Purple Basil 'Rosie'

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Rosie is thought of as tender, so it is really important to ensure that the outside temperature is well above freezing before planting or moving outdoors.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Rosie about 7 days after your last frost date.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Rosie is a tender plant.

By our calculations, you should look at planting out Rosie about 7 days after your last frost date.

Start harvesting early by pinching plants back in order to encourage them to branch. Bigger harvests (for batches of pesto) will occur later in the season. The flavour is said to be best just as the plants bud, but before flowers mature. Be sure to harvest before cool fall nights arrive, as basil does not tolerate cold well.

Expect harvests to start to occur in mid summer.