basil 'Thai'
basil 'Thai'
- approx 300 seeds
- £2.29
- available to order from autumn
Delivery options
- Seed Packets (only) £2.99
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil, or general-purpose potting compost for containers
- Rate of growth: average to fast
- Hardiness: tender (will need winter protection)
Thai basil is a mainstay of Southeast Asian cooking with its distinctive bold flavours of liquorice and spice. It is easy to grow and care for in a herb garden or even a windowsill with a neat, upright habit, perfect for baskets and pots. It differs from sweet basil with its distinctive reddish-purple stems, cross-shaped green leaves, and pink and purple flowers that appear in the late summer. A tender perennial herb, it is best sown and grown annually.
Plant out into the herb garden or into roomy pots or troughs from early summer, after all threat of frost has passed, allowing 15-20cm (6-8in) between plants. Pick plants over regularly (harvest from July to October) and remove any developing flowerheads immediately to prevent bolting (running to seed) and to encourage lots of fresh young leaves.
Sow seeds into pots of free-draining seed compost on a warm, sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse from late spring. (April to early June). Protect seedlings from slugs and cold and keep well-watered as they grow.
