Sweet Genovese

The Basil plant is an annual which means that it only lives through one season.  Generally this is around 4-6 months depending on your local climate.  The plant generally can grow to 1 1/2-2 feet tall.  Outdoors the plant will be happy with the temperatures between 50 and 90 degrees. Anything above or below those temperatures will cause the plant to suffer and eventually die.  Using a mulch will insulate the soil from the heat of the day and improve this situation greatly.     

Mammoth Basil

To grow Sweet Basils, the daytime temperatures must be warm but not too hot (around 75-90 degrees) and it must get at least 3-4 hours of sunlight a day.  It can be grown with filtered light all day such as under a tree or in a bright window indoors.  If it gets too hot, dry or if it becomes pot bound the plant will begin its flowering process which signals the end of its life.  It rarely produces more tasty leaves after the flowers appear.  It is important to keep the soil moist and somewhat cool and in a large pot, as well as pinching off the flowers that begin to form.  The longest a basil plant will grow is about 6 months in the ground, about 3-4 months in a pot.

 Opal Basil

Always cut basil by taking off the tops of the stems, about a third of the way down, to an intersection of new leaves.  This will indicate to the plant to start growing the tiny new leaves into branches of more leaves.  If you just pull of the leaf you want, you will get no new growth at all and your plant will start to stunt and begin making flowers.  Once your plant starts this process of making flowers, if they are not trimmed off your plant will make seeds from the flowers and die soon after.  So even if you are not making pesto, prune your plants regularly, store the leaves chopped up in a little olive oil in the refrigerator, and your plant will be healthier and happier.

Basil - Sweet Genovese is our best Italian large leaf variety of sweet basil.  The flavor is far superior to other sweet basil and the leaves grow to 3" long and 2" wide.  This basil is used for pesto, pasta, and many Italian recipes as well as American recipes.  The plants grow to about 2' tall and around. 

Basil - Mammoth is a lettuce leaf variety from Italy that grows leaves as large as your hand and has a stronger flavor than Sweet Genovese.  The leaves are ruffled with jagged edges and the plants grow to be about 1- 1/2' tall.  This makes a great pesto or use the leaves whole on a sandwich.

Basil - Opal or Red Rubin is a red leaf variety with the same flavor as sweet basil.  Grows the same and is used the same but also makes a wonderful garnish.

To use Basil in cooking, add fresh leaves to anything and everything, there are no rules at all when it comes to basil.  See The Tasteful Kitchen for recipes.

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