Genovese Compact Improved

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Genovese Compact Improved to a garden.

Aromas of sweet, bright green—clove-warm and gently peppery—rise from Genovese Compact Improved the moment you brush its leaves.

This compact, bushy basil forms dense, tender foliage with a velvety, medium-green texture that’s ideal for fresh bouquets of flavor and for bold, aromatic sauces. Grow it for steady harvests over the season, with plants that stay neat and productive right up to 60 days from sowing.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Genovese Compact Improved

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

Genovese Compact Improved gives you a steady hit of sweet, clove-warm basil that stays tender—great for sauces you want fragrant, not leafy-ropey. Use it as a bruisable finisher or a fast pesto blend so the oils stay bright and peppery instead of dulling under long cooking.

Best Uses

fresh pesto with a clean, aromatic punch (blend just to keep it vivid)
quick torn-leaf salads where the basil holds its perfume under vinaigrette
clove-tinged herb oil or finishing butter for hot pasta
aromatic garnish that survives contact with warm food without going bitter

Flavor Profile

sweet, bright green aroma clove-warm and gently peppery finish tender, velvety leaves that bruise into fragrance

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil parmesan garlic lemon mozzarella olive-based cured meats

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common basil pest or disease issue for Ocimum basilicum, and how do I fix it?

A frequent problem is downy mildew on basil (often showing as yellow patches on top leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside). Remove and discard affected leaves immediately, avoid overhead watering, and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t stay wet overnight. If the problem keeps recurring, switch to a preventive schedule with a labeled organic fungicide and keep the soil surface slightly drier between waterings.

How often should I water Ocimum basilicum during the main growing phase?

During active leaf growth, keep the root zone consistently moist but not soggy—water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. In full sun, this usually means watering every 2–3 days, but scale to container size and heat (containers may need daily). Use a deep soak so water reaches the lower roots, and stop frequent shallow watering that encourages surface roots.

How can I tell when Genovese Compact Improved (Ocimum basilicum) is ready to harvest?

Start harvesting once plants have enough growth to support picking—typically around day 50–60, when they’re well-branched with multiple sets of true leaves. Harvest by pinching or cutting just above a pair of leaves (usually 1–2 leaf sets below the top) to trigger new side shoots. Avoid waiting for flower buds, because leaves become smaller and more bitter as Ocimum basilicum begins bolting.