Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.

Holy Basil — Herbs | DarkGrow Seed Bank

Name: Holy Basil
Brand: DarkGrow Seed Bank

90-100days to harvest

10-15days to germinate

Z3–11USDA zones

Easydifficulty

HeirloomContainer friendly

Sowing

Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost or direct sow in warm soil. Allow some flowers for continuous harvest.

Cultivation

Sun: Full sun (6+ hours)
Water: Moderate, 0.5-1 inch per week, drought tolerant once established
Soil: Well-draining soil, tolerates poor soils better than culinary basils
Soil pH: 6.0-7.5
Spacing: 8-12 inches
Season: Warm season annual

Appearance & flavour

Colour: Green leaves with purple tinges, purple flower spikes
Size: 1 1/2"
Shape: Small, serrated oval leaves, compact bushy growth
Flavour: Spicy, clove-like with peppery and slightly bitter notes

In the kitchen

Herbal teas, traditional Indian dishes, medicinal preparations, not for Italian cuisine

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests: Few pest problems, occasionally aphids
Diseases: Rare disease issues, very resilient
Resistance: Excellent natural disease resistance, very hardy

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Zone	Start indoors	Transplant	Direct sow	Harvest
3	April – May	June – July	—	July – October
4	March – April	June – July	—	July – October
5	March – April	May – June	—	June – October
6	March – April	May – June	—	June – November
7	February – March	April – June	—	June – November
8	February – March	April – May	—	May – December
9	January – February	March – April	—	April – December
10	January	February – April	—	April – December
11	January	January – March	—	March – December

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

TomatoesHoly basil repels tomato hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies while potentially improving tomato flavor

PeppersDeters aphids, spider mites, and thrips that commonly attack pepper plants

EggplantRepels flea beetles and aphids that damage eggplant foliage

OreganoBoth herbs have similar growing requirements and complement each other's pest-repelling properties

MarigoldsBoth plants repel nematodes and various garden pests, creating a strong protective barrier

LettuceHoly basil provides shade for lettuce in hot weather and repels aphids that attack leafy greens

CarrotsHelps deter carrot fly and other root pests while improving soil health

BeansHoly basil repels bean beetles and aphids while beans fix nitrogen in soil

Avoid

RueAllelopathic properties can inhibit holy basil growth and development

CucumberHoly basil can stunt cucumber growth and may affect fruit development

SageCompetes for similar nutrients and may inhibit holy basil's growth through root competition

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g): 23
Protein (g): 3.15
Fat (g): 0.64
Carbohydrate (g): 2.65
Fibre (g): 1.6
Sugars (g): 0.3
Vitamin A (µg): 264
Vitamin C (mg): 18
Vitamin E (mg): 0.8
Vitamin K (µg): 415
Vitamin B6 (mg): 0.155
Folate (µg): 68
Calcium (mg): 177
Iron (mg): 3.17
Magnesium (mg): 64
Phosphorus (mg): 56
Potassium (mg): 295
Zinc (mg): 0.81
Selenium (µg): 0.3

← PreviousCardinal Basil Next →Lemon Verbena

Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the herbs growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

Holy Basil

Sowing

Cultivation

Appearance & flavour

In the kitchen

Pests, disease & resistance

Planting calendar by USDA zone

Companion planting

Avoid

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Where to buy seed and equipment

Grown Holy Basil?

Similar varieties