Description
“Italian Large Leaf” Basil
MEG’s “Italian Large Leaf” Basil Plants are a popular choice for pesto, bruschetta and more. Large leaves feature a flavor similar to the popular Genovese variety.
5 Helpful Points:
- 1 plant per 1 gallon grow bag
- Expected yield: dozens of 3-5” green leaves for months (if regularly cut back)
- Great as a fresh herb in a large variety of dishes
- Full sun preferred
- Nighttime temps need to be above 50F for best performance
When to expect harvest
Plants are sold when they’re ready to eat! We recommend not harvesting more than 30% of the plant at one time. “Italian Large Leaf” Basil can be harvested whenever you need fresh herbs for a meal.
Growth habit
“Italian Large Leaf” Basil has an upright growing habit. New stems will grow at the tops of multiple shoots. Clipping the tops of the plants will allow leaves lower on the plant to grow out resulting in a more compact, bushy plant.
The Race to Bolt
Basil is an annual herb. Your plant will transition to flowering and seed production at some point during the growing season. Regular cuttings will encourage newer growth and prolong the vegetative stage before bolting (flowering) occurs. Once the plant transitions to the flowering stage however, leaf production will slow down.
Basic care information for “Italian Large Leaf” Basil plants
Check grow bag daily If daytime highs are consistently above 70F. Saturate the grow bag with water in the morning before the heat of the day arrives if needed.
*Note: Basil plants don’t consume as much water as other leafy vegetables. It’s not unusual to go a couple of days between watering even when temps are above 70F.
Slow-release fertilizer is included in every basil grow bag. Add supplemental fertilizer if the leaves start to turn light green or pale in color. Look for fertilizer labeled for vegetables or use a fertilizer with a higher nitrogen content i.e. fish emulsion.
More Information
Check out MEG’s Edible Knowledge Base for more information on “Italian Large Leaf” Basil.
