Basil Everleaf® Emerald Towers - Ocimum basilicum

Everleaf Emerald Tower Basil is an aromatic variety highly prized for its upright and compact habit, well-suited to small spaces, pot cultivation on balconies, or planting in tight rows in the vegetable garden. Its particularly late flowering allows for prolonged harvests throughout the summer season. Featuring large, glossy dark green leaves with an intense Genovese basil fragrance, it is ideal for enhancing Mediterranean dishes, sauces, or infusions. It is resistant to bolting and retains its flavour longer than classic varieties.

Everleaf Emerald Tower Basil stands out for its exceptional upright growth, dense foliage, and very late flowering, which allows for a prolonged harvest without premature bolting. It also shows good natural resistance to fungal diseases such as botrytis, and adapts equally well to pot cultivation or open ground. This variety will delight gardeners looking for a vigorous, structured, and decorative basil that is also very productive. The flowers are rich in eucalyptol and eugenol, to add to its soothing, antibacterial, and relaxing virtues.

In the garden, Everleaf Emerald Tower Basil prefers rich, humus-bearing, and well-drained soil. It dislikes cold and stagnant moisture and is best grown in full sun, sheltered from the wind. Harvesting can begin between 6 to 10 weeks after sowing and continue all summer. To harvest, simply cut the leaves by hand or with scissors as soon as they release an intense fragrance. In pots, the plant requires regular watering, but not too much, avoiding wetting the foliage. On the balcony, you can pair it with cherry tomato ‘Balconi Red F1’, dwarf sweet pepper ‘Redskin F1’, and Rocky (mini) F1 cucumber.

The use of basil in the Mediterranean basin dates back to antiquity. For the Romans, this plant was the emblem of lovers, whereas for the Greeks, it symbolised hatred and misfortune! Basil is a condiment plant widely used to flavour and enhance dishes. Rich in essential oil, it possesses soothing, anti-inflammatory, and stimulating properties.

Everleaf Emerald Tower Basil develops a powerful and traditional flavour, ideal for elevating Mediterranean dishes, salads, sauces, and of course, the famous pesto. It pairs wonderfully with tomatoes, fresh cheeses, summer fruits, or grilled meats. For optimal preservation, keep the stems for a few days in a glass of water in the refrigerator. It can also be dried, but this reduces its fragrance. In the vegetable garden, grow it with tomatoes: in addition to enriching your dishes, it naturally protects them from nematodes, while creating a beautiful harmony in the beds.