Lemon Basil
Ocimum basilicum. Lemon Basil is a shorter basil at 30”, with a lemony, astringent taste. Grow in containers or directly in the garden. Use leaves fresh in summer dishes or trim and hang leaves to dry for use throughout the winter.
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Details
Growing Information
Planting:
Basil must have warm conditions, and prefers moist, rich, well-drained soil with pH of 6. Seedlings are slow-growing and delicate. Sow seed, 1⁄8 inches deep, in summer or indoors in late spring. When the seedlings appear, thin the plants to 1 foot apart.
Growing:
Susceptible to frost and cold. Water at mid-day not in the evening; avoid overwatering seedlings to prevent mildew. Harvest leaves every week, pinching terminal buds first to stimulate branching and encourage bushiness. Harvest should be in early autumn before the leaves turn limp and yellow. Cut stalks for drying before the plant comes into flower. Do not hang in bunches, as the leaves will dry too slowly and could mold.