{"product_id":"sweet-basil","title":"Sweet Basil","description":"\u003ch1\u003eDescription\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body-text\"\u003eOne of our most popular seeds Sweet Basil is \u003cspan\u003echaracterised as a Mediterranean or European-type basil, the taste is sweet, floral and delicate, with slightly minty notes, an anise-like aroma and clove-like undertones. Use leaves fresh or dried. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body-text\"\u003eThe plant is known for its glossy leaves, spikes of white flowers. \u003cspan\u003eThe basil plant is a part of the mint family and is scientifically known as \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eOcimum\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003ebasilicum.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body-text\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs well as adding delicious flavours to your food, Sweet Basil can also be \u003cstrong\u003egreatly beneficial to your plants and soil\u003c\/strong\u003e, even more reason to add it to your garden!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body-text\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1 class=\"body-text\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBenefits\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompanion Planting\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePlanting basil as a companion plant with other produce helps you get bug-free vegetables and fruits as it\u003cstrong\u003e repels insects\u003c\/strong\u003e such as aphids, beetles, tomato hornworms, mosquitoes and white flies.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe plants which can benefit from simply being alongside basil are tomatoes, beans, beets, cabbage, asparagus, chilli and bell peppers, eggplants, potatoes, asparagus, oregano and even marigolds.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEasy To Grow From Seed\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA great benefit to growing basil is that the plant is quite \u003cstrong\u003ehardy\u003c\/strong\u003e and is \u003cstrong\u003eeasy to grow\u003c\/strong\u003e from seed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasil likes warm soil and can't tolerate frost, so it is best planted in early spring.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBasil Can Be Grown In A Pot\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHerbs are known to not grow well in pots, however basil actually thrives quite well when planted alone.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasil will be happy grown on a sunny windowsill and moved outside in warmer weather.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBasil Attracts Beneficial Insects\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasil flowers are beneficial for your garden as they \u003cstrong\u003eattract beneficial insects\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eand pollinators\u003c\/strong\u003e like bees, that especially love basil flowers and that you definitely want to have as a part of your garden.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBasil Is A Great Insect Repellent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDue to its pungent smell, basil is \u003cstrong\u003egreat for repelling bugs\u003c\/strong\u003e such as tomato hornworms, flies, aphids, mosquito's and asparagus beetles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003eHow To Use\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBasil is a hardy plant that flourishes under the following conditions:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSeason\u003c\/strong\u003e: Spring - basil\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e seeds sprout best when the soil is warm.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature\u003c\/strong\u003e: 20\u003cspan\u003e-30°C\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGerminate \u003c\/strong\u003e7-10 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDepth:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 10 mm\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpacing:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e 30 x 30 cm\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHarvest\u003c\/strong\u003e: 21 - 28 days\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHeight\u003c\/strong\u003e: 30 - 60 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"productinfo\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlowering Season:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eSummer\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"productinfo\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExposure\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Fairly sunny, 3-4 hours of sun\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIdeal Growing Environment:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLike most plants, basil needs good drainage – stagnant water around basil will kill it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eConsistent watering, avoid water logging, allow soil to dry slightly between waterings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLight feedings with a balanced fertiliser every 4-6 weeks.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasil is sensitive to the cold and prefers warm conditions.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBasil will grow faster if it is regularly harvested.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMulch basil plants to retain moisture.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRegular pruning to encourage bushy growth and delay flowering.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOnce basil plants bloom into flowers the leaves begin to lose their flavour. Cut off the flowers as they appear and the leaves will get their flavour back within a few days.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIntercropping\u003c\/strong\u003e: Pair with \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/tags\/?tag=Tomatoes\" title=\"Tomato Options\"\u003etomatoes\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/tags\/?tag=Capsicums\" title=\"Capsicum Options\"\u003ecapsicums\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/broccoli-green-sprouting\" title=\"Broccoli\"\u003ebroccoli\u003c\/a\u003e, or \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/strawberry-milan-f1\" title=\"Strawberry Milan F1\"\u003estrawberries\u003c\/a\u003e to deter pests.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCrop Rotation\u003c\/strong\u003e: Use as companions or rotate after heavy feeders. Perennials (\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/rosemary-simplyherbs\" title=\"Rosemary\"\u003erosemary\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/thyme-winter\" title=\"Winter Thyme\"\u003ethyme\u003c\/a\u003e, \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/greenhouston.co.za\/products\/lavender-blue-spear\" title=\"Lavender Blue Spear\"\u003elavender\u003c\/a\u003e) stay in place longer.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSoil Rejuvenation\u003c\/strong\u003e: Enhance soil microbes; use as borders between cycles.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eFor placement of large orders contact us at: office@greenhouston.co.za \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"body-text\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Green Houston","offers":[{"title":"0.1g (54 Seeds)","offer_id":39644339667097,"sku":"","price":14.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"0.4g (216 Seeds)","offer_id":39644339699865,"sku":"","price":44.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0344\/9087\/6044\/products\/basil3.png?v=1596743390","url":"https:\/\/greenwares.myshopify.com\/products\/sweet-basil","provider":"Green Houston","version":"1.0","type":"link"}