Genovese

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

Fragrant as a sun-warmed green garden, Genovese Italian Basil unfurls with lush, medium-large leaves that feel velvety to the touch and hold their vivid color through the season.

Its flavor is bright and sweet with a classic, aromatic lift—ideal for the signature green sauces and for fresh garnishing, where its tender texture shines. Grow it for a steady harvest of fragrant sprigs that make every bowl feel unmistakably Italian.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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Genovese 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 27th	Sep 25th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Sep 18th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jul 14th	Sep 12th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 8th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jul 8th	Sep 6th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 1st – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 29th	Aug 28th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Aug 25th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 20th	Aug 19th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Aug 14th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Jun 5th	Aug 4th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 27th	Jul 26th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 18th	Jul 17th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	May 1st	Jun 30th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Apr 6th	Jun 5th – 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 gives you big, soft leaves and a sweet, sunlit aromatic punch that stands up to heavy olive oil and cheese. It’s at its best when handled gently—quickly blended or torn last-minute—so the perfume stays vivid instead of turning bitter.

Best Uses

blitz-and-run pesto (keep it green; pulse, don’t cook)
green sauce for pasta or gnocchi (fold in at the last second)
chopped basil over olive-oil–slick tomatoes-less salads and grilled veg
velvety tear-and-drop garnish for soups, eggs, and burrata

Flavor Profile

bright sweet basil fragrance cool, aromatic herbal lift tender leaves with a slight chew clean finish with gentle peppery tinges

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil aged Parmigiano-Reggiano garlic lemon mozzarella/burrata pine nuts

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease issue most commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (Genovese basil), and how do I control it?

Basil commonly suffers from downy mildew (often showing yellow patches on upper leaves with gray-purple growth underneath). Remove and discard affected leaves early, improve airflow around plants, and avoid wetting the foliage when watering. If problems persist, use a labeled fungicide for basil downy mildew and keep plants in full sun to speed drying between waterings.

How often should I water Genovese basil during active growth, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

During the main growing phase, water when the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) of soil feels dry, then water deeply so moisture reaches the root zone. Aim for evenly moist but not soggy soil—basil (Ocimum basilicum) performs poorly in continually wet conditions and can develop fungal leaf problems.

How can I tell when Genovese basil is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach about 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) tall and have multiple pairs of healthy leaves, typically around 60 days from sowing. Pick by cutting above a leaf node (just above where leaves branch) so the plant can produce new shoots; regular harvesting delays flowering and keeps leaves tender.