Italian Large Leaf Basil
40 Days

Basil is one of the most popular herbs, used in just about every kind of cooking. The perfect complimentary ingredient for recipes that use tomatoes. This basil makes a spectacular pesto with its wonderfully aromatic, dark green leaves. Height to 30” A must for any gardener! This is a large plant with leaves up to 4" long. Compared to Genovese, the scent and taste is sweeter. 


Fun Facts: 

1. Native to Europe 
2. Common in America by the 1700's 
3. Symbolizes the language of love in Italy

USES:
Salads, Pesto, fresh, frozen and dried

How to harvest and store your basil

The essential oils of the plant are at their peak early in the morning making this the perfect time for harvest mature leaves. While harvesting pinch back the growing tip of the plants which will stimulate branching and make a fuller more bushy plant. Basil leaves can be used fresh or dried. Another method of storage is to grind them up in a food processor and place in ice cube trays with a little water and freeze. Once frozen they can be removed to freezer bags and used for that “fresh” basil taste anytime of the year. Leaves can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.