Mendel’s Gardens

Ocimum basilicum

Basil · Sweet Basil

Family LamiaceaeGenus Ocimum

About the plant

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

The plant

Habit
AnnualPlant Finder
Habit
Annual, Perennial, Forb/herbPLANTS Database
Height
1.5-2 ftPlant Finder
Spread
1.5-2 ftPlant 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 sun
Watering
Medium

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 Database — USDA NRCS.

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.

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

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

This source doesn't state how long.

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.

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.