Napoletano

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

Aromatic as a sunlit piazza—Napoletano basil unfurls with a rich, sweet-clove fragrance and a distinctly savory, Italian depth.

Its leaves are tender and velvety, medium-sized with a gently cupped, softly serrated edge, forming lush, upright clumps that stay productive through the cool-season stretch. Ideal for classic Italian-style pesto and bright fresh leaf use, Napoletano also shines when stirred into sauces and finished with a fragrant flourish.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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Napoletano 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	Surface
Germination Temp (°F)	75
Min Soil Temp (°F)	60
Min Night Temp (°F)	50
Harden Off (days)	10

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Napoletano basil is built for aroma-first cooking: its sweet-clove perfume translates straight into pesto and into off-heat sauce finishing where the velvety leaves don’t go bitter. Use it generously, but add it late—let the fragrance hit at the moment you serve.

Best Uses

classic Italian pesto where the leaves stay supple and fragrant
chiffonade onto warm pasta with butter/olive oil so it blooms instead of wilting
stirring into finished sauces (off-heat) for an aromatic lift
bright fresh-leaf topping on mozzarella, olive oil, and flaky salt

Flavor Profile

sweet-clove aroma savory, lightly peppery bite tender velvety leaves clean herbal finish with kitchen-ready fragrance

Kitchen Pairings

Parmigiano-Reggiano Pecorino Romano extra-virgin olive oil garlic lemon zest mozzarella

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s a common pest or disease for Ocimum basilicum (Napoletano basil) and how do I treat it?

Basil commonly develops downy mildew (often showing as yellow patches with gray-purple growth on the underside of leaves), especially in cool, humid weather or when foliage stays wet. Remove and discard infected leaves, improve airflow, and water at the soil level so the leaves dry quickly; avoid overhead watering. If it keeps spreading, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for downy mildew on basil and follow the label’s timing and safety intervals.

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

During active growth, keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—water when the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) of soil feels dry. Aim for deep watering that wets the root zone, then let excess water drain so the plant doesn’t sit in soggy soil. Consistent moisture helps basil avoid leaf drop and bitterness as temperatures rise.

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

Harvest about 60 days from sowing/transplanting when plants have a full, bushy shape and reach roughly 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) tall. Start by pinching or cutting just above a pair of healthy leaves (or a node) to encourage branching. For best flavor, pick leaves before flowering; once flower buds form, leaf quality declines.