Greek Columnar

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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Fragrant as a sunlit herb garden, Greek Columnar basil unfolds with a steady, upright habit and richly aromatic leaves that perfume the air with classic sweet-basil charm.

The foliage is tender and velvety, with a crisp, succulent texture that holds its character beautifully in fresh applications and quick flavoring. Grow Greek Columnar for bold, clean basil notes in sauces, pesto-style blends, and bright finishing garnishes.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Greek Columnar

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Greek Columnar 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

Greek Columnar basil is built for eating at herb-volume: its upright, tender leaves chop clean and keep a crisp, succulent mouthfeel rather than collapsing into bitterness. Use it early in a quick blend or as a late finishing scatter so that sweet, floral basil stays bright instead of fading under heavy heat.

Best Uses

wilt-and-stir quick basil sauces that stay green and fragrant
Greek-style pesto where the leaves stay buoyant instead of turning stringy
fresh chopping for finishing—scatter over beans, grilled fish, or warm grains right before serving
blended into vinaigrettes or yogurt sauces for a cooling herb hit

Flavor Profile

classic sweet-basil perfume bright, clean aromatic lift tender, velvety leaves with a crisp bite

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil lemon parmesan feta mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (Greek Columnar) and how can I control it?

A frequent problem is downy mildew (often spotted as yellow patches on leaf tops with gray-purple growth underneath), especially when leaves stay wet overnight. Remove infected leaves early, water at the soil line (not over the foliage), and improve airflow by thinning plants so leaves aren’t touching. If it’s spreading quickly, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for basil/downy mildew and treat at the first signs.

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

During active growth (after it’s established and before harvest), keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged—about 1 inch (2–3 cm) of water per week, split into 1–3 deep waterings. Check the top 1 inch of soil; water when it feels just barely dry on the surface. In containers, basil often needs more frequent checks (typically every 1–3 days in warm weather).

How do I tell when Greek Columnar basil is ready to harvest?

Start harvesting around 60 days when plants have a sturdy, upright habit and produce lots of healthy side shoots along the stem. Harvest when leaves are well-sized (generally before flowering); pinch or cut just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching. For best flavor, pick in the morning and avoid removing more than about one-third of the plant at any single time.