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

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. . .

Tracydr · April 7, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennifer28

chocolate mint? does it really taste like chocolate and mint or is it a brown mint?

Yes, it really does taste chocolatey. Very good in chocolate chip cookies or brownies. I use about 1/2 cup chopped finely.
Always makes me think of people making pot brownies, adding herb to my brownies.

FarmerShawn · April 7, 2013

I just seeded (into mini-blocks) Napoletano Basil, Clove-scented Basil, Cinnamon/Mexican Basil, Sweet Basil, Genovese Basil, Dwarf Basil Blend, Thai Basil, Lemon Basil, and Lime Basil. I have grown the last six before, and love them all, of course for different purposes.

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.

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.

FILMNET · August 2, 2013

Their is 2 types of Thai Basil and many others from Southeast Asia, very easy to grow if you can find seeds we love them

March 11, 2013	#46
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.

April 7, 2013	#50
FarmerShawn Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 1,001	I just seeded (into mini-blocks) Napoletano Basil, Clove-scented Basil, Cinnamon/Mexican Basil, Sweet Basil, Genovese Basil, Dwarf Basil Blend, Thai Basil, Lemon Basil, and Lime Basil. I have grown the last six before, and love them all, of course for different purposes. __________________ "Red meat is NOT bad for you. Now blue-green meat, THAT'S bad for you!" -- Tommy Smothers

August 1, 2013	#54
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	greek columnar, lettuce leaf and boxwood __________________

August 1, 2013	#55
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	#58
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

March 11, 2013	#47
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	#48
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	#51
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	#52
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	#53
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	#59
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.

August 2, 2013	#60
FILMNET Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: North Charleston,South Carolina, USA Posts: 1,803	Their is 2 types of Thai Basil and many others from Southeast Asia, very easy to grow if you can find seeds we love them