There are well over 50 varieties of basil… we have put a bunch together that between them can be described as aromatic, sweet, tangy, intense, bold & beautiful. With such a rich array to experiment with you can try them all out to discover your perfect basil for any particular dish.  Each packet contains 50 seeds.

This collection contains one packet each of...

Holy ~ this ancient variety, originating in India, is a small pretty plant with pinky-mauve stems, purple tinged leaves & deep purple stems.  In warmer weather the purple turns a deeper shade.  Aromatic and sweet.

Mrs Burns Lemon ~ sweet and tangy, an intense flavour.  Can be grown all year round indoors. This AGM winner hails from New Mexico. Use in salad, vinaigrette, cheese or egg meals, with summer vegetables, fish and poultry or fruits, puddings and cakes – wherever you want a lemony flavour without the sharpness of lemon juice      

Red Rubin ~ aromatic dark red-purple leaves with pink flowers: looks stunning and tastes delicious.  This is the variety for adding colour in salads as well as adding flavour to casseroles, roast meat and fish.

Sweet ~ this is the most popular basil: it really does have a beautiful flavour.  It is very successful in pots, easy to look after. Use the young leaves whole: great with pasta and salads.  It combines very well with garlic in cooking. 

Anise: the liquorice flavoured leaves can be added to salads and the seeds can be used as flavouring for apple sauce, breads, sausages and soups. Widely used throughout the Mediterranean. Annual. Price for 50 seeds

British breeding has resulted in ‘British’ basil that is much more resistant to cold weather (wind, rain and light frosts too) so this variety is highly recommended for growing outdoors in the UK.  And it has a traditional intense flavour.  The flowers also pack a potent taste: try them in summer soups and pasta dishes.

Price for 50 seeds. 

A warm, spicy, cinnamon-like aroma and flavour make this irresistible in the garden and kitchen: the flavour goes exquisitely with fruit salad, pop a sprig into a hot drink, add to chutney, sweet-&-sour, marinades, pasta and tomato dishes... our list goes on and on! Price for 50 seeds.

BASIL, DARK OPAL Annual regal deep purple glossy leaves look absolutely stunning, perfect culinary variety 50 seeds SOW: In pots or plug trays in spring. If sowing in early spring use bottom heat. Pot up when large enough to handle, water early in the day. GROW: Spring – sow them. Summer – pinch out to prevent flowering and harvest leaves Autumn – look after carefully and you should be able to enjoy fresh basil into the winter. May need feeding or repotting Superb aroma and flavour: the leaves look stunning scattered on salad. Utilise the colour as a garnish or bed for green olives when serving. The flavour (and colour) is perfect with grilled tomatoes, rice & pasta.

This miniature basil has fine small leaves with a lovely scent and is particularly suitable for pot growing. It is one of the easiest basils to grow. Annual. Price for 50 seeds

This is an ancient variety originating in India. It grows into a small pretty plant with pinky-mauve stems, purple tinged leaves and deep purple stems. As the weather warms up so the purple goes a deeper shade. Aromatic and sweet, it is super in all types of cooking. Price for 50 seeds.

Basil Licorice has a subtle flavour that can be used with fruit (think apple crumble), fish and tomato dishes.  It also works well in Asian recipes including stir fries, also pasta dishes and salads where the colour adds yet another dimension.  The best flavoured leaves are before flowering so keep the plants pruned leaving at least 3 pairs of leaves for resprouting.

Price for 50 seeds.

The dark green leaves have a distinct lime aroma and flavour. This variety adds a lovely citrus flavour to salads, soups and fish dishes. It is also a good variety for adding to dessert. Annual. Price for 50 seeds

Mrs Burns Lemon is both sweet and tangy giving this AGM winner an intense flavour.  The leaves can reach 7cm long, but you can start picking and using them at a much smaller size.  Annual.    Price for 50 seeds

If you are growing indoors you can start these at any time of the year.  The plants can reach 60-90cm tall, simply trim them to keep in check if growing indoors. 

If you are planning to grow outside start the seeds between February & April and don’t put them outside until all danger of frost has passed. Once they start to flower the leaf flavour is not so good so trim back the plant to about 10cm tall so that it will sprout a fresh flush of leaves.