Dark opal basil

How to grow Dark opal basil growing and care:

Not too hot or moist, space from other plants

How to care:
Add more water in hot summer days, fertilizer 2-4 year, put organic matter, prune once a year and consider to prune the bloom stems

What is the best way to start growing?
Plant / Seed / Vegetative Reproduction

Is it necessary use vegetative reproduction in Dark opal basil?
Not necessary but possible vegetative reproduction

Difficulties or problems when growing:
Sensitive plant

Recommended planting season?
Spring but possible in the summer

Pests and diseases:
Aphids, prodenia

Pruning season:
All the season

How to prune:
Necessary to prune thin brunch, and blooms

Size of the plant?
20-40 cm, 8-16 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Medium growing

Water requirement:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun / Half Shade

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a pot / planter /flowerpot / containers:
Yes, when grow in container, size 5-12 liter (1.5-3 gallon) amount of water that needed, it’s to keep the soil moist and the water go out of the pot, better not to use bottom of pot, soil need to be well ventilated with good drainage, rich with organic matter, can us in potting mix or peat soil with perlite or vermiculite.

Blooming information

Bloom season:
Summer

General information about the flower
Small purple flower that grow on inflorescence

Thinning the bloom:
Should thinning the inflorescence when they start to bloom, all the strength of the plant go to the blossom

Pollination is done by:
Bees and more pollinators

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
All the season after the plants is fully grown

How to harvest the leaves?
Trim branches but leave few buds on the branch

Information about leaves:
oval leaves and serrate in the edge, the color can be purple or green purple

Uses of Dark opal basil leaves:
Pesto, Spice

Vegetative Reproduction

Vegetative Reproduction Method:
Stems / cutting

Preferred time for vegetative reproduction:
Spring. Early summer

Time to grow roots in vegetative reproduction:
1-2 weeks

Treatment for vegetative reproduction:
Put in glass of water and change the water every few days

How to grow Dark opal basil from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Easy to sow no special demand

Saving seeds until sowing:
Room temperature, dry

Sowing season:
Spring after the last frost

Planting spacing:
15*20 cm (6*8 inches) direct sowing

Depth of Sowing:
0.4-0.6 cm

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist, full sun

Watering requires for Seeds:
Average amount of water / Big amount of water

Germination time:
7-14 days

Condition of seedling:
Well drained soil

Scientific name:

Ocimum basilicum ‘Dark opal basil’