Grow generous handfuls of fragrant leaves with Pesto Italian Large Leaf Basil. Broad green leaves can reach up to approximately 4 inches long, making this heirloom a rewarding choice for fresh pesto and everyday Italian-inspired cooking. Its sweet, mild basil flavor works beautifully with tomatoes, pasta, mozzarella, and olive oil.

Imagine harvesting a bowl of fresh leaves and turning them into a bright green sauce for dinner. Regular pinching encourages bushy growth and a steady supply of leaves under suitable warm-season conditions. Each packet contains 1000 non-GMO, open-pollinated heirloom seeds.

Germination Rate: 85%. Test Date: 8/25. OSI.

Culinary Uses

• Fresh pesto: Blend washed leaves with nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil for a sauce to use promptly or freeze.
• Caprese salads: Layer whole leaves with ripe tomatoes and mozzarella, or tear leaves over the finished salad.
• Pizza: Add fresh basil after baking to preserve its aroma and tender texture.
• Pasta and sauces: Stir torn leaves into finished pasta, tomato sauces, or risotto rather than simmering them for a long time.
• Dressings: Chop leaves into freshly prepared vinaigrette. Do not store homemade herb-in-oil mixtures at room temperature.
• Preserving: Freeze pesto in small portions for later meals. Dried basil has a different flavor and texture from fresh leaves.

Medicinal Uses

Basil has a history of traditional herbal use, but this product is offered as a culinary herb, not a treatment for medical conditions. Avoid relying on unsupported anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, or digestive-health claims. Consult a qualified health professional before using concentrated herbal preparations.

Growing Directions

• Start in warmth: Start indoors about four to six weeks before your last frost or direct sow after frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Provide strong light for indoor seedlings.
• Harden seedlings: Gradually acclimate indoor-grown plants to outdoor light and wind before transplanting.
• Choose full sun: Provide approximately six to eight hours of light daily. Some afternoon shade may help during intense heat.
• Prepare soil: Use fertile, well-drained soil with finished compost as needed. Containers require drainage holes and suitable potting mix.
• Allow branching room: Follow packet sowing-depth directions and space established plants approximately 12 to 18 inches apart.
• Water at the base: Keep soil evenly moist without saturating roots, and check containers frequently during hot weather.
• Feed moderately: Follow fertilizer label directions and soil needs rather than automatically feeding heavily.
• Pinch regularly: Harvest above a leaf pair once plants are established, leaving enough foliage for recovery. Pinching encourages branching.
• Manage flower buds: Remove developing buds when leaf production is the priority. Leave selected flowers if attempting seed saving.
• Protect from frost: Harvest before damaging cold and follow local warm-season planting guidance. Saved seed requires mature dry seed heads and appropriate isolation from compatible basil varieties.

Why Choose David's Garden Seeds®?

• Veteran-Owned: Supplying premium seeds since 2009.
• GO TEXAN Certified: Supporting local agriculture and communities.
• Integrity Pledge: David's Garden Seeds has taken the Seed Integrity Pledge.
• Great Customer Service: David answers all customer service questions, usually within a few minutes.

Order Italian Large Leaf Pesto Basil Seeds Today

Grow broad aromatic leaves for fresh pesto and everyday meals with 1000 heirloom basil seeds.

Important Disclaimer

• Growing results: Leaf size, yield, and flavor vary with weather, soil, and care. Basil is frost-sensitive.
• Planting seeds: Culinary uses refer to harvested leaves, not the contents of the planting-seed packet.
• Seed storage: Store unused seeds in a cool, dry, dark place protected from moisture and temperature swings.
• Regional timing: Follow local frost dates and warm-season planting guidance.
• Herbal information: Traditional-use information is educational and is not a diagnosis or treatment recommendation.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something delicious. Grow with David's Garden Seeds®.

Classic Italian Large Leaf Basil Pesto

Use freshly harvested basil leaves, not planting seeds. Makes approximately 1 cup, enough for about 4 servings of pasta. Preparation: about 15 minutes. No cooking required.

Ingredients

• 2 packed cups fresh harvested Italian Large Leaf basil leaves, washed and dried
• 1/3 cup pine nuts
• 1/2 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 garlic cloves, peeled
• 1/2 cup olive oil, plus a little more only if needed for texture
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, optional
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Wash basil under running water and dry thoroughly. Remove tough stems and measure the leaves loosely packed into the cups.
2. Pulse pine nuts and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped.
3. Add basil, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and optional lemon juice. Pulse until chopped, scraping down the bowl as needed.
4. With the processor running as its instructions allow, gradually add olive oil until the mixture forms a spoonable sauce. Avoid prolonged processing that warms the pesto.
5. Taste and adjust seasoning. Toss with cooked pasta off the heat, thinning with a little pasta cooking water, or serve over vegetables and sandwiches.

Serving and Storage Tips

• Allergens: This recipe contains pine nuts and milk from Parmesan. Check ingredient labels and accommodate individual allergies.
• Keep refrigerated: Fresh garlic and herbs in oil must not be stored at room temperature. Refrigerate promptly and use within 3 to 4 days, or freeze promptly in small portions.
• Not a canning recipe: This pesto is not intended for shelf-stable canning. Freezing is the better option for longer storage.