Basil Mix
Seed Starting Kit
All the information you need from seed to the basil leaves in your plate.
The taste of cooking with fresh and organic herbs that you will grow at home is priceless.
In this seed starter set, we bring together carefully selected organic heirloom seeds: Spicy and anise-scented Thai Basil; Strong clove flavored Purple Basil, sweet and tangy lemon & anise flavored Lemon Basil and plump-leafed Genoese Basil.
Thanks to all the information we have gathered for you about pruning, harvesting, drying and storing as tea; ideal planting and maintenance needs of your seeds, nutritional values and health benefits of your plants; you can harvest for years by planting at the right time, in the right place and with the right instructions.
Unboxing
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4 biodegradable seed germination pots
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4 peat tablets
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Fine selection of non-GMO heirloom seeds for multiple plantings
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4 mini plant signs
Thai Basil
Ocimum Basilicum var. Thyrsiflora
Thai Basil is often used in Southeast Asian cuisine because of its distinctive smell and taste. The leaves are smaller and thinner than traditional Italian basil and have a distinct flavor. It has a more peppery, anise or licorice-like flavor than basil and is more resistant to high temperatures or relatively long cooking times and retains its flavor.
It plays an important role especially in Vietnamese cuisine. It is used in Asian cuisine recipes in the Western world, as it is the easiest Asian variety to grow in European climates. It goes well with omelets, chicken and seafood dishes.
Thai Basil is a versatile herb with anti-cancer, antioxidant, antiviral properties. It has been used in traditional Asian healing for centuries.
Purple Basil
Ocimum Basilicum var. Purpurascens
Purple Basil is similar to traditional green basil but has a deep purple color. It is native to the tropics of Africa, the Americas, and Asia and is used for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
The purple basil plant produces pink or white flowers that add to its beauty. The leaves also have a more intense aroma than the green basil plant.
Since it is grown as an annual crop, it is mostly grown in the summer period. Its purple color is a result of the high content of anthocyanins (dark blue pigments) found in plant cells. Pesto is a great ingredient for lemonade and salads.
Lemon Basil
Ocimum Basilicum Citriodorum
Lemon Basil is grown mainly in South Asia and Northeast Africa for its pleasant lemon scent. It is a popular herb in Asian cuisines such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, as well as Middle Eastern cuisines such as Arabian and Iran.
Lemon Basil is a storehouse of Vitamin K that helps wounds heal faster and contains magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, calcium and vitamin C. It is a great source of beta-kerotene, which is beneficial for the eyes. Lemon basil has a number of compounds that also contribute to its fragrant properties, such as limonene and citral, which also have anti-inflammatory qualities.
It is often used raw in salads and also with stews, soups, steamed or grilled dishes and meat. Due to its delicate nature, it should be added just before serving to preserve its flavor. It goes great with drinks like lemonade, cocktails, and iced tea.
Genovese Basil
Ocimum Basilicum Genovese
Genoese basil is a cultivar of Ocimum basilicum (basil). It is mainly used for making pesto sauce and is one of the most popular basil for culinary use.
It is considered the most aromatic and suitable type of basil for gastronomy. There are many types of basil and they vary in size, color and shape. Ocimum Basilicum is distinguished from the others by its medium-sized green leaves with a slightly curved oval shape.
Its essential oil content is higher than other varieties.
Growing Instructions
Soaking the Seeds
Soaking helps improve the germination of certain seed types. Check each seed's soaking requirements from our Seed Library.
Preparing the Soil
Each peat tablet is for one biodegradable pot. Place the peat tablet in a cup of water and wait for it to expand.
Expanded soil will have a thin layer that will melt away in time. You can either keep it or gently cut it and take it out.
Peat tablets do not contain pathogens.
Sowing the Seeds
In the middle of your swelling soil tablet, you will see a slot for sowing seeds.
The sowing depth of the seeds is usually twice their size. Check out the recommended sowing depth for each seed in our Seed Library.
Ideally, you should plant 2-3 seeds in each tablet for high germination. If you do not plant the spare seeds in your package, store them in a cool, dark environment.
Watering the Seeds
Give the first sip of water to your seeds, and make sure the soil is moist at all times.
Transplantation
You can transplant your germinated plants to the balcony or the garden after the last frost before the spring, or to a larger flower pot in your home at any time. Generally, your plant is ready for transplantation when it is approximately 7.5 - 8 cm tall.
You should put the plant in the ground as is, without removing it from the biodegradable pot. Biodegradable pot will dissolve organically, and you will prevent your plant from getting stressed while transferring.
Care, Harvest, and Storage
Follow our Blog page for all the useful information such as pests and diseases that you may encounter during the maturation process of your medicinal and aromatic plants, and points to be considered while pruning, harvesting, and drying plants with natural methods, tea and oil making methods, and more!
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I use the peat tablets?
The soil tablet is compressed so that it swells with water. Put it on a deep plate and fill the plate with water. In a few hours, it will swell and take the shape of the pot you put it in. It doesn't matter if you've watered a lot at this stage, as the seed will need it the first time it's planted.
Some seeds are so tiny, how do I even hold them?
Some plant seeds are so small that we have difficulty seeing them easily with the eye and picking them up. In order not to lose the seeds while planting:
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You can easily remove the seeds from the package by slightly moistening a toothpick and touching the seeds.
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Do not spray after planting as you will be planting these tiny seeds on the soil surface - the spray can cause the seed to fly away.
When will my seeds germinate?
Each plant seed in nature has different germination times. For this reason, we have created the Seed Library so that you can get to know each seed you plant closely. Here you can see how long it will take to germinate under the recommended conditions.
By keeping your seeds under intensive care during the germination process, check every day that the soil is sufficiently moist and receives sufficient light. You can tell if there is moisture in the swollen soil mass by lightly squeezing it with two fingers.
My seeds died soon after they germinated. Why?
Two of the biggest reasons why seedlings die prematurely are fungal growth due to excessive moisture (or damp-off) or oxygen deprivation of the plant due to excessive irrigation. In this case, the color of the plant turns brown/yellow and rot occurs.
My plant has grown but it looks very weak, what can I do?
Aromatic plants, in particular, respond well to routine fertilization. By giving fertilizer to its soil every month during the growing season, you will make it healthier and stronger.
