BASIL - GUSTOSA

     Organic Basil Gustosa  

                 

Heirloom Basil Gustosa (or "Big Green") type basil. Uniform variety with dark green, slightly dome-shaped leaves.  The shiny, dark, leaves curl under as the plant thrives, which is a good sign for gardeners. The large leaves of the Gustosa basil plant are known for their intense flavour. They have a wonderful aroma that will waft into the air at the slightest brush of a hand.  That flavour has been described as similar to licorice or mint, but its got a tang all of its own.

Basil is grown outside in summer and all year round in greenhouses to protect the plants from the winter cold.  The aromatic herb can reach up to one meter in height and can grow in plant containers in your balcony garden or inside near a sunny window. 

          PLANTING & GROWING

Soaking needs to be done at least a few hours before planting, and preferably overnight. To prevent damping off when starting seeds indoors, it’s essential that you disinfect all of your plastic grow trays, seed cells, and seedling tray covers before you reuse them.  Basil is part of the mint family (Lamiaceae family ), which means it is a vigorous grower, and can spread quite quickly. That’s why it is a good idea to grow basil in a container garden, where it will have a hard time escaping.

Basil plants thrive when temperatures are in the 80’s and 90’s (27-32 C. or more.) Plant basil seeds indoors about six weeks before your last spring frost. Sow seeds no more than 1/4-inch deep. Once seedlings emerge and have 2-3 pairs of true leaves, thin seedlings to one plant every 25 to 25 cm.

Soil should be moderately fertile and moist but well-draining. The pH of the soil should ideally be in the range of 6.0 to 7.5.  Plant basil among other herbs and vegetables with similar lighting and watering needs, like tomatoes or parsley.

Pinch the tips of Cinnamon basil as the plants grow to produce full, bushy growth. Remove the spiky blooms as soon as they appear. Snip leaves and stems any time during the growing season. The flavour is best when the plants are harvested before they flower.

Plant basil alongside chamomile, lettuce, peppers, tomatoes and oregano. Borage can extract essential minerals from deep in the soil and bring them closer to the surface for the basil’s roots to absorb them.  Most other herbs, but especially rue and sage, should be kept far away from basil in the garden bed.