Genovese Emily

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

Fragrant as a summer breeze, Genovese Emily basil fills the garden with a vivid, sweet-anise perfume and a bright, true-green allure.

Leaves are tender and generously sized, with a smooth, velvety surface and a full-bodied, classic basil flavor that shines in fresh bunches and turns wonderfully aromatic when warmed. Grow Genovese Emily for abundant harvests at about 45 days—ideal for making fragrant pesto, stirring into sauces, and finishing salads with living green fragrance.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Genovese Emily

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
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

Genovese Emily is built for fragrance first: its tender, generous leaves release sweet-anise basil oils fast, so keep it off the boil and fold in at the last second. Warmth helps it bloom, but heat that lingers turns the perfume flat—this is the basil you want doing the talking.

Best Uses

classic pesto with a bright, fragrant lift (use leaves just-wilted, not cooked)
stirring into warm pasta sauce off-heat so the aroma stays vivid
finishing salads where the leaves stay intact under vinaigrette
making herb-forward oil or butter to perfume grilled fish and chicken

Flavor Profile

sweet-anise perfume classic basil flavor that reads clean and green tender, velvety leaves that bruise into aromatic oils

Kitchen Pairings

garlic parmesan olive oil lemon mozzarella pasta

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease is most common on Ocimum basilicum (Genovese basil), and what should I do if I see it?

Fusarium wilt can show up as sudden wilting plus yellowing, often with browning inside the stems; it may spread in warm, wet conditions. Remove affected plants immediately, avoid reusing that potting mix or soil, and water only the base (not the leaves) so foliage stays dry. If you’re starting new plants, use fresh seed-start mix and ensure good spacing for airflow in full sun.

How often should I water Ocimum basilicum during the main growing phase (around the time it’s actively leafing out)?

Water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, which is usually every 2–4 days depending on heat and container size. Keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy—basil roots in waterlogged conditions and leaf issues increase in persistent dampness. If growing in containers, check daily in hot weather and aim for thorough, slow watering until excess drains away.

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

Start harvesting around 35–45 days after sowing when plants are bushy and have several sets of healthy leaves (typically after they reach about 8–10 inches tall). Harvest by snipping just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching, and avoid stripping more than about one-third of the plant at a time. If you see flower buds forming, begin harvesting more frequently because leaves become smaller and more bitter after flowering starts.