Minette

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

Fragrant as a sunlit herb garden—Minette basil releases a vivid, sweet-green perfume with a cool, peppery lift that lingers on the palate.

Its compact bush habit forms dense, tender leaves with a velvety, medium-green surface and a crisp, succulent bite; leaves are especially prized for their aromatic intensity. Grow Minette for fresh garnishing and bold flavor in sauces and pesto, or for drying and infusing oils and vinegars to capture that bright basil character all season long.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Bush

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Minette 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	May 18th	Aug 10th	Sep 24th – Jul 15th
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	Continuous Production
Zone 10b	Continuous Production
Zone 11a	Continuous Production
Zone 11b	Continuous Production
Zone 12a	Continuous Production
Zone 12b	Continuous Production
Zone 13a	Continuous Production
Zone 13b	Continuous Production

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

Minette basil is built for scent-forward eating: tear or chiffonade it and let the volatile oils hit right at the end. With its cool peppery lift and crisp succulence, it stands up in pesto and quick finishing sauces without turning muddy—especially when you pull the heat before blending or stirring it in.

Best Uses

tear-fresh garnishes that hold their character on hot plates
blitzed pesto with a bright, punchy green aroma
stir-through finishing in sauces and soups off-heat
drying and steeping for basil-infused oils and vinegars

Flavor Profile

sweet-green basil aroma cool, peppery lift on the finish tender, crisp succulent leaves fragrant, volatile oils that perfume quickly

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil parmesan mozzarella white beans

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum), and how can I treat it at home?

Basil commonly develops downy mildew in warm, humid weather, showing yellow patches on upper leaves and a grayish-purple growth underneath. Remove and discard infected leaves right away, improve airflow with wider spacing, and water only at the soil line (never overhead). If it keeps spreading, use a labeled organic fungicide such as copper or potassium bicarbonate according to the label’s timing and reapplication intervals.

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

During active leaf growth, keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for the top 1 inch to dry slightly between waterings. Typically this means watering about 1–2 times per week depending on heat, with more frequent watering during hot spells. Use well-draining soil so roots don’t sit in soggy conditions, which increases the risk of root issues and mildew.

How do I know when Minette basil (Ocimum basilicum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants reach about 6–8 inches tall and have several sets of mature leaves, which is often around 45 days. Pick in the morning, snipping above a leaf pair to encourage new branching; avoid removing more than about one-third of the plant at a time. If it starts forming flower buds, harvest frequently because leaf quality declines as Ocimum basilicum shifts toward flowering.