Eleonora

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Aromatic and luminous, Eleonora Thai Basil rises with a vivid, peppery fragrance that blooms into sweet anise-cool notes as the leaves unfurl.

Expect tender, narrow leaves with a crisp, succulent bite and a richly green sheen—ideal for fresh use and for building bold, fragrant sauces, stir-ins, and quick pickles where its signature lift shines. Grow Eleonora for a steady harvest over the season, with plants that hold their character as they mature toward flowering.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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Eleonora 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 11th	Jul 13th	Sep 11th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	May 4th	Jul 6th	Sep 4th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 24th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 24th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 28th	Jun 30th	Aug 29th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 24th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 22nd	Jun 24th	Aug 23rd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 17th	Jun 19th	Aug 18th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 13th	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 10th	Jun 12th	Aug 11th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Apr 4th	Jun 6th	Aug 5th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 30th	Jun 1st	Jul 31st – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 20th	May 22nd	Jul 21st – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 11th	May 13th	Jul 12th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Mar 2nd	May 4th	Jul 3rd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 13th	Apr 17th	Jun 16th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 19th	Mar 23rd	May 22nd – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 30th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

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

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Eleonora Thai Basil is built for heat and momentum: its peppery snap and sweet anise cool notes come through when you wilt it briefly, then pull. Use it as a finishing herb for stir-fries or as the fragrant backbone of a fish-sauce–lime sauce, where its crisp leaf texture stays lively rather than turning mushy.

Best Uses

toss-finished stir-fries where you want basil to stay aromatic, not collapse
Thai-style quick sauces and fragrant pan sauces (wilt just enough, then pull)
fresh minty-anise herb topping on rice/noodles for a clean, cool hit
quick vinegar quick-pickles or herb brines where the anise note becomes the headline

Flavor Profile

peppery, bright basil snap sweet anise-cool licorice lift tender, narrow leaves with a crisp succulent bite fragrant green aroma that holds up in hot pan work

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lime fish sauce chili coconut milk rice noodles

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most likely on Ocimum basilicum (sweet basil) like Eleonora, and how do I treat it?

Watch for downy mildew and basil blight, which often show up as yellowing patches, grayish growth on leaf undersides, and dark lesions in warm, humid weather. Remove and discard affected leaves early, water at the soil line (not the foliage), and improve airflow by spacing plants to prevent a dense canopy. If problems persist, use an appropriate basil-friendly fungicide labeled for downy mildew or basil blights and repeat according to the label.

How often should I water Ocimum basilicum during the main growing phase (after seedlings establish)?

Keep basil consistently lightly moist—about 1–2 inches of water per week depending on heat—so the top 1 inch of soil doesn’t dry out completely. Water deeply when the soil surface starts to dry, then avoid frequent shallow watering that encourages stressed roots and leaf diseases. In hot, full-sun conditions, that may mean watering every 1–3 days, but always check soil moisture first.

How can I tell when Eleonora (Ocimum basilicum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach roughly 8–12 inches tall and have multiple healthy sets of leaves, typically around 60 days from sowing with good growth. Use snips to remove leaf tops just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching; you should see new growth within about a week. Stop before flowering for the best leaf flavor—once flower buds begin to form, leaves become tougher and more bitter.