Minette basil
Small leaved the Minette basil has a strong basil flavour – often used in pizzas but great in pasta or salad
Please note – it has a much stronger flavour than most basils sold in shops.
This article will cover:
- How to grow Minette basil at home
- What is Minette basil used for
- Minette basil recipe examples
It will take about 2 to 3 months to grow. More info in our ‘Where to buy Basil‘ article
1. How to grow Minette basil at home
You can grow it from seeds. It is very easy to grow but will grow very fast.
There are 2 ways to grow it:
Option 1 – How to grow the Minette basil outdoors (garden, balcony, etc.)
It prefers direct sunlight, well drained soil and need to be frost free.
If you want to grow them outdoors the easiest option is to sow them in pots March to April and then move them outdoors when there is no danger of frost.
Pinch out the tip of the main stem to encourage bushy grow and prolong growing time.
Alternatively you can sow the seeds indoors (in a seed tray on a seedling heat mat) any time of the year and then transfer them into a pot.
For example the picture shows it after it was sown on 7 July, transferred into a pot on 14 July – the picture was taken 9th August and was ready for harvesting i.e. 2 months from sowing to harvest.
Option 2 – How to grow Minette Basil indoors (hydroponics or aquaponics)
Because of the importance of moisture and light it is ideally suited for hydroponics with additional lights.
Not only are they easier to grow, but you will also get fast results.
New to hydroponics? – Top 5 hydroponic kits for beginners
2. What is Minette basil used for
It is often used for pizzas but great in pasta and salads.
For example the picture on the right shows how I used it to make marinara sauce, using this type of basil.
It tends to have a stronger basil flavour than most fresh basils sold in shops.
3. Example Minette Basil Recipes
Below are some examples of popular ways of how to use it in cooking.
Marinara sauce with Minette basil
Tomato and Basil Soup
Genovese basil pesto recipe
More information
The type of basil you use will differ depending on the flavour you need, as well as recipe requirements. There is more info at the example basil recipes page .
Both seeds and plants are available online – Full details on Amazon
It was very easy to grow and added a lovely flavour to marinara sauce. Will definitely grow it again