Italian Large Leaf

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Italian Large Leaf to a garden.

Fragrant as a warm summer breeze, Italian Large Leaf basil fills the garden with a lush, sweet-anise lift and a distinctly rounded, green flavor.

Leaves are broad and tender with a velvety, succulent texture—ideal for generous handfuls of fresh use and for bold, aromatic sauces that cling with ease. Grow Italian Large Leaf for its fast, satisfying 50-day turnaround and its showy, kitchen-garden presence from first harvest to the season’s peak.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 50 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Italian Large Leaf

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

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	50
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

Italian Large Leaf basil is built for big handfuls: broad, tender leaves stay plush instead of turning gritty, and their sweet-anise edge blooms when you bruise them with salt and oil. Use it late—its aroma stays vivid when you finish, spoon, and toss rather than boil.

Best Uses

hand-torn basil for caprese-style layering and quick dressed salads
large-leaf pesto where the sauce stays loose and fragrant
blitzed basil into olive oil for steak/chicken finishing
simmer-then-stir basil into late-stage tomato-free sauces for a clean aromatic lift

Flavor Profile

sweet-anise perfume rounded green, aromatic basil flavor velvety, tender leaf texture clings to oil and thick sauces

Kitchen Pairings

extra-virgin olive oil garlic Parmesan mozzarella lemon white beans

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common basil (Ocimum basilicum) disease or pest, and how do I fix it?

Fungal downy mildew is one of the most common problems in basil, showing as yellow patches on the top of leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside. Remove infected leaves immediately, improve airflow by spacing plants, and avoid wetting foliage when you water. If mildew keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide suitable for edible herbs and follow the timing on the label.

How often should I water Italian Large Leaf basil during the main growing phase?

During active growth (roughly the first 4–6 weeks), keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—water when the top 1 inch of soil feels dry. Aim for deep watering at the base so excess moisture doesn’t linger on the leaves. In hot weather you may need watering every 1–2 days, while cooler periods may stretch to every 3–4 days.

How can I tell when Italian Large Leaf basil (Ocimum basilicum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are about 8–12 inches tall and the leaves are fully sized, typically around 50 days to maturity. Pick the top sets of leaves and pinch above a leaf pair to encourage branching; you should see new side shoots shortly after. Start harvesting in the morning for best leaf quality, and continue regular picking to delay flowering.