Emily Basil

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Emily Basil to a garden.

Fragrant as a summer breeze, Emily Basil unfurls with intensely aromatic leaves that release a sweet, peppery lift the moment you brush past the foliage.

The plants form an upright, lush mound of tender, medium-to-large leaves with a smooth, satin texture and a rich green color that stays vibrant through the season. Ideal for Italian-style flavoring—use fresh leaves for bright finishing, or gather generous handfuls for pesto and herb-forward sauces, and enjoy its bold character in oil infusions and quick pickling blends.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	60
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
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

Emily Basil is the kind of basil you use for the perfume, not just the green—its leaves keep that sweet-peppery lift even when bruised or blended. Brighter than milder basils, it plays especially well with fats and dairy where its green edge keeps everything from going heavy.

Best Uses

fresh chiffonade as a last-minute garnish (won’t taste dull or stale)
classic pesto-style blend, where its high fragrance stays loud even after pulping
oil infusion for finishing—warm the oil briefly to bloom aroma without cooking it to bitterness
quick pickling with vinegar and a pinch of sugar to keep the leaf’s perfume bright

Flavor Profile

intensely aromatic sweet-leaning basil peppery, lightly mentholated snap smooth, tender leaves that turn silky when blended clean green finish that cuts through fat

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil Parmigiano-Reggiano garlic lemon burrata or fresh mozzarella white beans

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (basil), and what should I do?

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is especially prone to downy mildew and leaf spotting in humid weather, which shows as yellow patches on top and fuzzy gray-purple growth on the underside. Remove and discard infected leaves immediately, water only at the soil line, and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves dry quickly after irrigation. If it keeps spreading, switch to a labeled treatment for downy mildew on edible herbs and keep plants in full sun to reduce leaf wetness.

How often should I water Italian Large Leaf basil during peak growth?

During the main growth period, keep the soil consistently evenly moist but not soggy—aim for top 1 inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again. In full sun conditions, that often means watering every 2–4 days, depending on soil and container size; containers usually need more frequent watering than in-ground beds. Water at the base and avoid wetting leaves, because basil develops mildew problems when foliage stays damp.

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

Harvest when plants are about 8–10 inches tall and before they flower, typically around day 60 for a full-sized first harvest. Take shoots by pinching or cutting just above a pair of healthy leaves, which forces branching for a continued harvest. If you see flower buds forming, harvest immediately before flowering for best leaf flavor.