Eleonora

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

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

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 4th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 6th
Harvest Begins	Aug 5th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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.