Corsican Basil

Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your last spring frost date. Maintain soil temperature between 60 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit for consistent germination. Keep soil moist but not waterlogged, and provide bright light once seedlings emerge to prevent legginess.

Harden off seedlings by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions over 7 to 10 days before transplanting. Move outdoors only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed; Corsican Basil is frost-tolerant as a mature plant but young seedlings are vulnerable. Space transplants 12 inches apart in both directions in beds or containers.

Direct sow seeds outdoors after the last frost date, pressing them gently into warm soil. Keep soil consistently moist until germination and seedling establishment, then thin to 12 inch spacing.

Begin harvesting leaves once the plant reaches 6 inches tall, pinching or cutting stems from the top to encourage branching. Harvest in the morning after dew dries but before heat of the day for peak flavor and aroma. Continue harvesting throughout the season by removing the top 2 to 3 inches of stems; the plant will respond by producing more branches and foliage. At 80 to 89 days from sowing, the plant reaches mature productivity and can sustain regular harvesting without stress.

Pinch off the growing tips regularly to encourage bushier, more compact growth and delay flowering, which extends the productive leaf-harvesting season. Remove flower buds as they form if leaf production is the priority, or allow flowering to proceed if you want the ornamental benefit and pollinator attraction. The upright growth habit naturally supports a tidy form, but removing spent flowers keeps the plant looking fresh and encourages continued foliage growth.