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Holy Basil
Ocimum tenuiflorum
Still time — sow lateherb
Sacred Hindu herb (also called Tulsi) prized in Ayurvedic medicine, with a warm, clove-pepper aroma distinct from sweet basil.
In Zone 7b, right now
Still time to plant — it should mature before frost
The usual direct sow window (Mid April – Mid May) has closed, but with about 75 days to harvest there's still enough season left. Get it in now.
Edible?
Yes — herb — leaves & stems
Small space?
Yes — fits a balcony
Sun
Full sun (6+ hrs)
Comes back yearly?
Yes — perennial
Harvest in
75 days
Ways to plant it
Start seeds indoors
Past the ideal window — still time
Early to Mid February
Start seeds in trays now; they only need a few weeks indoors before they go straight out into the warm soil.
Direct sow
Past the ideal window — still time
Mid April – Mid May
Plant seeds straight into the ground (or a container) outdoors.
Transplant
Past the ideal window — still time
Mid to Late April
Buy a young plant from a nursery, or move one you started indoors, into the ground or a pot.
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