Spice Basil – Compact Aromatic Culinary Herb

Spice Basil – Compact Aromatic Culinary Herb

Large - 9cm
£7.65
£7.65
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Spice Basil – Compact Aromatic Culinary Herb
  • Spice Basil – Compact Aromatic Culinary Herb
Spice Basil – Compact Aromatic Culinary Herb

Spice Basil – Compact Aromatic Culinary Herb

£7.65
£7.65
SizeLarge - 9cm

Bring intense basil fragrance and fresh flavour to even the smallest growing space.

Spice Basil is a wonderfully compact, bushy herb packed with small aromatic leaves and a distinctive spicy basil flavour. Perfect for patio pots, kitchen gardens and sunny windowsills, it provides plenty of fresh leaves to pick throughout summer without needing much space.

✔ Why Grow It?

  • Compact, bushy basil ideal for small spaces

  • Intensely aromatic leaves with a spicy flavour

  • Excellent fresh culinary herb

  • Perfect for pots, patios and kitchen gardens

  • Regular harvesting encourages fresh new growth

  • Flowers attract bees and other pollinating insects
Plant Information

Botanical name: Ocimum basilicum

Common name: Spice Basil

Usually available: Spring–Summer

Life cycle: Tender annual

Harvest period: Late spring–early autumn

Flowering period: Summer

Flower colour: White to pale pink

Height: Approximately 20–30cm

Spread: Approximately 20–30cm

Position: Full sun in a warm, sheltered location

Soil: Fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil

Foliage: Small, intensely aromatic green leaves

Growth habit: Compact and bushy

Hardiness: Tender – protect from frost

Suitable for containers: Excellent

Suitable for beginners: Excellent

Pollinator value: Flowers attract bees and other beneficial insects.
Growing Guide

Planting

Location: Choose a warm, sheltered position receiving plenty of sunlight.

Planting time: Plant outside after all risk of frost has passed and temperatures are reliably warm.

Spacing: Allow approximately 20–30cm between plants.

Containers: Spice Basil is particularly well suited to pots. Use a container with good drainage and quality peat-free compost.

Care

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Container plants may need frequent watering during hot summer weather.

Feeding: Feed container-grown plants occasionally with a suitable liquid fertiliser during active growth.

Pinching: Regularly pinch out the growing tips to encourage branching and produce a compact plant with plenty of leaves.

Flowers: Remove developing flower heads if you want to maximise leaf production, or leave some flowers for visiting pollinators.

Harvesting & Storage

Harvesting: Pick leaves regularly once the plant is established. Pinch shoot tips just above a pair of leaves to encourage new branching.

Fresh storage: Basil is at its best when harvested shortly before use.

Freezing: Surplus leaves can be chopped and frozen for later cooking.

Drying: Leaves can be dried, although freezing generally preserves more of their fresh aroma.

UK Growing Conditions

Spice Basil thrives during warm UK summers but is not frost hardy. Grow outside in a sunny, sheltered position after the last frost, or keep it in a greenhouse, conservatory or bright windowsill.

Container growing is particularly useful because plants can be moved into shelter during cool or excessively wet weather.
Uses and Benefits

Traditional Uses

Basil has been cultivated for centuries and has a rich history across Mediterranean, Asian and other traditional cultures. Aromatic forms of Ocimum basilicum have long been valued as culinary plants as well as traditional household herbs.

Traditional uses are provided for historical and educational interest only and are not intended as medical advice.

Culinary Uses

Spice Basil's aromatic leaves are excellent in tomato dishes, salads, pasta, sauces, pizzas and Mediterranean-inspired recipes.

Use fresh leaves generously and add them towards the end of cooking where possible to retain their distinctive aroma and flavour.

Wildlife & Garden Benefits

Allow some stems to flower and their small blooms will provide nectar for bees and other beneficial insects.

Its compact growth makes Spice Basil particularly useful for productive patio gardens, balconies, raised beds and small urban spaces.
When will I get my order?

Plants: Plants are carefully packed and normally dispatched within 2–4 working days. Some plants may be delivered at the most appropriate time for planting or potting on.

Seeds and garden supplies: Seeds and garden supplies are normally dispatched within 2–4 working days.

Seasonal items: Bulbs, bare-root plants, trees and other seasonal products may be dispatched at the appropriate planting time to support successful establishment.
FAQs

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