Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Pinch the flower buds and it keeps making leaves until frost.
Hardiness: zones 2 to 11
Light: full sun
Size: about 2 ft tall, 1 ft wide
Harvest: July to September
From: Tropical Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: South & Southeast Asian tropics. Hardy in zones 2 to 11.
The story
Basil came from India, where tulsi is sacred, and became the herb of the Mediterranean; Genoa's pesto and Thailand's holy basil stir-fry are the same plant's two lives. It is tender and hates cold.
Planting
Full sun, rich drained soil, and warmth; set out plants or sow seed after the soil is truly warm. Pots work well.
Growing
Water steadily, pinch the tips often to keep it bushy, and remove flower stalks. Feed lightly.
Harvest and use
Pick leaves from the top any time in summer; harvest whole stems before flowering for pesto. Freeze as paste; dried basil loses most of its flavour.
What to watch for
Downy mildew in humid weather, slugs, and the first cool night.
See if Basil fits your yard
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More annual vegetables, herbs and grains
General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home