Basil – Cinnamon

Description

Ocimum basilicum

The unforgettable sweet cinnamon scent makes it a wonderful addition to summer bouquets. One of the most fragrant, easy to grow and abundant summer foliage plants, ‘Cinnamon’ basil is a lovely tall variety featuring dark purple/lavender flowers& veining atop green leaves and chocolate/violet coloured stems. Beautiful in flower bouquets, makes a great tea & addition to savoury salads. Its cinnamon notes make it great in fruit salads, which also benefit from the basil part of its flavour profile. Sweet basil sometimes shows up in fruit salads containing watermelon or strawberries and cinnamon basil is a perfect fit for those dishes. Use it in pumpkin pies and fruit pies as a substitute for cinnamon.

Recommended by Erin at Floret Flowers

SOWING: Direct seed (recommended): Plant seeds 1/4″ deep, 2-3 seeds per inch, in rows 18″ apart. Firm the soil over the seeds. Germination: 5-10 days at 65-70°F (18-21°C) 65 days to maturity

Thinning is not necessary, but a final spacing of 4-8″ apart produces healthy, full plants. Transplant: Sow indoors 6 weeks prior to setting out. (soil blocks work well) Plant 1/4″ deep and keep at 70°F (21°C) for best germination. Transplant to the field when seedlings have 3-4 sets of leaves, spacing at 4-8″ apart in rows 18″ apart. Sun.Moderately rich, moist soil. Basil is not drought tolerant and can be damaged by heat stress. Regular moisture throughout the growing season helps to ensure a good crop.

Begin light harvesting after plants have become established. It is best done in the early morning when the temperature is cooler and the leaves are less likely to wilt. A full harvest should be completed just before the plants start to flower. Cut the entire plant 4-6″ above the ground to promote a second growth. Leaves are easily bruised when picking, so handle carefully. Do not store at a temperature less than 50°F (10°C).

For cut flower bouquets: Harvest when stems begin to toughen and firm or as soon as flowers begin to form. Cut foliage is prone to wilting in the heat, so harvest during the coolest part of the day and place directly into water to rest a few hours before arranging. Stems will last 7-10 days, often rooting in the vase.

Ht. 26–30″, Annual.

approx 100 seeds