Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil – highly aromatic heirloom basil seeds
🌱 Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil – highly aromatic heirloom basil seeds
📜 Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil (Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorum ‘Mrs Burns’) is an heirloom variety originating from the American Southwest. It was named after Janet Burns from Carlsbad, New Mexico. The variety was officially registered in 1939, but its roots reach much further back — it developed naturally through traditional selection. ‘Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil’ is considered one of the most intensely aromatic lemon basil varieties, producing a strong, clean lemon fragrance and a lush, vigorous plant.
This basil is highly valued in cooking — perfect for teas, salads, sauces, fish dishes and refreshing summer drinks. The plant is not only delicious but also beneficial for the garden, as it helps repel pests and attract pollinators.
✨ Characteristics of Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil
– Strong, pronounced lemon fragrance
– Compact, vigorous growth with large, bright green leaves
– White to pale pink flowers that attract pollinators
– Suitable for growing in garden beds, pots, indoors, balconies and terraces
– Aroma remains strong even when dried
🌿 Growing Requirements
Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil thrives in warm, sunny locations with light, well-drained soil. Heavy, clay-rich or water-retentive soil is not suitable, as it promotes root rot, diseases and weak aroma development. Visually, the plant becomes thin and unattractive.
The basil requires 6–8 hours of direct sunlight daily. In shade it becomes leggy and loses essential oil concentration.
Watering must be moderate — only when the top layer of soil has dried. Overwatering is one of the main causes of plant decline.
🌡️ Temperature
– Germination begins at +20–25 °C
– Optimal growth temperature: +18–28 °C
– Plant outdoors only when night temperatures remain above +12–14 °C
🌾 Sowing
Sow Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil seeds in seed-starting mix or fine-grade neutral peat. The seeds are tiny and require light to germinate, so do not cover them with soil. Mist with a spray bottle. Cover the pot lightly with a lid or film, but ensure fresh air circulation — excessive humidity causes mould, which is one of the main reasons for failed germination.
Indoor sowing period:
– All year round with additional lighting (grow lights in winter)
Outdoor sowing period:
– From May, once soil and nights have warmed
Prick out the seedlings once 2–3 true leaves appear.
Regularly pinching the growing tips results in a bushier, more aromatic plant with a visually attractive, compact shape.
🌍 Northern Europe vs Southern Europe – differences in cultivation
Northern Europe (Latvia, Estonia, Finland, etc.)
– Plant outdoors only after the last frost (May–early June)
– Requires plenty of sun and a warm growing site
– Short summers mean seedlings should be started indoors already in March–April
Southern Europe (Italy, Spain, Greece, etc.)
– Can be sown and planted much earlier — from March
– In hot weather, provide regular watering and light shading
– Heat promotes aromatic oil formation, but excessive prolonged heat causes rapid flowering
⚠️ Common Growing Mistakes
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Sowing mistakes
1.1. Covering seeds with soil → reduced germination or failure to sprout
1.2. Sowing in cold soil or cold indoor conditions (below +18 °C) → slow germination, seed rot
1.3. Insufficient light → stretched, weak seedlings
1.4. Overseeding → competition for light and nutrients, weak plants -
Cultivation mistakes
– Overwatering causes root rot and reduces essential oil formation
– Planting in shade
– Heavy, wet soil prevents full nutrient uptake, resulting in weak, leggy growth
– Not removing flower buds, causing bitter, woody leaves
🌼 How to grow Mrs Burns’ Lemon Basil for abundant harvest, beautiful form and rich aroma
– Provide 6–8 hours of direct sun
– Water moderately, avoiding waterlogging
– Remove flower buds to promote fresh, aromatic leaf growth
– Pinch the tops to encourage branching and a compact, fragrant plant
– When transplanting seedlings, space plants 25–30 cm apart for good air circulation
🌿 Companion planting — good neighbours
– Tomatoes
– Peppers and chilli peppers
– Cucumbers
– Zucchini and summer squash
– Eggplants
– Carrots
– Marigolds and calendula
🚫 Not recommended to plant with:
– Dill (competes and attracts pests)
– Coriander (different growing requirements)
– Garden cress (prefers cool, moist conditions)
– Fennel (suppresses growth of neighbouring plants)
– Parsley (competes for nutrients, attracts aphids)
🌟 Benefits in the garden
🪰 Repels pests:
The essential oils of lemon basil help deter:
– whiteflies
– thrips
– aphids (partial)
– caterpillars
– mosquitoes and gnats (also useful on balconies and terraces during summer evenings)
🐝 Attracts beneficial insects
The nectar-rich flowers attract bees, bumblebees and other pollinators, supporting a healthier and more productive garden.
🍅 Enhances neighbour plant aroma
Especially improves the flavour and quality of tomatoes, peppers and chillies.
🌾 Improves microclimate
Acts as living mulch — reduces weeds and helps soil retain moisture.
🌱 Seeds per packet: 5 pcs
✍️ Author: Heart Garden Studio
