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Basil 'Lemon' is an absolutely delicious basil with a strong citrusy flavour, lovely in salad dressings and fantastic for herb teas or ice cream (see p221 of Sarah's Garden Cookbook).
- Easy for beginners
| Genus: | Ocimum citriodorum |
| Variety: | Basil 'Lemon' |
| Type: | Half-hardy annual | Site: | Basil loves strong sun, rich soil and plenty of water. | Sowing: | Sow in April under cover. Pinch out growing tips so plants bulk out. Grow under cover or plant out in June when nights are warm. Don’t rush to set them out; wait until nighttime temperatures are above 50˚F regularly. Being heat lovers, they’ll just sit and sulk if the weather’s cool. | Height: | 20-40cm | Spacing: | 20cm apart. | Care tips: | To keep plants producing flavourful leaves, you need to prevent flowering, so take off any flowering tips. | Harvest: | 6-8 weeks from sowing. Remove individual leaves or stems; don't cut the plant to the ground. The leaves will produce for 3-4 months, through summer and early autumn | Storing: | Cut as required, or dry leaves whole. | Cooking Notes: | Add to risotto, or try it with fish recipes. It also makes a great pesto. |
