Smallest leaf Basil

lumierefrere · August 2, 2007

For quite a few years I grew the Windowbox Basil from Renee Shepherd. I was happy. Then I got one from Ferris Seed (I think it is) and I was happier (I thought) because it had such a delightful globe shape to the plant. I got 2 varieties from Seeds from Italy/whatever--the verde a piccole foglie and the compatto. The compatto didn't seem all that compatto. Now I'm confused. I don't know what I grew out this year, I thought it was the Ferris, but I don't like it and it's certainly not globe-shaped. Also the leaves are too big and tough.

Which is the variety with the smallest most tender little leaves? They should be the size of mouse ears. Has anyone tried the Pistou Basil?

Barb

feldon30 · August 2, 2007

Spicy Bush Globe?

shelleybean · August 2, 2007

I wish I could answer your question. I grew six Greek basil plants this year from the same seed packet. Five of the plants were normal, same sized leaves as the Spicy Globe/Spicy Bush type. But one of the plants has always produced very tiny, tiny leaves. The plant itself is only slightly smaller than it's siblings, but the leaves are the smallest I've ever seen on basil. As you described, like a mouse's ear.

lumierefrere · August 2, 2007

I think the Windowbox may be Spicy Globe. Neither name is an actual variety, so like Amishland, they've just renamed as they've desired.

Rena · August 2, 2007

I went and dug out my seeds...... I knew I had grown a really small leaf its called fine Bush Minette.
Edited to add: if you want some seeds pm me.

shelleybean · August 2, 2007

I know Park used to sell Minette. You might want to go to their web site and see if they still carry it or there's a picture. I think www.parkseed.com is their address.

lumierefrere · August 2, 2007

Pistou is the "improved" version of that whatever it means. I learned about it from the Park site. I guess I'll have to bite the bullet and pay $4 to have $1.75 worth of seeds sent. That's thru amazon. If you go thru Park's, the shipping is $7.

shelleybean · August 2, 2007

$7 TO SHIP ONE PACKET OF SEEDS???

lumierefrere · August 2, 2007

That's what I recall. $6.95. Stupid, huh?

Zana · August 2, 2007

cher lumierefrere,
I just picked up some seeds for spicy globe basil with tiny leaves this afternoon from Ontario Seed Company here in town. Do you want them?

lumierefrere · August 3, 2007

Thank you so much for the offer of the spicy globe but I think that's what I have. I checked the Ferry Morse pack and apparently that's what they're calling what I have. I starting to not trust these companies with all their imprecise names.

Suze · August 3, 2007

What I grow is Spicy Globe (sometimes called Spicy Bush). It is a hybrid, and I just pick up the packs from whatever seed rack I see them on when I'm out shopping.

The plants are generally fairly compact, but can get up to two feet tall if not kept cut back. Leaves are always small.

August 2, 2007	#1
lumierefrere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Zone 4 NY Posts: 772	Smallest leaf Basil For quite a few years I grew the Windowbox Basil from Renee Shepherd. I was happy. Then I got one from Ferris Seed (I think it is) and I was happier (I thought) because it had such a delightful globe shape to the plant. I got 2 varieties from Seeds from Italy/whatever--the verde a piccole foglie and the compatto. The compatto didn't seem all that compatto. Now I'm confused. I don't know what I grew out this year, I thought it was the Ferris, but I don't like it and it's certainly not globe-shaped. Also the leaves are too big and tough. Which is the variety with the smallest most tender little leaves? They should be the size of mouse ears. Has anyone tried the Pistou Basil? Barb

August 2, 2007	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Spicy Bush Globe? __________________ [SIZE="3"]I've relaunched my gardening website -- [B]TheUnconventionalTomato.com[/B][/SIZE] * [I][SIZE="1"]*I'm not allowed to post weblinks so you'll have to copy-paste it manually.[/SIZE][/I]

August 2, 2007	#3
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I wish I could answer your question. I grew six Greek basil plants this year from the same seed packet. Five of the plants were normal, same sized leaves as the Spicy Globe/Spicy Bush type. But one of the plants has always produced very tiny, tiny leaves. The plant itself is only slightly smaller than it's siblings, but the leaves are the smallest I've ever seen on basil. As you described, like a mouse's ear. __________________ Michele

August 2, 2007	#6
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I know Park used to sell Minette. You might want to go to their web site and see if they still carry it or there's a picture. I think www.parkseed.com is their address. __________________ Michele

August 2, 2007	#8
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	$7 TO SHIP ONE PACKET OF SEEDS??? __________________ Michele

August 2, 2007	#5
Rena Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Warm Springs, GA Posts: 1,421	I went and dug out my seeds...... I knew I had grown a really small leaf its called fine Bush Minette. Edited to add: if you want some seeds pm me.

August 2, 2007	#10
Zana Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Southwestern Ontario, Canada Posts: 4,521	cher lumierefrere, I just picked up some seeds for spicy globe basil with tiny leaves this afternoon from Ontario Seed Company here in town. Do you want them?

August 3, 2007	#11
lumierefrere Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Zone 4 NY Posts: 772	Thank you so much for the offer of the spicy globe but I think that's what I have. I checked the Ferry Morse pack and apparently that's what they're calling what I have. I starting to not trust these companies with all their imprecise names.

August 3, 2007	#12
Suze Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 3,027	What I grow is Spicy Globe (sometimes called Spicy Bush). It is a hybrid, and I just pick up the packs from whatever seed rack I see them on when I'm out shopping. The plants are generally fairly compact, but can get up to two feet tall if not kept cut back. Leaves are always small.