LEMON BASIL AB
Ocimum basilicum
Lemon Basil is a remarkable variety of basil offering a fresh fragrance and a lemony scent. Successfully sowing basil Basil requires a minimum constant temperature of 20°C to germinate, so it is best to sow it in a warm bed or in a heated greenhouse. Start your seedlings in early spring in pots. Choose a good, fine seed compost. Do not push the seeds down, pack the compost in the pots or trays, then lightly brush the surface with your fingers, place the seeds in, sprinkle a little soil on top if necessary, and pack firmly. Water with a spray bottle until the seeds germinate. Be careful, too much moisture could cause your seedlings to melt. Germination occurs in 6 to 8 days on average. Place your terrine or greenhouse near a bright window. Planting basil in the garden Plant your basil plants in the garden after the last frost in May when they have reached the 3-4 leaf stage. Wait until June if you are north of the Loire. Plant your basil plants in well-drained, rich soil with a sunny exposure. You can add a little manure. Leave 50 cm between each plant. Water without wetting the foliage and without overwatering. Harvesting basil: Leaves harvested in May and June, just before flowering, will have the most fragrance, although you can harvest it all year round as long as the plant has leaves. The more leaves you harvest from your plant, the better it will grow. To preserve your basil, chop the leaves and place them in ice cube trays filled with water. You can also preserve it in olive oil. Planted between tomato plants, it will protect them from certain pests. All basils can be grown in pots, window boxes, or on balconies.
