Siam Queen Thai Basil

The Siam Queen Thai Basil is the 1997 All-America Selections winner. The purple stems, large dark green leaves, and pink-violet flowers make for a lovely basil with a tangy flavor, plus a spicy hint of licorice. Siam Queen Thai Basil plants are compact, great for containers and have a showy ornamental value too. An early maturing variety. 100 seeds     PLANTING Ocimum basilicum Annual Germination:  5-10 days Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 65-70ºF Seed Planting Depth:  Sow on the surface and lightly cover Starting Indoors:  Start indoors 4-8 weeks before the last frost. Provide 65-70ºF soil temperatures. Transplant after the last frost, 8-12" apart.  Sowing Outdoors:  After the last frost, sow a few seeds every 2-4”. Thin to the strongest seedling, 8-12" apart. Sow heavily seeded rows and use the baby greens earlier in the season. Sow again in mid-summer for later harvests. Growth Habit: Upright, branching Height and Width: 10-12” x 12-18” Spacing:  8-12” apart    Light Needs: Full sun  Soil Needs: Fertile, moist, well-drained  Harvest: Start when the plants are 6-8”, picking leaves as needed. Harvest often to keep the plant producing new leaves. Freeze or dry to preserve  Uses: Culinary and medicinal, containers, flowers attract pollinators and beneficials Care: Siam Queen Thai Basile needs fertile soil, amended with compost and/or added organic fertilizer. Basil does not like to dry out, keep well watered for optimum growth, mulching will help retain moisture.  Tips: Pinch seedlings back to encourage branching and increase leaf production. Pinching off the flowers helps the plant continue producing leaves. We like to pinch off flowers on some plants and leave flowers on others for the pollinators. Flowers are also nice in mixed bouquets. Try growing basil indoors on the windowsill or under grow lights. Growing basil as a micro green is an easy way to enjoy fresh basil during the winter months.