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Ocimum basilicum

Basil · Sweet Basil

Family LamiaceaeGenus Ocimum

Glossy green oval leaves in opposite pairs up short stems
LeafCastielliCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
AnnualPlant Finder
Habit
annual or subshrubPlants of the World Online
Height
1.5-2 ft45-60 cmPlant Finder
Spread
1.5-2 ft45-60 cmPlant Finder
Flower
Showy, fragrant; magentaPlant Finder
Blooms
June to frostPlant Finder
Native range
Tropical AsiaPlant Finder
Hardiness zones
2-11Plant Finder
Note
Fragrant leaves. Slugs, snails and Japanese beetles are the usual trouble.Plant Finder

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunPlant Finder
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
MediumPlant Finder

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plant Finder — Missouri Botanical Garden; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • Basil is from the Greek for royal plant, perhaps because it was used in royal perfumes. It was confused with the basilisk and believed to be an antidote to its venom. Wikipedia: Basil

This source reports three treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around March 29, 2027 for a May 3 last frost.

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: either

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 7 days to germinate.

60% germination in 3–7 days.

Light makes no difference. Warmth is the whole requirement.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, OcimumPublic domain
Show the original text
Ocimum (Lamlaceae). 0.. basilicum (basil) germ. 60% in 3-7 d in either 70L or 70D. When started at 40 or started outdoors in March, all the seeds rotted indicating that temperatures as low as only 40 cannot be tolerated.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ocimum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Temperature: 40°F 4°C

    All the seeds rotted.

Germination happens during step 1.

0% germination.

All of it rotted. Basil will not tolerate even 40.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, OcimumPublic domain
Show the original text
Ocimum (Lamlaceae). 0.. basilicum (basil) germ. 60% in 3-7 d in either 70L or 70D. When started at 40 or started outdoors in March, all the seeds rotted indicating that temperatures as low as only 40 cannot be tolerated.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ocimum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Started outdoors in March; all the seeds rotted.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Sown outdoors in March it rotted, for the same reason. Wait for warmth.

This source doesn't state how long step 1 lasts.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, OcimumPublic domain
Show the original text
Ocimum (Lamlaceae). 0.. basilicum (basil) germ. 60% in 3-7 d in either 70L or 70D. When started at 40 or started outdoors in March, all the seeds rotted indicating that temperatures as low as only 40 cannot be tolerated.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Ocimum. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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