Genovese Basil

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant as a sunlit garden path, Genovese Basil unfurls with richly aromatic leaves that feel velvety to the touch and hold their lush, medium-green color.

The flavor is classic and bright—sweet, herbal, and unmistakably “Italian”—with a tender texture that stays graceful from first harvest through repeated cuttings. Ideal for fresh use and signature pesto-style sauces, it also shines when gently warmed or blended into herb-forward dressings and marinades.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Genovese Basil

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

Genovese basil delivers that unmistakable sweet-herbal perfume with tender leaves that stay graceful—especially when you treat it like a finishing herb or blend it gently so it doesn’t bruise into bitterness. Built for pesto and cold emulsions where its aromatic lift stays front-of-palate.

Best Uses

classic Genovese-style pesto (pounded or gently blended for a silky emulsion)
tear-and-toss salads dressed at the last second with lemon and olive oil
herb-forward marinades and quick pan sauces where you warm briefly, not cook hard
finishing herb: chiffonade over grilled bread, fish, or roasted vegetables

Flavor Profile

sweet, bright basil aromatics velvety, tender leaf texture classic herbal bite with a clean, floral finish

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil Parmesan (Parmigiano-Reggiano) Pecorino Romano lemon juice garlic pine nuts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common disease issue for Ocimum basilicum (Genovese basil), and how can I prevent it?

Basil commonly suffers from downy mildew (often seen as yellow patches on leaves with a gray-purple growth underneath) and it spreads quickly in cool, humid conditions. Grow basil in full sun with good airflow, water at the soil line (not onto leaves), and remove any infected leaves immediately to slow spread. If you see downy mildew, treat early with a labeled protectant for downy mildew on herbs and avoid overhead watering until plants dry fast.

How often should I water Genovese basil during peak growth, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During the main growth phase (after plants are established), keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again. In full sun, this typically means watering about 1–2 times per week, but adjust to weather so leaves don’t wilt and stems don’t stay soggy. If you’re container-growing, check more often because basil dries faster and needs more frequent, lighter watering to maintain steady moisture.

How do I know when Ocimum basilicum (Genovese basil) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach about 6–8 inches tall and have several sets of mature leaves (around 50–60 days), before flowers open. To harvest, pinch or cut just above a leaf pair to encourage branching, and take light, frequent harvests rather than stripping one big cut. If you start seeing buds, begin harvesting more aggressively to delay flowering and maintain leaf quality.