Thompson & Morgan Herb Basil Sweet Green Seeds

Easy to grow, ideal for windowsill growing, and favourite with cooks and gardeners worldwide. The pungent leaves with a spicy, clove-like aroma, have a wide range of uses not only in the kitchen but when planted near tomatoes basil improves their flavour and helps deter whitefly.

How to sow

Start off in a seed tray indoors. Sow all year round for growing instructions or February to June for transplanting outdoors. Sow seed on the surface of good free-draining, seed compost. Cover with a fine sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a polythene bag and place at 20-25C (68-77F) until after germination which takes 14-21 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination. Keep compost on the dry side at all times, water lightly as seedlings emerge.

How to grow

Transplant seedlings when large enough to handle into 7.5cm (3in) pots and continue to grow on indoors in cooler conditions. Acclimatise to outside conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost, 30cm (12in) apart. Plant into vegetable borders or containers. Harvest leaves as required, outdoors May to October, all year round indoors. Tear leaves rather than chop, to retain the aroma. Preserve leaves by freezing or steeping in oil.

Additional information

• Harvesting period: May, June, July, August, September, October
• Pack contents (approx.): 150 seeds