Herb Basil Genovese represents the gold standard for culinary basil, delivering the intense, sweet aromatics and substantial leaf size that define authentic Mediterranean and Italian cooking. This premium heirloom variety produces vigorous, tall plants with large, deeply fragrant leaves — the essential ingredient for traditional pesto, Caprese salads, and complex savory sauces. Genovese thrives in warm, sunny conditions where it establishes robust growth and maintains continuous leaf production throughout the growing season. Whether you’re preserving basil for winter or harvesting fresh leaves all summer long, Genovese delivers the quality and abundance that serious cooks and home gardeners demand.

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

Why Choose Basil Genovese?

• The Gold Standard for Pesto: The definitive Italian culinary basil — large, sweet, intensely aromatic leaves prized across Mediterranean cooking traditions for centuries.
• Prolific Leaf Producer: Vigorous, tall plants that respond well to regular pinching, producing continuous harvests of large leaves throughout the season.
• Heirloom Quality: Open-pollinated and passed down for at least 75 years — save seeds year after year for reliable, consistent results.
• Non-GMO: DNA structure never altered from natural traditional breeding methods.
• Easy to Grow: Minimal special care required; forgiving of small mistakes and thrives with basic gardening tools and common sense.
• Versatile Culinary Herb: Essential for pesto, pizza, pasta, Caprese salad, soups, and herb-infused oils and vinegars.

Planting Tips for Success

• Sunlight: Full sun — at least 6–8 hours daily. Basil needs warmth and light to develop its signature aroma and flavor.
• Soil: Rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0. Amend with compost for best results.
• Planting: Start indoors 4–6 weeks before last frost date, or direct sow outdoors once soil reaches 60°F+. Do not transplant until nighttime temps are consistently above 50°F.
• Spacing: Space plants 12–18 inches apart to ensure good air circulation and bushy growth.
• Watering: Water at the base; avoid wetting leaves to prevent fungal issues. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.
• Fertilizing: Feed lightly with a balanced fertilizer monthly. Over-fertilizing reduces essential oil concentration and flavor intensity.
• Support: No staking needed; regular pinching of flower buds keeps plants bushy and focused on leaf production.
• Harvesting: Begin harvesting when plants reach 6–8 inches. Always pinch from the top, above a leaf node. Remove flower buds immediately to extend the harvest season and prevent bitterness.

Why Choose David’s Garden Seeds®?

• Veteran-Owned: Supplying premium seeds since 2009.
• GO TEXAN Certified: Supporting local agriculture and communities.
• Integrity Pledge: We pledge to sell only non-GMO, open-pollinated seeds. Read our Safe Seed Integrity Pledge.
• Vegetable Seed License: All seeds sold under our standard Vegetable Seed License.

Cooking Methods & Uses

• Classic Pesto: Blend fresh Genovese leaves with pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil for authentic traditional pesto genovese.
• Caprese Salad: Layer fresh leaves with ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
• Pizza & Pasta: Tear leaves and add fresh after cooking to preserve full aromatic intensity on Neapolitan-style pizzas and pasta dishes.
• Herb Oils & Vinegars: Steep in warm olive oil or white wine vinegar to create fragrant culinary infusions.
• Soups & Sauces: Add fresh leaves at the end of cooking to brighten tomato sauces, minestrone, and ratatouille.
• Preserving: Freeze whole leaves in olive oil in ice cube trays, or dehydrate for dried basil to use through winter.

Order Genovese Basil Seeds Today!

Add this gold-standard Italian heirloom basil to your herb garden and enjoy abundant, fragrant leaves all season long.

Nutritional Information

(Applies to harvested basil leaves, not seeds. Per 2 tablespoons (5g) fresh.)

• Calories: 1
• Vitamin K: 22% Daily Value
• Vitamin A: 4% Daily Value
• Manganese: 3% Daily Value
• Contains eugenol, linalool, and citral — the primary essential oils responsible for Genovese basil’s signature sweet, clove-like aroma
• Rich in antioxidants including orientin and vicenin

Important Disclosures

• Variety Disclaimer: Growing results vary by region, climate, and gardener practice. Genovese basil is frost-sensitive — protect from any temperatures below 50°F.
• Seed Storage: Store seeds in a cool, dry location. Properly stored seeds maintain viability for 4–5 years.
• Planting Zones: Grown as a warm-season annual in all USDA zones. Best in Zones 9–11 as a short-lived perennial; treated as an annual in Zones 3–8.

Grow something beautiful. Grow something fragrant. Grow with David’s Garden Seeds®.