different basils comparison

[NwMtGardener]

Okay, so I grew 3 different types of basil this year from seed. I found one that was really disappointing for me, Opal. Anyone else have this experience or is it just me?! 1st of all, it was SUPPOSED to be purple, and I only got 1 purple sprout, out of like 6, then thru various tragedies only ended up with one Opal left. Here's a pic of it, it's the tiny one in the bottom of the pot! The other is Italian Basil, the big leaved, super tall yummy one! I kinda somehow lost track of which one is Genovese, but I really cant see any difference between any of the big plants, so I think it's basically the same as Italian.

A look at my basil pots, in front of the clematis and trellis. 1 Purple Ruffles basil in the middle. 2 peppers to the right side. See the wimpy little Opal in the bottom LEFT? Pathetic! Oh yeah, it wants to go to seed already!!!

 

[journey11]

They look so pretty in pots. I'm betting that the one on the far right on the front(bottom) row is your Genovese basil. Their leaves are more elongated than that really big one you have with the rounded leaves, but the same color. That's the kind I grow most years, although last year I also got a freebie from Jung's called "Balcony basil mix", two kinds of cute, short, rounded plants. I thought they tasted about the same to me, but they were much easier for growing in pots.

 

[lesa]

I never met a basil I didn't like! That is a lovely collection you have there! I had lemon and anise basil one year- they were good, but I still love the old standby!

 

[stepstephens2]

I grew the Opal last year with the same results & it never looked as pretty as the picture on the seed pkg. That Purple Ruffles is one of my favorites (it's supposed to be beautiful in a homemade bottle of herb vinegar, which I haven't tried yet.) I grow Purple Ruffles, Genovese, & Thai regularly. I both direct seed and plant in pots. Thai basil seeds will live through a year in the compost pile, by the way. I ended up with it volunteering pretty much everywhere this year, but I don't mind! I'll take basil volunteers over stinging nettle or goathead volunteers any day. Anyways, have you tried Cinnamon Basil? It thrived for me last year really well, but I couldn't eat it... it smelled weird to me, almost like it had undertones of meat (?) in the scent. So bizarre.

 

[NwMtGardener]

I think I had a cinnamon basil one year, but it died. Or I killed it. Or something Sounds kinda gross, tho, from your description, so I'm not too upset!

The lemon basil sounds awesome! Have to look for that next year I have self-seeding cilantro throughout the entire garden, and yeah, I"m totally fine with that One can never have enough cilantro!

 

[digitS']

I didn't jump in to defend Opal because I was watching her granddaughter get married this week .

Mom would have enjoyed the ceremony. The kid that graduated from college in spring of 2010 is now a married woman. My youngest, and the oldest (40-yo) was here to attend on a very brief visit .

But, basil . . . not family . . .

Something you can do with Opal dark basil is change your thinking about it . Opal is supposed to be iridescence. I don't know where we got the idea that it should be purple - or, remain purple. The variety is variable, no question. And, even plants that are dark, dark, dark - will develop all sorts of green highlights as they mature.

Another thing you can do with Opal seedlings is cull the lighter colored ones before their 1st transplanting. (Sorry, Mom .) Did you know that Opal is from Africa? (Not Mom, she was from around here .) Yep, African basil. Supposed to be the best for drying - I've yet to try that. Drying basil scares me - it turns black! I guess that could be okay.

Steve

 

[NwMtGardener]

Oh, but STEVE, keep up with the times. We're now drying basil, and other herbies, in the FRIDGE. In a paper bag. So they stay green. I just put some in today, including that lil brat Opal. And did you notice, my pathetic opal looks nothing like yours. I might like it if it was iridescent!!

 

[digitS']

Yes, I may be behind the times but Opal, in her changeableness (that a word? ), must be very much of the moment and may be best with the ornamentals.

Imma gonna try that drying herbs in a paper bag.



Steve
regular brick

 

[Liana]

I did cinnamon basil last year and it did very well. Though I won't be planting it again as I wasn't fond of the sharp taste. This year I have genovese, african blue, and red rubin.

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hi liana, welcome! Do you think you could post us a picture of your red rubin? Sounds interesting, i could have every color of the rainbow basil!

And Steve, we have to tease you extra-more since you weren't around for a few days!