Osmin Purple

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

A velvet cascade of deep purple leaves with a faint, peppery sweetness—Osmin Purple basil perfumes the garden with an unmistakably aromatic lift.

Leaves are tender and richly textured, holding their color beautifully as plants mature to a lush, upright form. Ideal for fresh garnishing, flavorful sauces, and striking purple accents that make every tomato pairing look as vibrant as it smells.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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

Osmin Purple basil is all about that peppery-sweet perfume—use it late so the delicate, velvet-textured leaves don’t turn bitter. It’s especially good when you want an aromatic lift and a violet accent that plays nicely against creamy dairy and sharp citrus.

Best Uses

tear-and-stuff finishing on hot pasta so the leaves stay tender
purple basil pesto where its aroma stays front and center
quick herb oil or vinegar infusion for cocktails and savory dressings
garnish for slicing tomatoes and mozzarella to keep the color vivid

Flavor Profile

faint peppery snap peppery-sweet herbal aroma tender leaf with a velvety, non-stringy bite lingering cool, slightly dark finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic olive oil lemon parmesan mozzarella capers

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (basil) like Osmin Purple, and how do I control it?

Basil is prone to downy mildew (often showing yellowing patches on leaves with a gray-purple growth underside) and it spreads quickly in cool, humid weather. Remove and discard infected leaves early, improve airflow, and water at the soil line instead of overhead. If problems persist, switch to a fresh planting area and avoid re-watering the same bed until the surface dries between waterings.

How often should I water Osmin Purple basil during its main growth phase, and what soil moisture level should I aim for?

Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged from when plants are established until harvest, since basil roots are shallow and dry out fast in full sun. Water deeply whenever the top 1 inch of soil feels dry, typically every 2–4 days in warm weather (less in cool or rainy periods). Mulch lightly if needed, and stop letting leaves stay wet overnight to reduce mildew risk.

How can I tell when Osmin Purple basil is ready to harvest?

Start harvesting around 50–60 days after sowing when plants are bushy with multiple leaf pairs and the foliage is fully colored. Pick by snipping just above a pair of leaves to encourage new branching, and harvest regularly so plants don’t rush into flowering. Once flower buds form, leaf quality drops—so harvest before they open and continue through the first flush of growth.