Herb Basil 'Purple Ruffles'

• Attractive deep purple ruffled leaves
• Aromatic leaves add flavour to a wide range of dishes
• Strong, bushy plants
• Purple-pink flowerspires

Basil ‘Purple Ruffles’ doesn’t just taste good – it looks great too! A bushy plant with ruffled and fringed deep purple leaves, it looks striking enough to be grown as an ornamental plant and its large showy purple-pink flowers add to its appeal. The aromatic leaves add flavour to a wide range of dishes.

Note: If grown for the kitchen, pinch off the flower buds as they appear to stop the leaves becoming bitter.

Sow indoors

February-July: (Seeds can be sown at any time of year, but the optimum time is between February and July.) Sow in 8cm (3in) pots of firm, pre-watered compost, covering with a thin layer of compost or vermiculite. Cover with cling film and keep around 15°C (60°F). When the seedlings emerge, remove the cling film and keep on a sunny windowsill. Water regularly to keep the compost damp, but not wet.

Plant out

May-June: Plants can be moved outside in late spring and summer, acclimatising them gradually.

Tips

Harvest the tips regularly and remove any flowers as you see them. Avoid leaving plants wet overnight- morning watering is ideal.