Basil 'Napolitano'

Ocimum basilicum

How to grow Basil 'Napolitano'

  • Full Sun

  • Medium

Pinch terminal shoots to encourage branching.
Harvest leaves before flowering occurs, or they will be bitter.

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Napolitano is generally regarded as a half hardy plant, so remember to protect this plant from frosts and low temperatures. Napolitano needs a loamy, sandy and silty soil with a ph of 6.0 to 7.5 (weakly acidic soil to weakly alkaline soil).

Growing Napolitano from seed

Sow 1-2 seeds/in. into soil when danger of frost has passed or start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost date. Cover with finely sieved compost.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.12 inches (0.3 cm). For optimal germination, soil temperature should be a minimum of 10°C / 50°F.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Napolitano about 20 days before your last frost date.

Transplanting Napolitano

Plant out when frost risk has passed. Requires warm conditions. Pinch off heads to keep productive

Napolitano is half hardy, so ensure you wait until all danger of frost has passed in your area before considering planting outside.

By our calculations, you should look at planting out Napolitano about 21 days after your last frost date.

Harvesting Napolitano

This variety tends to mature and be ready for harvest in mid summer.

Basil Napolitano Etymology

The word basil means “king” in Greek – it is believed to have grown above the spot where St. Constantine and Helen discovered the Holy Cross.

Napolitano folklore & trivia

Jewish folklore says that basil adds strength while fasting.