Kapoor Tulsi

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Fragrant as a warm breeze over fresh leaves, Kapoor Tulsi fills the garden with a distinctly aromatic presence—cool, minty, and softly peppered with a resinous, almost floral lift.

Leaves are tender yet substantial, forming lush, upright growth that’s ideal for gathering again and again through the season. Grow Kapoor Tulsi for its signature holy-basil character in herbal infusions and aromatic blends, where its bright, clean fragrance shines most beautifully.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 70 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 20th
Harvest Begins	Aug 29th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	70
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

Kapoor Tulsi tastes like mint put on a peppered incense burner—clean and cooling at first, then a resinous, almost floral halo follows. Use it with heat only briefly (steep, toss, blend) so the aromatic lift stays bright and doesn’t flatten into cooked herb bitterness.

Best Uses

fresh torn-leaf topping for warm rice and lentils
steeped infusion for fragrant tea or a light syrup
quick-blended pesto-style sauce for tossing with pasta or gnocchi
herb-forward chutney where it stays bright instead of turning bitter

Flavor Profile

cool, minty aromatics softly peppered bite resinous, subtly floral lift tender-leaf herbaceous snap

Kitchen Pairings

lime garlic ginger coconut milk honey chili

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Ocimum tenuiflorum (Kapoor tulsi), and what should I do?

A frequent issue is downy mildew (often seen as yellowing patches on leaves with a fuzzy growth on the underside) during humid weather. Remove and discard infected leaves early, avoid wetting the foliage, and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t touch. If the problem spreads, treat with a labeled fungicide for downy mildew on edible herbs and continue monitoring for new spots.

How often should I water Kapoor tulsi during the main growing phase?

Water to keep the top 1–2 inches of soil lightly moist, then let the soil surface dry slightly before watering again—this herb dislikes soggy roots. In hot weather, that typically means about 1–2 deep waterings per week, more often if your soil is sandy. Check by finger depth; if the soil 1 inch down feels wet, wait a day or two before watering.

How can I tell when Kapoor tulsi is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are about 60–70 days old and have formed multiple well-developed sets of leaves; you’ll usually see vigorous new growth at the tips. For best flavor, pick the top 2–4 inches and prune just above a leaf pair to encourage branching, rather than harvesting single leaves only. Continue harvesting regularly—frequent light harvests help keep Ocimum tenuiflorum producing fresh shoots instead of flowering too early.