Sweet Lemon Dan

Family: Lamiaceae Herb

Planting Schedule

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A bright, sunlit burst of lemon fragrance rises from Sweet Lemon Dan basil—zesty and aromatic, with a sweet herbal finish that feels almost candied.

The leaves form a lush, tender texture with a smooth, medium-green surface, ideal for fresh use and for flavoring sauces and finishing touches where its citrus lift can shine. Grow it for a fragrant harvest that turns everyday meals into something vivid and garden-fresh.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 65 DaysHabit: Upright

Botanical illustration of Sweet Lemon Dan

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Sweet Lemon Dan 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	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Apr 13th	Jul 20th	Sep 23rd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 13th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 13th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 7th	Jul 14th	Sep 17th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 3rd	Jul 10th	Sep 13th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 1st	Jul 8th	Sep 11th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Mar 27th	Jul 3rd	Sep 6th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Mar 23rd	Jun 29th	Sep 2nd – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Mar 20th	Jun 26th	Aug 30th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 14th	Jun 20th	Aug 24th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 9th	Jun 15th	Aug 19th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Feb 27th	Jun 5th	Aug 9th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Feb 18th	May 27th	Jul 31st – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 9th	May 18th	Jul 22nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Jan 23rd	May 1st	Jul 5th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Dec 29th	Apr 6th	Jun 10th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Dec 5th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	65
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

This lemon basil is all about volatile perfume—tear it in at the end so the citrus lift stays vivid, not muted. Its sweet, almost candied herbal note plays beautifully against fat (butter/olive oil) and delicate proteins, where the leaves can stay tender and fragrant.

Best Uses

torn-leaf garnish on hot dishes to perfume at the last second
quick blitz into herb butter or softened cream cheese for a citrus-forward spread
stirred into light sauces (pan drippings, quick creams) where the fragrance stays bright
steeped briefly for a lemony herbal infusion in syrups or vinaigrettes

Flavor Profile

sharp lemony aroma sweet-herbal finish tender, velvety leaf texture

Kitchen Pairings

olive oil garlic butter white fish chicken goat cheese

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often affects Ocimum basilicum (sweet lemon basil), and how do I treat it?

Basil commonly suffers from downy mildew (often showing yellow patches on leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside) and from aphids that cluster on tender tips. Remove infected leaves early and improve airflow by spacing plants; avoid wetting foliage when watering. For aphids, rinse clusters off with a strong spray of water, then apply insecticidal soap only on affected plants and re-check every 2–3 days.

How often should I water sweet lemon basil during its main growth phase?

During active growth, keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy—aim for a wet-from-below feel at the root zone while the top 1 inch dries slightly between waterings. In warm weather, this is often about every 2–3 days for outdoor plants, but adjust based on how quickly the top inch dries. Water at the soil line and stop watering if leaves start staying limp or the stems feel mushy, which can lead to rot.

How can I tell when Ocimum basilicum is ready to harvest?

Harvest when plants are at least 6–8 inches tall and have developed several pairs of true leaves (typically around 55–65 days). Take cuts just above a pair of leaves to encourage branching, and harvest regularly to prevent early flowering and to keep stems tender. If flower buds form, pinch them out or harvest immediately for the best leaf quality.