Genovese Basil Seeds
Heirloom, The Pesto Basil
The quintessential Italian pesto basil, bred on the northwest coast at Genoa: sweet, peppery, with big soft leaves.
- About 200 seeds, a lot of basil
- Sweet and peppery, the pesto basil
- Easy to grow, good for beginners
- Heirloom, so you can save seed
For Christmas, order by 16 December, or 18 December in WA. All dates
The quintessential Italian pesto basil: sweet, peppery, with big soft leaves. It was bred on Italy's northwest coast, in the port town of Genoa, and it is still the variety serious cooks reach for. It is also one of the easiest things in the patch, which is a rare combination. Roughly 200 seeds in a packet.
Key Features
- Approximately 200 seeds per packet. A lot of basil.
- Heirloom variety. So you can save seed from mature plants.
- Sweet, peppery flavour. The preferred basil for real pesto.
- Easy to grow and adaptable. Genuinely good for beginners.
- A classic companion plant. Grow it with tomatoes.
Pūrē Standard
- Two hundred seeds in one packet. A single supermarket basil plant dies in a fortnight. This is the clearest argument for growing from seed that exists.
- Heirloom means it keeps going. Let one plant flower and set seed at the end of summer and you never buy basil seed again.
- Sourced locally, in small batches. Little Veggie Patch Co say they buy seed locally and in small quantities so it stays at maximum germination viability. Old seed sitting in a warehouse is the usual reason a packet disappoints, and basil seed loses vigour faster than most.
- Paper packet, nothing else. No plastic window, no foil sachet. Close to the smallest packaging footprint of anything we sell.
- Where we would like more. Little Veggie Patch Co do not state whether their seed is chemically treated. They describe their garlic as grown on a chemical-free farm but make no equivalent statement for seed, and they publish no germination rate or packing date. We would rather say that than assume.
Overall score:
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Low-Tox & Material Safety | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) |
| Sustainability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
| Manufacturing Transparency | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3.5/5) |
| Packaging | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.5/5) |
How to Use
- Soil. Free draining, with plenty of compost through it.
- Position. Full sun.
- Sowing. Early in the season, start in trays. Once it is properly warm, sow directly into the garden near your tomatoes.
- Two seeds per hole. Water them in, and keep the soil moist, not wet, until they germinate.
- Spacing and depth. 20 to 25cm apart, 0 to 1cm deep.
- Pinch out the growing tips. As it establishes. It will bush out instead of bolting, and you will get far more leaf.
When to Plant
- Zone 1, cool. September to January.
- Zone 2, temperate. September to February.
- Zone 3, subtropical. Anytime.
- Zone 4, tropical. Anytime.
- Perth and the south-west are Zone 2. So September to February. Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and most of the southern half of the country are Zone 2 as well.
Product Details
- Variety. Ocimum basilicum, "Large Sweet Genova", heirloom.
- Seed count. Approximately 200 per packet.
- Companion plants. Tomatoes.
- Packaging. Plain paper seed packet.
- Sourcing. Little Veggie Patch Co source their seed locally and in small batches.
- Interstate customers. Some states restrict the entry of seed and plant material. Check your own state's plant biosecurity rules if you are unsure.
Choose options
For Christmas, order by 16 December, or 18 December in WA. All dates
Our Take
Big soft leaves and proper pesto flavour, and heirloom, so let one go to seed and you never buy it again. Plant it next to the tomatoes.
Pūrēly Organic
Good to know
Frequently asked
When should I sow basil in Perth?
Perth and the south-west are in Little Veggie Patch Co's Zone 2, temperate, so September to February. Zone 1 (cool) is September to January, and Zones 3 and 4 (subtropical and tropical) can sow anytime.
How many seeds are in a packet?
Approximately 200, for $5.
How do I grow it?
Start in trays early in the season, then sow directly into the garden near your tomatoes once it is properly warm. Plant two seeds per hole, 0 to 1cm deep and 20 to 25cm apart, in full sun and free-draining soil with plenty of compost. Water in and keep the soil moist, not wet, until they germinate.
Why plant basil next to tomatoes?
They are the classic companion pairing, and Little Veggie Patch Co recommend it directly. It also happens to be how you will use them in the kitchen.
Are these heirloom seeds?
Yes. Heirloom varieties come true from saved seed, so let one plant flower at the end of summer and you can collect seed for next season instead of buying another packet.
Are the seeds chemically treated?
Little Veggie Patch Co do not say either way for their seed. They describe their garlic as grown on a chemical-free farm but make no equivalent statement about seed, and they publish no germination rate or packing date. We would rather tell you that than guess.
Can you ship it to Western Australia?
Yes. We are in Perth, and there is no restriction on individual seed packets. Little Veggie Patch Co restrict only their seed kits, potatoes, canes and crowns.
