Lemon Basil Seeds???

AK110682 · February 19, 2009

Have any of you ever grown Lemon Basil? I grew genovese basil last year... and this year I decided to also try some Lemon Basil.

Tonight, I pulled out a few jiffy pellets and started planting some seeds..... As soon as the seeds touched water they immediately started to swell up, growing bigger and bigger right before my eyes... turning from black to a "blueberry" like color. Is this normal? After a few mins of sitting on the pellet, I touched one and it just turned to mush. They look like some kind of eggs..... yuck, I hope they aren't really eggs of some sort.

They came from Wintersown, in a new, unopened package... packed for '07. Would seeds that are only 2 years old turn to mush when they touched water?

I will try to get some pictures on here in the next couple days or so.....

What do ya'll think?

-Amber

Tomaat · February 19, 2009

This is perfectly normal to all basil seeds. In south east asia, the basil seeds is used in drinks (makes them look alike frog eggs...).

Suze · February 19, 2009

I have grown lemon basil before, and several other basils.

Yeah, basil seeds visibly swell when they contact moisture. Assuming fairly decent warmth, I suspect they should sprout in a few days or so. If uneven/cooler temps, may take a bit longer.

AK110682 · February 19, 2009

Wow, didn't realize this was normal..... you learn something new everyday! Thanks Ya'll!

-Amber

AK110682 · March 1, 2009

Yep those "frog eggs" are up and growing beautifully... who knew

-Amber

garnetmoth · April 3, 2009

Ive had the most luck with a bit of Reemay or using a plastic clamshell to keep the humidity in when sprouting Basil.

Good luck to you! should go great with fish, cous cous, chicken....

February 19, 2009	#1
AK110682 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 49	Lemon Basil Seeds??? Have any of you ever grown Lemon Basil? I grew genovese basil last year... and this year I decided to also try some Lemon Basil. Tonight, I pulled out a few jiffy pellets and started planting some seeds..... As soon as the seeds touched water they immediately started to swell up, growing bigger and bigger right before my eyes... turning from black to a "blueberry" like color. Is this normal? After a few mins of sitting on the pellet, I touched one and it just turned to mush. They look like some kind of eggs..... yuck, I hope they aren't really eggs of some sort. They came from Wintersown, in a new, unopened package... packed for '07. Would seeds that are only 2 years old turn to mush when they touched water? I will try to get some pictures on here in the next couple days or so..... What do ya'll think? -Amber

February 19, 2009	#4
AK110682 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 49	Wow... you learn something new everyday! Wow, didn't realize this was normal..... you learn something new everyday! Thanks Ya'll! -Amber

March 1, 2009	#5
AK110682 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Tennessee Posts: 49	Yep.... Yep those "frog eggs" are up and growing beautifully... who knew -Amber

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February 19, 2009	#2
Tomaat Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 154	This is perfectly normal to all basil seeds. In south east asia, the basil seeds is used in drinks (makes them look alike frog eggs...).

February 19, 2009	#3
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	I have grown lemon basil before, and several other basils. Yeah, basil seeds visibly swell when they contact moisture. Assuming fairly decent warmth, I suspect they should sprout in a few days or so. If uneven/cooler temps, may take a bit longer.

April 3, 2009	#6
garnetmoth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: cincinnati, oh Posts: 492	Ive had the most luck with a bit of Reemay or using a plastic clamshell to keep the humidity in when sprouting Basil. Good luck to you! should go great with fish, cous cous, chicken....