Basil Dark Opal

Basil Dark Opal has purple bronze foliage. The leaves are spicy and scented and are ideal for use in salads where they add zing and colour. It can also be used in pasta and rice dishes. This would be a great addition to the flower border or grow in flower pots. A half hard annual, it grows to 30 cm.

Basil thrives in rich, well drained soil, in a warm sheltered position. This variety is ideal for pots. Pick the leaves as required, best used fresh. Pinch out the tip of the main stem to encourage bushy growth or prevent plants from flowering.

How to sow and grow Basil

Sow indoors from March 0.5cm deep in good quality soil. We plant several seeds per pot. The plants can be potted up and placed on a kitchen window or we will plant some in 1 or 2 litre pots and grow on as a companion plant to tomatoes in the greenhouse.

The plants can be grown outdoors from late May when the risk of frost has past at a space of 30cm apart. They are best grown in well-drained soil in a sheltered place in the garden.

Sow direct in drills, when the soil has warmed up in May and then thin to 30 cm spacing.

Can be grown all year round on the windowsill.

For detailed growing instructions and ideas of which Basil varieties to grow click here