Basil Dark
Basil Dark
Ocimum basilicum ‘Dark Opal’
Basil variety with beautiful dark, purple leaves.
Dark basil has beautiful, glossy leaves that are almost regal in colour, and the shade becomes even deeper as the plant grows. A few leaves of dark basil in homemade vinaigrette give the dressing a lovely ruby hue.
In stock
Category: Herb
Growing time: 5-8 weeks
Cutting and harvesting: Pinch the top to maintain growth
Package includes: 3 plant capsules + nutrients
Dark basil sprouts quickly, in 5-6 days. The first leaves grow in a few weeks. Growth accelerates about a month after sowing. It is advisable to start cutting basil early. When the plant is about 4-8 cm high, cut the top pair of leaves.
From then on, harvest by cutting the stem just above the pair of leaves below. This will encourage the basil to brach out and grow thicker, producing more leaves to harvest. It’s possible to cut a lot of basil in one go, so long as you always leave at least one or two pairs of leaves on the plant. If basil grows too tall, it can be cut at the middle, or even lower.