Serata

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Fragrant as a sunlit garden path, Serata Italian Basil unfurls with a lush, upright habit and richly aromatic leaves that perfume the air with sweet, green-citrus lift.

The foliage is tender and velvety, with a smooth, medium-to-large leaf that holds its character beautifully from first harvest through steady picking. Grow Serata for bold, fresh flavor in classic pesto and herb-forward sauces, or for bright, fragrant finishing—its perfume shines whether used fresh or gently warmed.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 60 DaysHabit: Upright

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

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Apr 4th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Jun 13th
Harvest Begins	Aug 12th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

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

Serata’s leaves carry a sweet green-citrus perfume that’s most powerful when you keep heat low—think off-heat infusion or fast blitzing—so the aroma doesn’t go dull. It’s tender enough to disappear into pesto while still tasting unmistakably basil-forward against garlic, olive oil, and cheese.

Best Uses

blitz-style pesto where the leaves stay vivid and aromatic
warm-then-finish herb sauce (off-heat infusion) for a bright, perfumed top note
tear-and-fold into mozzarella/tomato salads to keep texture airy
quick-chiffonade garnish for soups and roast chicken just before serving

Flavor Profile

sweet, green-citrus aromatics tender, velvety leaf with clean herbal bite fragrant, almost perfumed lift that stays forward

Kitchen Pairings

Parmigiano-Reggiano extra-virgin olive oil garlic mozzarella lemon zest black pepper

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Ocimum basilicum (basil) and what can I do about it?

Basil (Ocimum basilicum, Lamiaceae) is frequently hit by downy mildew, which shows as yellow patches on top leaves and a gray-purple fuzzy growth under leaves, often after cool, humid weather. Remove infected leaves immediately and improve airflow by spacing plants and watering at the soil line (not on leaves). If it keeps spreading, switch to a labeled fungicide for downy mildew on basil and avoid re-wetting foliage until conditions dry out.

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

During active growth, keep soil evenly moist but never waterlogged—aim for a top 1 inch of soil to dry slightly before watering again. In warm weather with full sun, this often means watering about every 2–3 days, but adjust so water soaks the root zone rather than just wetting the surface. Mulch lightly (without covering stems) to stabilize moisture and reduce stress that can trigger leaf drop and disease.

How do I know when Ocimum basilicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are about 50–60 days from sowing and have a well-developed stem with multiple sets of leaves (typically just before flowering). Pinch or cut the top 2–4 inches, taking growth above a leaf pair to encourage branching, and avoid stripping more than about one-third of the plant at once. For best flavor, harvest on a dry morning and keep pinching regularly so the plant stays leafy.