Aristotle

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant, cool-sweet leaves unfurl with a distinctly Greek basil character—bright and aromatic, with a crisp, tender bite that feels almost velvety in the hand.

“Aristotle” forms an upright, richly branching plant that yields an abundant harvest of deep green foliage, ideal for fresh use and for flavor-forward sauces and pesto-style blends. Grow it for its clean, lifted perfume and its steady, garden-to-jar performance through the season.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Bush

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Aristotle Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 16th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jun 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	May 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Mar 26th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Aristotle basil is the kind of basil that smells like it’s been freshly cracked—cool-sweet and bright—so it earns its keep as a fresh, high-note finish. Blend it fast for pesto or whip it into an oil or vinaigrette; you want the tender, velvety leaf texture, not a cooked-down, muted herb.

Best Uses

Greek-style basil pesto that stays punchy (blitz, don’t cook)
torn-leaf finishing on grilled meats and hot flatbreads—adds fragrance without wilting
green-herb chimichurri-style sauce with lemon and oil
quick herb infusion in olive oil or vinegar for dressings and marinades

Flavor Profile

cool-sweet basil perfume bright, lifted aromatics crisp-tender leaf bite with a velvety texture peppery-herbal finish from a Lamiaceae bite

Kitchen Pairings

lemon extra-virgin olive oil garlic parmesan mozzarella grilled chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my Aristotle plants developing sticky leaves and curled tips, and how do I stop aphids?

Aphids commonly attack Aristotle in warm weather, leaving sticky honeydew and causing new growth tips to curl. Spray plants with a strong jet of water, then apply insecticidal soap (especially under leaves) and repeat every 5–7 days until you see no new clusters. Avoid heavy nitrogen feeding during outbreaks, which makes fresh growth more attractive to aphids.

How often should I water Aristotle during the main growing phase (around weeks 3–6)?

Water Aristotle so the top 1 inch of soil dries slightly between waterings, which typically means about 1–2 deep waterings per week depending on heat. During weeks 3–6, keep moisture steady—cracks or soggy soil can both disrupt development. Use a drip line or soaker to target the roots and reduce leaf wetness.

How can I tell when Aristotle is ready to harvest at about 45 days?

Harvest Aristotle when plants reach full size and the stems/heads show the expected maturity with firm, well-formed structure and no soft spots. For uniform timing, start checking daily once the crop is at 40–42 days—if you wait until the plant looks overly loose or starts to decline, quality drops. Cut or pull at maturity and harvest in the morning for best texture.