Growing basil

• Full sun is optimal for basil, but it does benefit from some protection on the hottest days. (See below.*)

• Space individual plants 12 to 18 inches apart.

• Before planting, add some general purpose fertilizer and some compost to the soil. Regular fertilizing every couple of weeks will enhance production (though I never get around to doing that in my garden and I still have more basil than I need).

• Basil does best with evenly moist soil.

• *Here at WILLS FARM, I have found that basil plants do better with a little protection from sun during the hottest part of the day. Planting basil between tomato plants works well, or I provide a light covering for them, especially on the hottest days.

• Harvesting: As your basil plants grow, pinch off the central stem when they are about 6 weeks old, and prune back each stem when it has more than 8 sets of leaves. (Cut it back to the first or second set of leaves, harvesting the rest.) If you keep your plants well pinched and pruned, you should be able to harvest half a cup of fresh leaves every week during the growing season. The flavor is diminished after the plants start blooming. NOTE: In my garden, the variety ‘Everleaf Emerald Towers’ has never bloomed! The only downside to that variety is that it has smaller leaves than the standard culinary varieties.

  PLEASE NOTE: The plants on my farm table have NOT been hardened off. They are straight from the greenhouse.
  You can do one of the following:
  1. Expose them gradually to outdoor conditions over a week
  -OR (as I do)-
  2. Plant them immediately and give them protection from excess sun, wind, and rain for a week or two. 

2026

(Descriptions and photos are from the seed company websites unless otherwise noted.)

Opalescent

Ocimum basilicum. 60-70 days.
Strikingly beautiful, ruffled dark purple basil. Opalescent basil is both an ornamental and a culinary herb. Refreshing flavor profile is reminiscent of the anise-clove combo of Thai basil, while preserving some sweet Genovese-adjacent and fruity aromatics. Makes a great fresh herb topping for dishes such as Vietnamese phở, or use as an elegant edible garnish. Adds a distinct flavor and beautiful pink/purple tint to marinades, salad dressings, or a simple syrup that could be amazing in the hands of the right mixologist. The glossy leaves are occasionally mottled with green and have ruffled edges that add a nice visual appeal not only in the garden but also as a summer foliage plant for bouquets. Plants grow quite large, up to 30” tall with long stems and benefit from staking if allowed to reach full size. Pollinators go crazy for it when it’s flowering and the small lavender-pink flowers contrast nicely against the dark foliage. From the botanical wizardry of Frank Morton of Wild Garden Seeds, who crossed Mrihani, an African landrace basil, and a purple basil type called Opal. We selected this F6 for more solidly dark purple foliage. (Adaptive Seeds)

Dolce Fresca

This award-winning variety combines intensity of scent and flavor with a super-compact, vigorous habit. The result is a bushy large-leafed plant less than 2 feet high and rarin' to set new leaves all season long.

Dolce Fresca won the All-America Selections award for its compact habit, strong scent and flavor, and vigorous growth.  Just 10- to 14-inches high and not more than a foot wide, it flowers very late, so you don't spend all summer pinching off new buds. Dolce Fresca is a Genovese type, setting large, flat leaves simply packed with delicious flavor. And it makes such a bushy, well-branched ball of foliage that it looks like an ornamental addition to the garden or patio, instead of the workhorse herb it really is.

Space the plants 12 to 15 inches apart in the garden, or in containers. I

As your basil plants grow, pinch off the central stem when they are about 6 weeks old, and prune back each stem when it has more than 8 sets of leaves. (Cut it back to the first or second set of leaves, harvesting the rest.) If you keep your plants well pinched and pruned, you should be able to harvest half a cup of fresh leaves every week during the growing season.

Basil loves hot weather and plenty of sunshine, but it needs consistently moist, rich soil. Mulch the plants to retain moisture, and water heavily during dry spells.

Harvest the plant before the cold weather sets in, as this will affect the leaves' texture and flavor. Freeze entire stems, with the leaves still attached, for best flavor retention, or dry the leaves for seasoning. You will love this award winner. (Park Seed)

Nufar

A Genovese-type basil, Nufar will provide you with months of large, flavorful leaves for cooking. Pick the leaves and use fresh or dried in tomato dishes, pasta sauces, vegetables and soups. Nufar grows 18 to 24 inches high and 12 to 15 inches wide. The dark green, shiny leaves grow up to 2 inches long on a tall, erect plant that is slow to bolt. You'll enjoy big harvests from this ultra-healthy, dependable variety. Space the plants 12 to 15 inches apart in the garden, or in containers.

As your basil plants grow, pinch off the central stem when they are about 6 weeks old, and prune back each stem when it has more than 8 sets of leaves (cut it back to the first or second set of leaves, harvesting the rest). If you keep your plants well pinched and pruned, you should be able to harvest up to half a cup of fresh leaves every week during the growing season!

Basil loves hot weather and plenty of sunshine, but it needs consistently moist, rich soil. Mulch the plants to retain moisture, and water heavily during dry spells. Harvest the plant before the cold weather sets in, as this will affect the leaves' texture and flavor. Freeze entire stems, with the leaves still attached, for best flavor retention, or dry the leaves for seasoning. F1 hybrid variety. (Park Seed)

Everleaf Emerald Towers

A robust, Genovese basil that has been bred to flower up to 8 weeks later than standard varieties. Everleaf is a fast-growing, tidy, well-branched columnar plant with delicious, robust flavor. Great for container or in-ground growing. You’ll have continuous harvests of fresh leaves without the worry of the plant blooming and turning the foliage bitter. Resistant to downy mildew and Fusarium. (Territorial Seed)
I have grown this basil in my garden (WILLS FARM) for several years and it has NEVER BLOOMED. When all other basils were gone, ‘Everleaf Emerald Towers’ continued to thrive well into November!

Reviews: Sheena on Aug 19, 2021 — “I trialed 10 types of basil in my garden, as of August 19th, they all have flowered except this variety. It makes an excellent pesto and is great fresh in dishes. If you can only grow one, let it be this one.”
Ralph Zenier on Oct 13, 2020 — “This plant performed very well without flowering and was very pest free in Portland, OR. Was one of our real winners this season.

Below are varieties offered in 2025. Some may also be available this year. I’m still working on updating the site.

Amethyst Improved

Genovese-type purple basil. Large 2–3" long, turned-down leaves. This stunning basil is nearly black in color. Purple flowers and red leaves make an attractive garnish. Ht. 16-20”. Edible Flowers: Use the flowers in any recipe that calls for basil, or to garnish drinks, salads, soups, pasta, and desserts. Flavor is of intense basil. (Johnny’s Selected Seed)

Mammoth Sweet

The beginnings of a culinary masterpiece! Hailed by the chefs of Italy, we bring you the largest-leaved basil we have seen. Sought after for its culinary wrapping qualities, Mammoth Sweet has large yellow-green leaves with slight puckering and the most heavenly aroma. (Territorial Seed)

Reviews from Territorial Seed:
Best. Basil. Ever. I’ve grown Territorial’s Mammoth Basil from seed for more than 10 years. It has intense flavor that stands out in pestos and sauces. I love it in so many recipes - especially gazpacho. I freeze it and dry it for year-round use and it holds its flavor well. I give gifts of Mammoth seed to friends and family.
Super good! I love this basil and always want the transplants to start early inside a tomato teepee. Those big leaves are great in and as wraps and they make great long strips for garnish. Wonderful flavor as well.

Emily

A classic Genovese basil with a sweet aroma, compact habit and disease resistance. Emily is a versatile, premium-quality variety that is well suited for garden or container cultivation. Reaching 12-18 inches tall, the plants offer lots of long, succulent leaves for repeated cutting thanks to its rapid regrowth. (Territorial Seed)

Review from Territorial Seed:
Great Basil
I started several of these from seed and was pleased with how they turned out. The taste was great, and plants held up well throughout the summer with regular harvest. Even after some started to bolt the flavor remained good. Our summer was unusually hot this year, and I found the plants that were partially shaded by the tomato trellis performed particularly well and were much slower to bolt.

Everleaf Thai Towers
Exceptional Thai basil.

Very slow-bolting, incredibly productive plant with vibrant Thai flavor. Compared to Sweet Thai, Everleaf Thai Towers has larger leaves at 2–3", a taller, more productive plant habit, and is much later to flower. Plants are very upright with purple stems and densely packed, dark green leaves with a purple blush. Makes a beautiful, tidy, towering plant. Long, strong stems and profuse leaf production make it excellent for both bunching (from a field planting) and growing in pots. Similarly strong Thai/anise aroma to that of Sweet Thai. Compared to Cinnamon Basil, its aroma has less sweetness. Flowers/bolts 10–12 weeks later than standard Thai basil. Ht. 20–24". (Johnny’s Selected Seed)

Profumo

This compact Genovese-type basil has a true, clean flavor, and the spirited aroma that’s just right for preparing recipes that call for a classic basil taste and fragrance. The brilliant green, oval leaves grow densely on mounding plants for many harvests through-out the season. Exhibiting notable disease resistance, Profumo is a superior performer in both the garden and greenhouse. Compact plant habit makes it a stellar choice for containers. (Territorial Seed)