Park Seed Basil Herb Plant Seeds, Easy to Grow, Variety of Colors, Spring Garden, Cardinal Organic, Pack of 100 - 52490-PK-P1

• Days to Maturity: 60 from direct sow. A stunningly beautiful basil disguised as a Celosia, Cardinal wows you with big spiky blooms of cerise-red atop bright burgundy stems. Fragrant, well-branched, and every bit as delicious as plain old basils, Cardinal is the ultimate edible ornamental, offering something for everyone in the sunny garden. The leaves on this plant are bright green and very tasty, ready to start harvesting just 60 days after sowing (or even sooner for smaller, more tender leaves). Richly aromatic, they are perfect for pesto and sandwiches, salads and Mediterranean cuisine. But unlike most others, Cardinal has spectacular blooms. Very tightly packed in pointed peaks, they begin in late spring from an early planting, and continue all the way into early fall. Magnificent. Cardinal reaches about 24 to 30 inches high in the sunny garden, and spreads 12 to 18 inches wide. It is irresistible to butterflies, bees, and birds, and makes a great container subject. Plant it around the perimeter of your vegetable patch to keep destructive pests at bay it will be the most beautiful repellent you've ever used & mix it right in with annual flowering plants, particularly those lacking a strong scent. Cardinal is happy to share its rich, spicy aroma. The seeds can be direct sown in spring after danger of frost, when night temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees Fahrenheit & the soil feels warm to the touch. Cover them with a scant ¼-inch of soil, & keep the soil moist until they have sprouted, which usually takes about 5 to 10 days. Alternatively, start them indoors in late winter, 6 to 8 weeks before last scheduled frost, in your Bio-Dome, & transplant them after nights are warm & the seedlings have at least 2 sets of true leaves Like all basil, Cardinal appreciates full sunshine and moist, well-drained, enriched soil. This is not a "lean" herb. give it rich soil and it will repay you generously in yields and beauty.