what's your favorite kind of basil? - Page 4

dirt dauber · February 25, 2013

I like greek columnar as it seemed slow to go to seed as compared to my other basils last year. Seems to be one very though plant in heat and drought. I also like it's flavor. It is a great center plant as it grows straight up. My favorite for scent is cinnamon basil (more clove like to me). Lime basil is another great one for scent or culinary use.

DonnaMarieNJ · February 25, 2013

Burpees sells Christmas Basil and Cardinal Basil. I have no idea what they are like, but I bought some of each to put in my garden this year.

Buzzard II · March 11, 2013

I've never had basil I didn't like! Neighbors like anything I've grown in the past too! That said, this year I'm growing Genovese and Large Leaf Organic. Planted seeds today (indoors), 11 March 2013.

sio2rocks · March 11, 2013

I also am partial to Cinnamon Basil and this year I am growing Mammoth Basil in addition.

Stowaway · March 11, 2013

I've got seeds for Thai and Genovese which, come to think of it, I need to get germinating. But last year I got a seedling from the nursery of a variety called "Pesto Perpetual." It has pale, variegated leaves trimmed with white, which makes them look paler still. I'd never heard of the variety before, and I loved it.

Despite its name, it was my favorite variety for eating fresh in salads. It was very aromatic, but didn't have much of that floral scent that fresh basil can sometimes have. Its flavor was also quite mild, which is why I liked it for eating fresh. It grew huge and never flowered. I feel like I'm writing an ad for it. Anyway, I'm hoping the nursery will carry it again this year. . .

swamper · June 6, 2013

I've had great luck direct seeding basil using spun poly row covers with no support to trap heat and assure germination. There is a little more hand weeding than with transplants but I can reliably get dense hedges of different types of basils this way.

Alfredo · August 1, 2013

Tough call with so many varieties of Basil available...I usually grow 6-7 types of Basil every year. But this season I think my favorite Basil has to be Purple Petra Basil, as it serves a dual purpose throughout my garden, one being a mild sweet tasting basil and the other being a reliable ornamental color contrast against the green foliage everywhere.

~Alfredo

Lorri D · August 1, 2013

I've heard that the flavored basil types loose their distinctive flavors over time and revert back to normal tasting basil. I've never had a plant last more than a few months, so I have not had this problem. But, I am going to try to keep a plant all year long in my greenhouse.

Does anyone know why this happens or better yet how to prevent it from happening? Thank you

TightenUp · August 1, 2013

greek columnar, lettuce leaf and boxwood

shelleybean · August 1, 2013

I like Lettuce Leaf basil for pesto and chopping and Greek basil for salads and garnishes because I like to use the whole leaves. I tried Lemon Basil this summer and it was indeed very lemony. Unfortunately not very basily though.

Eirik · August 2, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by TightenUp

greek columnar, lettuce leaf and boxwood

Right on, best trio ever

biscgolf · August 1, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lorri D

I've heard that the flavored basil types loose their distinctive flavors over time and revert back to normal tasting basil. I've never had a plant last more than a few months, so I have not had this problem. But, I am going to try to keep a plant all year long in my greenhouse.

Does anyone know why this happens or better yet how to prevent it from happening? Thank you

i have had an African blue basil plant live for 6 or 7 years without this occurring.

Lorri D · August 1, 2013

That sounds like a beautiful plant, I'm going to have to google a picture of that one

Redbaron · August 1, 2013

Sweet basil and large leaf Italian and they taste very much the same to me. Just larger leaves.

BUT I did try blue spice basil this year and I may end up liking it somewhere. Just haven't figured out the recipe for it yet. To me it tastes like an extra strong blend of basil and mint. Even looks like a mint.

jennifer28 · August 1, 2013

Scott that basil sounds so good. I want to find out what kind of basil this Vietnamese woman is growing and using in her restaurant. I go there frequently and I love whatever basil she is using.

February 25, 2013	#2
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	Burpees sells Christmas Basil and Cardinal Basil. I have no idea what they are like, but I bought some of each to put in my garden this year. __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

March 11, 2013	#3
Buzzard II Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Northern N.J. Posts: 7	I've never had basil I didn't like! Neighbors like anything I've grown in the past too! That said, this year I'm growing Genovese and Large Leaf Organic. Planted seeds today (indoors), 11 March 2013. Last edited by Buzzard II; March 11, 2013 at 08:56 PM.

August 1, 2013	#9
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	greek columnar, lettuce leaf and boxwood __________________

August 1, 2013	#10
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I like Lettuce Leaf basil for pesto and chopping and Greek basil for salads and garnishes because I like to use the whole leaves. I tried Lemon Basil this summer and it was indeed very lemony. Unfortunately not very basily though. __________________ Michele

August 1, 2013	#14
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Sweet basil and large leaf Italian and they taste very much the same to me. Just larger leaves. BUT I did try blue spice basil this year and I may end up liking it somewhere. Just haven't figured out the recipe for it yet. To me it tastes like an extra strong blend of basil and mint. Even looks like a mint. __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

February 25, 2013	#1
dirt dauber Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: south carolina Posts: 28	I like greek columnar as it seemed slow to go to seed as compared to my other basils last year. Seems to be one very though plant in heat and drought. I also like it's flavor. It is a great center plant as it grows straight up. My favorite for scent is cinnamon basil (more clove like to me). Lime basil is another great one for scent or culinary use.

March 11, 2013	#4
sio2rocks Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Norman, Oklahoma Zone 7b Posts: 67	I also am partial to Cinnamon Basil and this year I am growing Mammoth Basil in addition.

March 11, 2013	#5
Stowaway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Somerville, MA Posts: 32	I've got seeds for Thai and Genovese which, come to think of it, I need to get germinating. But last year I got a seedling from the nursery of a variety called "Pesto Perpetual." It has pale, variegated leaves trimmed with white, which makes them look paler still. I'd never heard of the variety before, and I loved it. Despite its name, it was my favorite variety for eating fresh in salads. It was very aromatic, but didn't have much of that floral scent that fresh basil can sometimes have. Its flavor was also quite mild, which is why I liked it for eating fresh. It grew huge and never flowered. I feel like I'm writing an ad for it. Anyway, I'm hoping the nursery will carry it again this year. . .

June 6, 2013	#6
swamper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT Posts: 219	I've had great luck direct seeding basil using spun poly row covers with no support to trap heat and assure germination. There is a little more hand weeding than with transplants but I can reliably get dense hedges of different types of basils this way.

August 1, 2013	#7
Alfredo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Clifton, NJ Posts: 554	Tough call with so many varieties of Basil available...I usually grow 6-7 types of Basil every year. But this season I think my favorite Basil has to be Purple Petra Basil, as it serves a dual purpose throughout my garden, one being a mild sweet tasting basil and the other being a reliable ornamental color contrast against the green foliage everywhere. ~Alfredo

August 1, 2013	#8
Lorri D Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NorthWest Posts: 267	I've heard that the flavored basil types loose their distinctive flavors over time and revert back to normal tasting basil. I've never had a plant last more than a few months, so I have not had this problem. But, I am going to try to keep a plant all year long in my greenhouse. Does anyone know why this happens or better yet how to prevent it from happening? Thank you

August 1, 2013	#15
jennifer28 Two-faced Drama Queen Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital Posts: 955	Scott that basil sounds so good. I want to find out what kind of basil this Vietnamese woman is growing and using in her restaurant. I go there frequently and I love whatever basil she is using.