its soft, bright green leaves and wonderful scent make it a great addition to the vegetable garden or the kitchen windowsill.

How to Grow Basil Seeds.

Seed sowing

Sow the seeds indoors during March and April for planting out from the end of May onwards, or when all danger of frost has passed. Sow lightly into trays or pots of damp compost and lightly cover with fine sifted compost. Place on a warm windowsill or greenhouse bench ensuring the compost does not dry out. The seeds will germinate in around 7-10 days. Seeds can be sown directly outdoors from June onwards.

Growing in pots

Basil plants need warmth and plenty of sunlight so the advantage of growing in pots means you can move the plants to suitable positions throughout the day. Ensure the plants do not dry out and keep them sheltered from drying winds. Apply a liquid feed every 2-3 weeks to keep the plants growing freely.  

Growing in beds

If growing in outdoor beds or a designated herb garden, ensure the soil is free draining. Plant out the seedlings 30cm apart and keep well watered. The addition of a mulch applied to the base of growing pants will help to keep the soil from drying out. A liquid feed fertiliser can be applied every 2-3 weeks to keep the plants strong and healthy.

General aftercare

When watering basil plants take care not to splash the delicate leaves. Remove any weeds from around the base as soon as they appear. Don’t use insecticides or fungicides as these will taint the leaves and make them unusable.

Pests and diseases

Slugs can be a problem, especially during the late spring and early summer. It is advisable to use natural slug control remedies such as beer traps and crushed egg shells as opposed to slug pellets. Aphids can also be a problem so best be vigilant and remove them with a jet of water or introduce a biological control method, such as ladybird larvae.

Harvesting and storage

Basil will keep growing throughout the summer if kept watered and if the leaves are harvested regularly. Remove any flower buds as they appear to encourage more leaf growth. Fresh leaves can be frozen for later use. It is very difficult to grow basil during the winter so you might want to dry some leaves at the end of summer and store for later use. Do this by cutting the whole plants at the base of the stem and hanging them upside down in a dry warm place. When the leaves have fully dried, simply crumble them and store in a dry, airtight jar.