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4.5
Updated review- Jan 2017. It is that time of year- order seeds! This time of year you will have the most variety available. Also, remember that seeds have to endure shipping. Sometimes when I see reviews for various seeds- not these in particular but seeds in general- there are people who order in July and then are unhappy. Well, those seeds may have been cooked on a truck. Order during cool weather.I'm still delighted with these seeds, and I am updating with some details to help others to grow them. Basil is tricky! This is what I do:1) sterilize 11 x 22 inch tray.2) line the tray with unbleached paper towel (optional). Add 3 cups of sterilized mix (compost/sand/vermiculite). Moisten with sterilized water purified with reverse osmosis just so that it is completely damp, but not so that you could get drips of water if you squeezed a handful. It's best to mix in your nutrients to the water before you moisten the mix, as it's easier to make sure that they disperse evenly.3) Sterilize 3 cups of vermiculite, and moisten it with a sterile nutrient mix. Blend in 3 TBSP of basil seed if you want to harvest over a period of time, or if you want one harvest "one and done," then first pack the vermiculite down on top of the mix, and then spread the seeds evenly over the top. I like to use a dampened, unbleached paper towel over the vermiculite when I do that, because it is easier to see the seeds, and then they also stick a bit and bounce around less.4) Viable basil seeds will gel up! So, it is very important to use a layer of plastic wrap over them, and then stack your trays. Without the plastic, your seeds will stick to the trays above, so take a few seconds to add that wrap.5) Check on the seeds regularly. I use a temperature of 77 F, plus or minus 4 degrees. I use a thermostat and regulator that will turn on the heat if it gets too cool, and will turn on a fan if it gets too warm. Still, the seeds need to be misted a couple of times a day, unless you are using a hydroponic approach. This kind of microgreen is not for those who want a low-maintenance hobby! :)6) Keep the basil seeds weighted with another seeded tray until they lift that tray right up. They must earn their freedom, heh! This will give you strong microgreens. Then, put a higher cover on them (i.e., flip over an empty tray). The goal is to make them reach for the light and grow long, so that it is possible to harvest them easily without stirring up the potting mix.7) Finally, let them have some light and green up! I am attaching a picture that shows what the shoots look like when it is time to do that. Notice that they have some stems on them, and you can see that the black seed coats are now dropping off. Some light will help the seedlings to finish doing that.8) You can start to enjoy the microgreens as soon as the seed coat drops off of the cotyledons. They will get a stronger taste as the leaves develop. Basil takes longer than many other microgreens. Expect about 15 days before you can begin to harvest them. I hope that these details are helpful. Happy planting!**** End of update**************I grew these seeds for microgreens, and I pre-sprout using paper toweling, water, and a seed starting warming mat. Under these conditions, I have had 100% germination. That's right- 100%! The microgreens taste great, just as you would expect from Basil. This is one of the harder microgreens to grow, so once I got them going it has taken some trial and error to find the best way to keep them alive and well. Once germinated, that is my part- Basil is tough as a microgreen. I think I've got it, now. Great product!
