Thai Basil
Sweet Thai Basil brings the authentic, complex flavor of Southeast Asian cuisine to your herb garden. This compact bush grows 12-24 inches tall with the characteristic spicy-sweet taste that defines traditional Thai dishes. Ready to harvest in just 64 days from seed, this open-pollinated variety thrives in full sun with just 4-inch spacing, making it perfect for intensive herb production in small spaces.
Full Sun
High
10-11
24in H x ?in W
Annual
High
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What sets Sweet Thai Basil apart is its authentic flavor profile that captures the true essence of Thai cuisine. The compact bushy growth habit makes it ideal for containers or intensive garden beds, while the quick 64-day harvest window means you can enjoy fresh Thai basil all season long with successive plantings. Its delicate leaves require careful handling but reward you with that distinctive spicy-sweet complexity that elevates curries, stir-fries, and fresh spring rolls.
Sweet Thai Basil excels in hot dishes where its complex flavor can shine through cooking heat. Essential for Thai curries, stir-fries, and noodle dishes, it also adds aromatic depth to Vietnamese pho and fresh spring rolls. Unlike sweet basil, Thai basil holds its flavor when cooked and provides that distinctive spicy-sweet note that defines authentic Southeast Asian cuisine.
Start seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before transplanting, sowing 1/4 inch deep and maintaining 70°F soil temperature for best germination. Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.
Transplant when nighttime temperatures stay above 50°F and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F, ideally 65-85°F. Space transplants 4 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart.
Direct seed 1-2 weeks after last frost when soil temperature reaches 60°F. Sow seeds 1/4 inch deep, 2-3 seeds per inch, firming soil over seeds. Plant in rows 18 inches apart.
Begin light harvesting once plants are well-established, preferably in early morning when temperatures are cooler and leaves are less likely to wilt. Complete a full harvest just before plants start flowering by cutting the entire plant 4-6 inches above ground to encourage a second growth flush.
Harvest regularly to encourage continued leaf production and prevent flowering, which reduces leaf quality. Cut stems back to promote bushier growth throughout the growing season.
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