Basil Seeds - Red Leaf Holy Basil - Heirloom

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How to Grow Red Leaf Holy Basil

Sow seeds in late spring/early summer after the last frost in a warm, sunny location. Optionally, start seeds indoors six weeks before the last frost date (or eight weeks before the expected transplanting date). Maintain moist soil. Fertilize at the beginning of the season and again if the leaves begin to pale. Plants prefer to grow in warmth and can sustain damage if temperatures drop below 50°F.

Keep the area weed-free. Basil and Tomatoes grow remarkably well side-by-side. Once the plant has 5-6 leaf pairs, harvest the top two pairs by pinching off the middle stem. This promotes bushy growth, more branching, and intensifies the fragrance.

Harvesting Red Leaf Holy Basil

Harvest older leaves and pinch back flower buds for continuous leaf production. Refrain from harvesting more than 1/3rd of the size of the plant if you wish to have continual growth and future harvests. In case of growing outdoors in a climate with winter temps below 50℉, harvest the entire plant in the fall.

Culinary Tips

This herb can be eaten fresh, dried, made into a tea, or used as a supplement. Red Thai Basil is utilized in the popular Gai Pad Gra Pow dish, stir-frying, and soup. Popular in many Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Indian cuisine dishes, the spicy aromatic leaves are a nice garnish with Asian noodle dishes.

Tips From Our Gardeners

“Red Leaf Holy Basil adds an element of Thailand into any cuisine. I adore the rare flavor. Try adding it to your next curry dish!”

- Lara Wadsworth, True Leaf Market Writer

Seeds Per Package

• 500 mg packet - Approximately 425 Seeds
• .25 oz - Approximately 6,000 Seeds
• 1 oz - Approximately 24,000 Seeds
• 4 oz - Approximately 96,000 Seeds
• 1 lb - Approximately 384,000 Seeds
• 5 lb - Approximately 1,920,000 Seeds