Basil - Tulsi

OH. Also known as Sacred, Holy or Tulasi Basil, this aromatic plant is perennial in is native tropical climates of Asia, Australia and the Western Pacific. It has been cultivated for religious and medicinal purposes since first growing on the Indian subcontinent over 5,000 years ago where it was first used in Ayurvedic medicine. In spirituality and mythology, Tulsi holds a place of honour, being deeply intertwined with the Hindu goddess Tulsi. According to tradition, the Tulsi plant was a manifestation of the goddess herself, symbolizing purity, devotion, and eternal life. Caring for a Tulsi plant is believed to bring prosperity and happiness, and it serves as a reminder of the divine connection between the earthly and spiritual realms. Now Tulsi is widely used as an herbal tea and can be found at many an organic shop. Thai cuisine has many dishes featuring this basil. For centuries, the dried leaves have been mixed with stored grains to repel insects and the essential oil may have nematicidal properties. Frost tender and therefore an annual in our garden, we enjoy making tea from the leaves and smelling the fragrant leaves as we brush past in the garden. Tulsi has the same growth habit as the more common Genovese basil. This seed was passed to us by our friend Bridget Scully from Nurture Earth.

Requires heat (maintain soil temperature 18° C to germinate. Sow in trays in glasshouse in September, prick out to 2cm spacing when true leaves appear and transplant into garden at 25cm diagonal spacing when true leaves well established and there is a good root system. Sow seed heavily as it is prone to poor germination.

50 seeds.