Ocimum basilicum
Lime basil has a fresh, citrus flavor that enhances fish, poultry, and stir fry dishes. It also pairs well with tomato-flavored dishes, pasta sauces, vegetables - especially beans, peppers, and eggplant - as well as soups and stuffing for a duck.
Sprouts in: 1-2 weeks
Harvest in: 5-12 weeks
- Lime Basil is not heat-sensitive and grows best at 18 - 30 °C / 64 - 86 °F.
- Basil likes to be cut! You can start trimming your plants about one month after planting. You may remove single leaves occasionally. But, for more thriving growth pinching off the whole tip is recommended - it will grow two new shoots in a week.
- Cutting and pruning your plant will also delay its flowering.
- A guide to pruning can be found here.
- When Basil starts to flower, the taste changes - for some people it will be too bitter. It is up to you - if you want to see your Basil flower and produce seeds, don’t cut your plant. If you like to keep using the leaves, cut the plant strongly back.
- But notice, that basil is an annual plant. It does not last forever. If 70 days old basil looks old already, well, it is time to replace the pod.
- Lime basil leaves are a bit pale or even yellowish, like limes themselves.
