Piccolino Basil

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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

Fragrant as a warm summer breeze, Piccolino Basil forms a dense, compact mound of small leaves that release a bright, sweet-anise lift with every touch.

The foliage is tender and finely textured—succulent enough for fresh use, yet substantial for drying or bundling—so your harvest stays lush and aromatic. Grow Piccolino Basil for bold leaf flavor in sauces, finishing oils, and herb-forward garnishes, or to brighten salads and quick tosses with its signature perfume.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Bush

Botanical illustration of Piccolino Basil

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

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

Piccolino basil’s dense, tender leaves make it ideal for high-aroma applications—bruise it and it practically fogs the kitchen with sweet-anise perfume. It stays delicate without turning bitter, so you can use it fresh as a last move, or lean on it in pesto and finishing oils where its small-leaf punch holds up.

Best Uses

tear-and-fold into pesto for a fragrant, small-leaf bite
bruise into finishing oil or melted butter and dress warm vegetables at the last second
chiffonade over salads and caprese-style plates so it doesn’t drown the rest
dry or bundle for intense, perfumed seasoning in winter soups

Flavor Profile

bright sweet-anise top note succulent, tender small-leaf texture clean basil aromatics with a gentle peppery finish

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon olive oil parmesan mozzarella white beans

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease problem is most likely on Ocimum basilicum (Piccolino basil), and what should I do?

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) commonly gets downy mildew, which shows as yellow patches on the upper leaf surface with a gray-purple growth underside. Improve airflow (space plants, avoid crowding) and water at the soil line so foliage stays dry; remove and discard infected leaves immediately. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for basil downy mildew and repeat per the label schedule.

How often should I water Piccolino basil during its main growing phase?

During the main growth period (about weeks 3–8), keep the soil consistently lightly moist—water when the top 1 inch feels dry. Basil in full sun dries quickly, so check daily in warm weather and water deeply to wet the root zone rather than frequent light sprinkles. Avoid waterlogged soil, which can encourage root stress and disease—ensure pots/drains or beds are well drained.

How can I tell when Ocimum basilicum (Piccolino basil) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 60 days when plants are well-leafed and have sturdy stems, typically once they have several sets of true leaves. Pick in the morning and take the top 2–4 inches by snipping just above a leaf pair to trigger branching. Continue harvesting regularly; leaves should be firm and fragrant, and you should avoid letting plants flower if you want maximum tender leaf production.