This attractive basil has purple stems and deep flowers with purple bracts. Its unique cinnamon taste and aroma makes it wonderful for tea/vinegars or even for use ornamentally in edible or scented decorative arrangements. Basil flowers are also edible so add them to your dishes too! Basil makes sensational microgreens too - they take a little longer to germinate but are worth the wait for the gourmet flavour.
West Coast Seeds Cinnamon Basil Seeds, Per Package
Starting
Sow seeds 1cm (½”) deep in sterilized seed starting mix. Basil is prone to damping off, so once seeds sprout, make sure they are adequately ventilated, and kept under very bright light. Thin to 20-25cm (8-10″) apart. Using bottom heat speeds germination.
Timing
Basil grows well in containers indoors at any time of year provided you can supply enough light. For outdoor growing, sow basil seeds throughout late spring for transplanting to the garden after the summer solstice. Or direct sow in early summer, once the soil has warmed up. Basil requires warm soil and full sun. Optimal temperature for germination: 21°C (70°F). Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.
Growing
Use any rich, loose, well drained soil. Once plants are 15cm (6″) tall, pinch out the growing tips to encourage really bushy growth prior to harvest. Watch for signs of flower buds forming in mid-summer, and pinch these off to promote more foliage.
