COMING SOON! OUR 2025 CATALOG IS ARRIVING IN JANUARY!

We're getting ready for the new year!

We have been busy packing our favorite flower seeds and gearing up for another amazing year. Stay tuned for back in stock seeds and plants for 2025 plus over 75 new varieties!

Organic Seed

Basil 'Dark Opal' Organic

Ocimum basilicum

Stunning violet-purple leaves and pink flowers make this variety perfect for flower beds and pots. The licorice flavor is ideally paired with summer tomatoes; the dark leaves infuse vinegars with aromatic flavor and a rich plummy color. A member of the mint family, basil is great as an herbal tea for stomach complaints.

SKU #S839OG

$3.50

Currently Unavailable

Notify Me When Available

Growing Companions

Basil 'Everleaf™ Thai Towers'

Basil 'Large Leaf' Organic

Basil - Sacred Organic

Basil - Thai Sweet Organic

Details

Approximate Seeds Per Packet

400

Lifecycle

Annual

Annual Hardiness

Tender Annual

Mature Size

1.5-2' h x 1-1.5' w

Sun

Full sun to partial shade

Soil

Rich, moist, well-drained

Season

Summer to fall

Color

Deep purple foliage with lighter purple-pink flower spikes

Features

Scented Leaves

Great for containers

Attracts Bees

Notable

Certified Organic Seed Available

All-America Selections Winner

SOWING INSTRUCTIONS

Depth:

1/8"

Sprout Time:

5-10 days

Seed To Bloom:

80 days to harvest

Starting Indoors:

Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before planting out. Keep at 70-90°F.

Starting Outdoors:

Direct sow after last frost.

WHEN TO SET OUTSIDE

After last frost.

PLACEMENT & CULTIVATION

Native to tropical regions and a sacred herb in India, basil has the delectable flavor and aroma of sweet anise. They grow best in warm weather in summer; mulch with hay to conserve water and keep pinching back the tips of the stems for branching growth and a good crop of leaves. Be sure to trim any flower spikes that develop late in the season to continue the harvest, or sow twice a season for fresh tender leaves all summer.

Final Spacing:

1-1.5'

Water Requirements:

Medium Water Use

Watering Details:

Keep moist—about 1" of water per week, more during particularly dry/hot spells, depending on the plant's location and sun-exposure.

Soil pH:

Not particular about pH

Fertilizer:

Rake a few inches of compost into the soil prior to planting. Supplement with an all-purpose organic granular or liquid feed according to package instructions.

Diseases & Pests:

Avoid fungal problems by placing in a location with good airflow, and do not over-water.

When to Cut for Bouquets:

Harvest mature leaves individually or on branches, being sure to leave enough plant behind for the plant to continue to flourish.