Basil 'Sweet Italian'

• Warm weather fragrant herb that's fantastic in Italian dishes
  
• Easy to grow in summer
• Ideal for growing in containers or raised beds as these have good drainage

Plant these Ocimum basilicum (Sweet Basil) herb plants in pots in your greenhouse to give them a great start to life.

Essential for Italian dishes, including making your own pesto; these plants are ideal for homemade pesto as you will need plenty of leaves.

Basil is a highly decorative, aromatic herb whether grown on the windowsill or outside during summer.

To encourage plant growth, prune to above the second set of leaves. This encourages the plants to start branching, resulting in more leaves for harvest. Every time a branch has 6 to 8 leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves. After about 6 weeks, pinch off the centre shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.

Your Basil plants will require well-drained soil and lots of suns to flourish. They grow to a height of 12 inches (30cm).

Tip: If the weather is going to be cold or if a sudden frost is imminent, be sure to harvest your basil beforehand, as the cold temperatures will destroy your plants.