How to Grow Dark Opal Basil

Fill a seed starting tray with seed starting media about one month before the last frost date in your area. Lay one seed in each chamber and cover the seed with seed starting media up to twice the height of the seed.

Water the seeds to saturate the soil. Place the lid on the seed starting tray to maintain humidity and move the tray to a warm location with temperatures around 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The seeds germinate in five to seven days.

Remove the lid when the seeds germinate. Continue to keep the soil moist, and make sure the seedlings get bright light to promote growth. Rotate the seed tray in the windowsill or in front of another light source, so each side gets light.

Transplant each seedling into a 2 inch pot when it has two sets of true leaves. First fill your pot halfway with organic potting soil. Next, stick a fork under the potting media and push up to lift the basil seedling out of its chamber. Place the seedling in the pot, then add more potting soil to plant it. Transplant all dark opal seedlings like this.

Prepare the garden bed when all danger of frost passes by turning over the soil with a shovel to break apart soil clods. Remove debris from the garden bed.

Dig a hole for each plant, spaced 12 inches apart in all directions. Make the hole twice as wide and deep as the container holding your plant.

Remove the dark opal basil from its container and place in the prepared hole. Holding the plant vertically straight, fill in the hole with soil to complete planting.

Water your basil when the soil feels dry to the touch, adding enough liquid to saturate the soil.

Pluck basil leaves from the plant to use whenever you want, or cut the stem back to 1/4 inch above a stem node. Additionally, prune back emerging flower buds so the plant continues producing leaves. Harvest all basil in autumn before the first frost.