Ocimum gratissimum

Ocimum gratissimum grow and care – shrub‎ type of basil genus Ocimum also known as Clove basil or African basil, Ocimum gratissimum perennial evergreen or annual plant used as edible plant for the leaves also used as ornamental plant and it’s fragrant, grow in tropic climate and growing in hardiness zone: 12+ (perennial), 5-12 (as annual).

Ocimum gratissimum leaves

Leaves color light green big soft with ovate-cordate shape with serrated edge.

Flower color purple, small flowers grow on inflorescence.

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How to grow Ocimum gratissimum growing and care:

Well drained soil

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 Ocimum gratissimum?
Not necessary but possible vegetative reproduction

Difficulties or problems when growing:
?

Recommended planting season?
Spring in hardiness zone 5-10 as annual, as perennial spring to summer in hardiness zone 10b, spring to autumn in hardiness zone 11 and hardiness zone 12+ all year.

Pests and diseases:
Aphids, in warm place strong place

Pruning season:
All the season

How to prune:
Prune in the beginning of the bloom

Size of the plant:
40-60cm, 16-24 inches

Growth speed in optimal condition:
Fast growing / Medium growing

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

Light conditions in optimal condition for growing:
Full Sun

Is it possible to grow indoor as houseplant?
No

Growing is also possible in a 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, when it’s grow as perianal every two years to switch soil in the pot or just part of it, 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, butterfly

Vegetative Reproduction

How to make Vegetative Reproduction?
Cutting

The best time for vegetative reproduction:
Spring, early summer

How much time does it take to grow roots in vegetative reproduction?
1-2 weeks

What is the treatment for vegetative reproduction?
Put in glass of water and change the water every few days

Edible leaves

Leaves harvesting season:
All year

How to harvest the leaves?
Recommend to trim the big leaves but not old leaves

Information about leaves:
Green leaves in ovate-cordate shape with serrated edge

Uses of Ocimum gratissimum leaves:
Salad

How to grow Ocimum gratissimum from seeds

Sowing requirement:
Small round brown seeds

Saving seeds until sowing:
Room temperature, dry

Sowing season:
Spring, but as perennial spring to autumn

Planting spacing:
20*20cm (8*8 inches)

Depth of Sowing:
1-1.5 cm (0.5-0.7 inch)

Conditions for seeds germinate:
Moist, full sun

Watering requires for Seeds:
Big amount of water

Germination time:
5-17 days

Condition of seedling:
Well drained soil

Do the seeds require burying?
No

Scientific name:

Ocimum gratissimum