Bishy Barnabees Cottage Garden Ltd
Basil Thai Large Leaf
Basil Thai Large Leaf
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Thai Basil 'Large Leaf' Seeds (Bai Horapa)
If you want your homemade Thai Green Curry to taste like it came from a street stall in Bangkok, you need this herb. 'Large Leaf' is the authentic *Bai Horapa* variety, prized for its vigorous growth and generous production of shiny, pointed leaves.
The flavour is distinct from Italian basil: it is sweeter, sturdier, and packed with a spicy, aniseed-liquorice punch that holds up to heat. With its attractive purple stems and pink-purple flowers, it is beautiful enough for a patio pot but productive enough to keep your kitchen stocked all summer.
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🌿 Understanding the Plant
Thai Basil is a Tender Annual.
It originates from the tropics, so it craves heat. It has tougher, more robust leaves than Genovese basil, meaning it can be cooked into curries and stir-fries without dissolving into mush.
The "Horapa": In Thai cooking, there are three main basils. This is *Horapa* (Sweet Thai Basil), used in curries. It is different from *Kaprao* (Holy Basil) used in stir-fries, and *Maenglak* (Lemon Basil) used in soups.
🌱 Growing Guide: How to Sow and Grow
This is a heat-loving plant. Treat it like a sunbather!
Germination:
Sow indoors from March to May. Scatter seeds on the surface of moist compost and cover very lightly with vermiculite (they need light to germinate). Keep warm (20°C+). Germination takes 7-14 days.
Where to Sow:
Plant out only when all risk of frost has passed (June). It needs a hot, sunny spot. It thrives in a greenhouse, polytunnel, or a sunny windowsill. It hates cold, wet feet.
Care While Growing:
Pinch: This is crucial. When the plant is 15cm tall, pinch out the top tip. This forces side shoots to grow, turning one skinny stem into a bushy plant with double the leaves.
📋 Plant Specifications
| Latin Name | Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflora |
| Common Name | Thai Basil 'Large Leaf' |
| Hardiness | H1c (Tender - needs heat) |
| Light Required | Full Sun ☀️ |
| Height | ↕️ 40cm - 50cm |
| Spread | ↔️ 30cm |
| Spacing | 🌱 25cm apart |
| Great for | 🍛 Green/Red Curries 🍜 Pho Soup 🐝 Pollinators 🏺 Window Boxes |
| Seed Count | Approx. 300 seeds per packet |
🤝 Perfect Garden Companions
Grow a complete Thai kitchen garden in a container:
- 🌶️ Chillies: The Spicy Pair. Thai Basil and Chillies are best friends in the pot and on the plate. They both love baking hot sun and regular feeding.
- 🌿 Coriander: The Garnish Team. While Coriander prefers it a bit cooler (give it some shade from the basil!), growing them nearby ensures you have both essential Asian herbs ready to harvest at once.
📅 Sowing & Harvesting Calendar
Sow indoors Spring. Harvest Summer to Autumn.
| Month | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Indoors | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | |||||||||
| Harvest | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ | ✂️ |
⚠️ Cooking Tip
Unlike sweet Italian basil which is added at the end, Thai Basil is sturdy enough to be cooked. Add it at the start of a curry to infuse the sauce, then add fresh leaves at the end for a burst of aroma.
🏆 Officially Recognised Excellence
Both the leaves and the flowers are edible. The small purple flowers have a more intense aniseed flavour than the leaves and make a beautiful, spicy garnish for salads.
