60-70days to harvest
5-10days to germinate
Z10–10USDA zones
Easydifficulty
F1 hybridContainer friendly

Sowing

Start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost or direct sow after soil reaches 65°F. Excellent for successive plantings every 2-3 weeks.

Cultivation

Sun
Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
Water
1 inch per week, keep consistently moist but not soggy
Soil
Well-drained potting mix or garden soil with good organic content
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Spacing
6-8 inches
Height
0-3 feet
Season
Warm season

Appearance & flavour

Colour
Medium to bright green
Size
0.5 inch small, dense leaves
Shape
Tiny oval leaves forming a compact, globe-shaped bush
Flavour
Concentrated sweet basil flavor with spicy undertones, very aromatic

In the kitchen

Garnish, pesto, pizza, containers herbs, small batch cooking, microgreens style harvest

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests
Aphids, spider mites, whiteflies
Diseases
Fusarium wilt, bacterial leaf spot in very humid conditions
Resistance
Good resistance to common basil diseases due to compact growth habit

Planting calendar by USDA zone

ZoneStart indoorsTransplantDirect sowHarvest
10JanuaryFebruary – April—April – December

Companion planting

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

TomatoesBasil repels hornworms, aphids, and whiteflies while potentially improving tomato flavor
PeppersBasil deters aphids and spider mites that commonly attack pepper plants
OreganoBoth herbs have similar growing requirements and can enhance each other's essential oil production
ParsleyCompatible growing needs and parsley may help deter some pests that affect basil
LettuceBasil provides light shade for lettuce in hot weather and repels aphids
MarigoldsRepel nematodes and other soil pests while attracting beneficial insects
AsparagusBasil may help repel asparagus beetles and both plants don't compete for space
BeansBasil helps repel bean beetles and aphids while beans fix nitrogen in soil

Avoid

RueInhibits basil growth through allelopathic compounds and may stunt development
Common SageCompetes for similar nutrients and may inhibit basil's growth through root competition
FennelProduces allelopathic compounds that inhibit growth of most herbs including basil

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

Where to buy seed and equipment

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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.

DarkGrow forum

Grown Spicy Globe Basil?

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

Similar varieties

Other herbs with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Spicy Globe Basil suits these too.

Browse all 104 herbs