Basil Seeds - Blue Spice Ocimum americanum
- Annual; Grows up to 16 Inches Tall
- Uses: Culinary, Medicinal, Tea, Ornamental
- USDA Zones 3-10
Shipping Schedule
Seeds are shipped year-round, while perennials & bulbs are shipped seasonally. Pre-ordered bulbs ship at the proper planting time for your zone. Spring pre-orders are placed any time before March 1. Fall pre-orders are placed any time before September 1. These items will not ship immediately, but will be delivered at the ideal time for planting. Orders containing both seeds and bulbs may be split into multiple shipments. Click here for more shipping information.
| Pre-Ordered Spring Bulbs & Perennials | Shipping Begins |
|---|---|
| Zones 9 - 12 | Late February to Early March |
| Zone 8 | Early to Mid March |
| Zone 7 | Mid to Late March |
| Zone 6 | Early April |
| Zone 5 | Late April |
| Zones 2 - 4 | Late April to Early May |
| In-season orders ship immediately at the time of purchase to all zones until inventory is depleted. | |
| Saffron Crocus & Bearded Iris | Shipping Begins |
| All Zones | Late August |
| Pre-Ordered Fall Bulbs | Shipping Begins |
| Zones 2 - 4 | Mid September |
| Zone 5 | Mid to Late September |
| Zone 6 | Late September |
| Zone 7 | Late September to Early October |
| Zones 8 - 12 | Early to Mid October |
| In-season orders ship immediately at the time of purchase to all zones until inventory is depleted. | |
| Pre-Ordered Fall Perennials* | Shipping Begins |
| All Zones | Mid October |
| *Amaryllis Bulbs, Hosta Roots, Lily Bulbs, Papaver Roots, Paperwhite Bulbs, Peony Roots & Siberian Iris Roots | |
Product Description
Basil Seeds - Blue Spice
Heavily fragrant with an air of vanilla, Basil Blue Spice is commonly used medicinally and in tea, but has its place in the culinary world as well. With its spikes of light purple flowers and attractive, uniform growth, many gardeners appreciate Blue Spice Basil simply for its ornamental properties.
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Fast Facts
Name: Basil Seeds - Blue Spice Botanical Name: Ocimum americanum basilicum Life Cycle: Annual Light Requirement: Full Sun Planting Season: Spring Plant Type: Upright bush with large green leaves Features: Container Garden, Easy to Grow & Maintain, Indoor, Outdoor, Fast Growing, Culinary, Deer Resistant Days to Maturity: 60-90 Days Plant Spacing: 10 inches Planting Depth: 1/4 inch Sowing Method: Direct Sow, Start Indoors Cold Stratification: No Hardiness Zones: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 Ships: Year Round -
Planting Instructions
Growing Basil in Your Garden
Many herb-loving gardeners grow basil in vegetable beds and in pots around the kitchen door, where they’re easy to pinch for cooking and hard to forget to water.
When & How to Plant Basil Seeds
Basil is a tender annual that cannot survive through frost. Plant your basil seeds outdoors directly into your garden after all danger of frost has passed. Or, if you want a head start, plant basil seeds indoors as early as 6 weeks before the last frost and then plant out after you've hardened off your seedlings and the weather has warmed. Choose a location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day and preferably in an area sheltered against cold winds. Keep in mind that basil leaves can be used in your daily culinary endeavors, so keep your plantings in reach or at least in a garden close to your kitchen.
Growing Guide for Basil
Basil prefers a position in your garden in full sun and thrives best in rather poor, gravelly, and well-drained soil. When grown in rich garden beds, they make more luxuriant vegetative growth but lose much of their fragrance and flavor. Basil is easily damaged by cold weather and will be killed by frost. Basil can tolerate very warm weather. Begin working your soil right after the last frost. Till the area or rake to loosen the soil and amend with either organic compost or well-rotted manure to add good drainage to the soil.
Sow basil seed ¼” deep; thin successful plants to 8 inches apart or more depending on the variety. Space rows 18 to 24 inches apart.
Keep your basil soil moist for quick growth, but do not overwater. It is best to mulch around the base of the plant to aide in moisture retention and to deter weeds.
Foliar feeding basil plants with a spray of compost tea or liquid seaweed extract twice during the growing season will give the plants the nutrients and protection it needs.
Basil makes a wonderful bedfellow with tomatoes and peppers to enhance their growth.
Harvesting Basil
Keep your basil plants around the kitchen door where they’re easy to pinch for cooking and adding to salads. With herbs, especially basil, using them regularly is a form of maintenance – the more you pinch, the more they grow.
The most favorable time for cutting is early in the morning after the dew has dried and before the plants have been touched with hot midday sun. Cut just as the flowers are about to open, it is at this stage that the essential oils are the most abundant.
Preparing for Planting Basil Next Season
Since Basil will be killed by any touch of frost, gardeners can prolong its life-span by transplanting basil plants into containers and moving them into a warm, sunny location indoor. Basil will do best near a south-facing window. If you live in USDA Zone 9 or above you can keep your basil growing outdoors year-round.
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Seed Coverage
Amount Recommended Coverage Packet Up to 30 Sq. Ft Ounce Package Up to 150 Sq. Ft 1/4 Pound Package Up to 600 Sq. Ft 1 Pound Sack Up to 2,500 Sq. Ft 5 Pound Sack Up to 12,500 Sq. Ft
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Product Reviews
Review
Wonderful basil plant
This is a nice compact basil that grows nicely in the smaller AeroGardens. I like the small leaves, too. Very attractive plant.
I agree with the review by Charles Stallard. I, too, have noticed how the well known, seed companies routinely sell micro-packs of 10 seeds for an average price of $6.95/pk!
That is what sent me in search of reputable seed companies who sell seeds at an affordable price & options for the size.
I emailed Burpee & asked why they didn't offer choices on the seed package, ie packet, 1 oz, 1/4 lb, etc. Their response was "we sell to the home gardener, not farmers". To which I replied, "I AM a home gardener who simply wants to buy more than 10 seeds without paying $6+ per 10 seeds!!!".
I am so happy to have found Eden seeds. I have purchased many seeds from Eden & so far everything I've planted has germinated with absolutely no problems. Please Eden, stay as you are. Keep offering options on the size of seed package. You are my favorite seed resource!
Review
Seed Supplier Meets My Needs
prices and decrease the number of seeds in a packet. I have searched for one that has reasonable prices and includes enough seeds to meet my gardening needs, i.e., more than 5-10 seeds per pack. Eden Seeds has proven to be that company. Their stock is fresh and germinates at the rate you would expect fresh seeds to do so. One company sold me Taxi Tomato seeds that had eight seeds in the package and of which only two germinated....obviously old seed. This has become the norm in my experience. Eden Seeds is the exception and I will stick with them unless they later become like most of the others.
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Basil Seeds - Blue Spice Ocimum americanum
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