Basil - Picolino
Picolino produces dense, rounded plants with small, full-flavoured leaves.
Sow and grow indoors for all year round crops. Sow 0.5cm deep, in small pots of compost. Water well and place in a warm position. A temperature of 15-20°C is ideal. Seedlings usually appear in 7-14 days. Grow on in cooler, but not cold conditions. For earlier outdoor crops, sow indoors March-May. Gradually accustom plants to outside conditions, avoiding frosts, before planting out into warm, well-drained soil, 20cm apart, during May-July. Alternatively, plants can be grown on a light windowsill. Or sow outdoors March-May for ease, where they are to crop, 0.5cm deep, directly into finely prepared soil, which has already been watered. Thin seedlings to 20cm apart. For a continuous supply, make sowings at two to three week intervals. Leaves are best picked immediately before use.