Of the almost 200 varieties of basil, heirloom Genovese Italian Basil is one of the finest and a particular favorite for making pesto. The plant grows to about 2 feet tall and has dense very large leaf, dark green foliage. Keep it from flowering and well watered and it will produce a large amount of fresh basil. Easily grown from seed, this variety does well in most locations, it just hates the cold. (Annual)

Packet size: 1 gram (approximately 600 seeds)

Basil (Annual) - This herb is particularly sensitive to frost. When the danger of frost is past, sow in rows not more than a 1/4" deep. If you started it indoors, transplant only when overnight frost danger is over. Rows should be 12" apart. Basil does well in weed-free and well aerated soil. To keep the plant producing delicious greens, remove the flower heads as they begin to form. Top the plants for strong side foliage production. Tucson Planting Information: Plant in March excellent crops. Basil does well in summer only.