Basil Plants

• Variety: Basil (Gustosa)
• Latin name: Ocimum basilicum 'Gustosa'
• Type: Tender annual
• Height: 30–45cm (12–18in)
• Hardiness: Frost-tender (H1c), keep above 10°C
• Good for: Salads, pasta, pesto, pizza, fresh summer cooking
• Container: Excellent: one of the best herbs for pots and windowsills
• RHS AGM: No
• Sold as: Pot-grown plants (P9), hand-sown by us
• Plant outdoors: After the last frost (mid-May onward)
• Collection: Herbs

Basil is the herb that smells like summer. Gustosa is a compact, bushy cultivar that holds its shape well in pots and keeps producing leaves through most of the season, provided you harvest it the right way.

Basil Gustosa – The Royal Herb

Basil's common name is believed to abbreviate Basilikon phuton (Greek for 'kingly herb'). The herbalist Culpeper was circumspect about it: "It either makes enemies or gains lovers," he wrote, "but there is no in-between." He had a point. Grow basil badly and it sulks and dies within a week. Grow it right and it keeps giving from May until September.

Gustosa is a compact, densely-branching cultivar selected for pot growing, and it rewards the attention. The key discipline is pinching: remove the growing tips regularly from the moment the plant arrives, before it has a chance to put energy into flowering. Once the flowers appear, the leaves lose flavour quickly. A pot of basil pinched twice a week produces three times as much usable herb as one left to its own devices. That isn't an exaggeration.

It's a tender annual. Frost kills it; cold draughts from a kitchen window set it back badly. Keep it warm, water from the base rather than overhead, and don't let it sit in a saucer of standing water. Those are the three rules. Get those right and the rest looks after itself.

Outdoors or on a Windowsill?

Basil's natural instinct is warm. In a UK summer, a sheltered, south-facing bed works well from late May onward, but a sunny windowsill or conservatory is more reliable, particularly early and late in the season. Don't risk a cold night: below about 10°C and the leaves turn black and the plant is done. A south-facing kitchen windowsill is the safest position for most British gardeners, and the leaves are always within arm's reach while you cook.

Planting Companions

In the vegetable garden, basil and tomatoes are the classic pairing; basil is said to improve both yield and flavour, and the aromatic foliage deters aphids and spider mites. Parsley and coriander grow happily alongside it in a large pot. Avoid planting next to rosemary or sage, which prefer the drier, poorer conditions that basil doesn't enjoy. For the full kitchen herb range, see the herb collection.

Why Buy Your Herbs from Ashridge?

Our basil plants are hand-sown from seed by our team, grown without neonicotinoids, and arrive in recycled pots. Gustosa is a named cultivar: compact, productive, and a better-performing pot plant than the generic basil in supermarket herb sections, which is typically grown for shelf life, not for growing on. We guarantee every plant.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grow basil in a pot on a windowsill?

Yes, and it's one of the best herbs for it. Basil loves warmth and a south-facing window gives exactly that. Use a pot at least 15cm across, water from the base to keep the compost just barely moist, and pinch out the tips regularly to keep it bushy rather than leggy.

How do I harvest basil without killing the plant?

Pinch stems off just above a pair of leaves, never from the base. The plant then branches from that point and produces more leaves than it had before. Stripping whole stems removes the plant's capacity to regenerate and it declines quickly from there.

Is basil a perennial or does it need replacing each year?

It needs replacing each year. Basil is a tender annual in the UK: frost kills it and it won't survive winter outside. Most kitchen basil gives its best from May to September. If you keep it indoors in a genuinely warm room it can last into winter, but it won't come back from the roots in spring.

What is the best way to grow basil outdoors in the UK?

Plant it outside after the last frost, typically mid-May in most of the country. It needs a warm, sheltered, south-facing spot and free-draining soil. Water at the base rather than overhead; wet leaves in cool conditions encourage mildew and the plant deteriorates fast. Bring it in if a cold night is forecast.

What is the difference between Gustosa basil and Genovese basil?

Genovese is the classic large-leafed Italian pesto basil: bigger leaves, slightly taller, bred for harvesting in quantity. Gustosa is more compact and bushier, which makes it better suited to pots and windowsills where you want a plant that holds its shape and keeps producing through the season.