Emily

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Aromatic as fresh summer air, Emily Italian Basil unfurls with glossy, medium-green leaves that release a bright, sweet-clove fragrance the moment you brush past them.

The flavor is classic and balanced—tender and richly herbaceous—ideal for generous handfuls of fresh use and for turning into fragrant, green sauces. Vigorous and steady from early harvest through the season, Emily is a garden favorite for anyone who wants abundant, flavorful leaves at about 55 days from sowing.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 55 DaysHabit: Bush

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	55
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bush
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

Emily Italian Basil leans into that sweet-clove perfume—volatile oils stay punchy when you treat it gently, either blending fast for pesto or tearing for warm pasta. Use it while the leaves are still tender; the flavor snaps instead of going flat or leafy-bitter.

Best Uses

torn-leaf pesto with lots of olive oil to keep it silky green
blitzed herb sauce (salsa verde–style) for chicken, fish, or eggs
quick chiffonade over warm pasta so the leaves soften but don’t turn bitter
fresh topping on bread with olive oil and flaky salt

Flavor Profile

sweet-clove aroma tender, brightly herbaceous flavor slightly cooling, aromatic finish

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic Parmigiano-Reggiano lemon zest mozzarella chicken

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common basil problem (Ocimum basilicum) I’ll see, and how do I control it?

Basil commonly gets downy mildew (often starting as yellow patches on the upper leaves with gray-purple growth underneath) when humidity stays high. Remove and discard affected leaves right away, improve airflow by spacing plants well, and water at the soil line so foliage stays dry; avoid overhead watering. If it’s spreading, use a labeled fungicide for basil/downy mildew and keep plants in full sun to dry quickly.

How often should I water Ocimum basilicum during peak growth?

During the main growing phase, keep the soil consistently moist but never soggy—aim for watering when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. In full sun, this often means about 1–2 inches of water per week total, split into 1–3 waterings depending on heat and container size. Mulch can help stabilize moisture, but make sure water drains well to prevent root stress and leaf problems.

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

Harvest once plants have developed at least 6–8 inches of growth and before flowers appear, typically around 50–60 days. Pick leaves by pinching or snipping just above a pair of leaf nodes to encourage bushy regrowth, and harvest in the morning for best flavor. If you see flower buds forming, harvest soon and start regular pinching to slow flowering and maintain leaf quality.