Basil - Cardinal - $3 pre-order and member price; $4 at plant sale

Cardinal Basil is an easy herb to grow as long as you follow several important rules: Don’t plant it too early in the spring. I planted mine too early in chilly weather and it languished for a long time. Wait until the night temperatures consistently stay above 50 degrees F. It will tolerate lower temperatures, but it will not thrive and can have real trouble bouncing back from an extended cool period. If you notice dark spots forming on the leaves, it is probably due to cold water from the hose. Try watering in the cool of the day to remedy this problem. Plant in full sun; if in partial shade this plant will suffer and become straggly. Usually with basils, you nip the flowers off so that the plant branches out and produces more foliage to use in pesto, but with this basil, you can leave all the flowers and bracts on to enjoy and use. This plant naturally forms a shrubby well branched plant about 24″ high and 18″ wide. The leaves can be used like other basils and the stems are a lovely burgundy color.