I was first introduced to Basil plants by my ex-classmate many years ago when I visited her at her home in Taiping. I brought back many types of herbs from her garden but only 2 types of Basil plants remained in my garden. The other herbs didn't survive.
#1 - The Sweet Basil plants are growing well in my garden.
I multiplied my Sweet Basil plants through stem cuttings.
I propagated them in small pots. They grow well in good drainage soil.
In this hot weather, my Sweet Basil plants seemed to be growing faster and healthier.
Looks like I will need to transfer them to bigger pots for them to grow.
Sweet basil has a milder fragrant and the leaves are bigger than the other Basil.
#2 - Another type growing in my garden is the common Basil plants. I don't know its specific name. I used to have the Purple Basil and the Green Basil, It looks like they have cross pollinated.
These Basil plants are very easy to grow.
They have a stronger fragrant than the Sweet Basil.
These are also propagated from stem cuttings.
They too grow well in well drained soil.
They have green stems and green leaves and they too love the sun.
I placed my Sweet Basil plants and the common Basil plants next to each other. Now I have noticed that they may have cross pollinated. The same plant have leaves that resembled both the Sweet Basil and also of the common Basil.
Basil plants growing tall and skinny.
They have also started to flower. Surprisingly, the flowers are a mixture of purple and white. Even though I like the flowers, I usually cut off the flowers to encourage more branches and leaves to grow to get a bushier plant.
Sometimes I used these for cooking or for garnishing. The flowers can be used for making mild tea.
Can someone help me with the specific name of this Basil plant?
I have not tried propagating with seeds. Maybe I should collect these dried seeds and try to propagate them.
The Lord is good and glad to
teach the proper path to all who go astray;
he will teach the ways that are right
and best to those who humbly turn to him.
And when we obey him, every path he guides us on
is fragrant with his loving-kindness and his truth.
(Psalm 25:8-10, TLB)
your basil plants are lovely. Beautiful photos. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteit reminds me of nature and I find it very soothing. :)
www.mahasbeautyblog.com
Thank you, Mahas. Have a beautiful new week ahead!
Deletebasil can take over
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tom. I am hoping to grow more basil and other herbs. Have a great new week ahead!
DeleteI want to grow basil this year. The plant is annual here. It is good to make pesto and and I love burschetta. We are slowly getting rid of our snow. Your plants are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Thel. I have tasted pesto prawns before and I love it. I hope to learn to make pesto with my basil. Have a wonderful new week ahead!
DeleteThat one if not mistaken is Selasih. Hubby say need to cook baru can eat.
ReplyDeleteI hv sweet basil, selasih n lemon basil. Easiest to ppant for me us sweet basil. Cucuk terus grown. But also easy to kena mealybug
I have eaten selasih raw as ulam. My Malay colleagues taught me during my working days. I have also used a bit for salad and they tasted okay too! My friends taught me to boil egg & meat soup also. I seldom use Basil because hubby doesn't eat, smell too strong for him.
DeleteMy old basil barely survived. Maybe old. But I did grow few through seeds. I tried stem cutting; put in glass of water wait for toots to grow then transfer to soil. Maybe I can try direct grow through stem cutting.
ReplyDeleteI didn't soak in water, I just stick the stem cutting direct into the earth and they grow very well. I have yet to try growing from seeds.
DeleteHello, Nancy! Your Basil plants are doing fantastic. I should try growing some herbs. Happy Sunday, enjoy your new week ahead!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Eileen. I am very happy with my Basil plants. Have a great new week ahead!
DeleteI grow basil as annuals here. I think they need good soil and a big pot. It's easy to propagate stem cuttings in a glass of water, then plant into pots.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Riitta. I will be transferring my Basil plants into bigger pots. Have a fantastic new week ahead!
DeleteI love basil but mine can't really grow well...I think like you say needs good drainage :)
ReplyDeleteKeep trying, Elin. Good drainage soil, water and sunlight. Have a great new week ahead!
DeleteYour basil leaves grows well & so is mine. Is the stem of the basil leaves reddish/purple in colour? People say this type taste better. whenever I fried rice, I like to put in basil leaves. Nice smell & taste. The flowers are the seeds.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Irene. The stem is green with a tinge of purple on the tender shoots. Yes, fried rice with some basil leaves and chili padi. Hmm I am thinking of eating fried rice! Lol!
DeleteYou have a fabulous green thumb. Your plants are so healthy looking. I'm guessing you spend a lot of time in your garden.
ReplyDeleteHave a fabulous day Nancy. ☺
Thank you, Sandee. There are days I spent about 2 to 3 hours in the garden. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Have a terrific new week ahead!
DeleteI love and grow Sweet Basil every year and I plant them in my garden. I start them from seeds in the house for earlier basil but sometimes I plant them directly in the garden once the soil has warmed up in the Spring. I make pesto base by processing washed basil leaves, garlic and Extra Virgin Olive oil in my food processor, and I freeze it in measured containers. When I need to make Pesto, I add the other ingredients and I have fresh Pesto. The olive oil keeps the basil green.
ReplyDeleteI also dehydrate some basil to use in soup and casseroles.
I never tried to propagate by stem cuttings.
Have a great Sunday.
Hugs,
JB
Thank you, Julia. I think I will try your recipe for the pesto base. First I will have to wait for a good harvest. Have a great new week! Hugs*
DeleteThey are all lovely, Nancy, and you have such a great talent and knowledge in plants.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. I am still learning. Have a wonderful new week!
DeleteReally interesting post...thx for sharing! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beauty. Have a happy new week!
DeleteYour basil looks like a really healthy plant it is one of many herbs that I like to grow in my garden.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mamas. I am only beginning to learn to grow herbs in my garden. Have a beautiful day!
DeleteI like to eat basil but I don't know the difference between the various types. I know one that is used commonly in Taiwan food known as 九層塔 "jiu cheng ta" (nine levels tower). Most probably the basil plant looks like a tower.
ReplyDeleteI too am not well versed with the different types of Basil plants. They do look like towers especially at the tip of the tender shoots.
DeleteGreat photos, the basil looks vibrant and so green.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Denise. They are doing well in this hot weather.
DeleteAll that gardening does keep you busy!
ReplyDeleteNot everyday but for certain days in a month.
DeleteEveryone keeps telling us how easy basil is to grow, but we've had no luck! Wish I had a green thumb. :-(
ReplyDeleteSo far I am doing well with my Basil plants but not so with other herbs. They all perished!
DeleteNice plant...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. Have a wonderful day!
DeleteYou are really good at growing things...
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rose. The Basil plants happen to grow easily too.
DeleteLovely basil plants
ReplyDeleteThank you, Beena. Have a lovely day!
DeleteI love Basil but it does not grow well for me!!! Well done Diane
ReplyDeleteThank you, Diane. Have a wonderful day!
Deletelovely one of my favorite herbs
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rebecca. Have a lovely day!
DeleteBeautiful basil plants, Nancy. Very healthy looking. I planted it once but never continued. Perhaps I should again! ^.^
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sharon. This is the best season to start.
DeleteThey grow so fast!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lina. I think it is because they love the sun.
DeleteYour 'other' basil should be Thai basil. I either have tons of those until cannot finish eating, or they just die. At the moment, my mother plant has died and I'm waiting for the seeds to germinate. Oh I didn't know can plant sweet basil.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Stacy. The other or Thai basil are much easier to grow and they grow fast too. Sweet basil grow much slower.
DeleteThai basil is a bit 'strong'... my dad, my hubby, the kids complain about the smell. Sweet basil should be more palatable.
DeleteLol! My hubby totally dislike basil but my elder son loves sweet basil. Sweet basil is milder and more palatable.
DeleteHi.. may i ask about basil..
DeleteCan u help me where in perak
Can buy basil plants??
Hi Aran, I bought the basil from the supermarket. I used the stem to grow my own basil.
DeleteIn these part of the world, Thai basil & Sweet Basil grows well.
ReplyDeleteUse Thai basil in soup noodles (ala Vietnamese?). Or Thai style salads
Or steep in teas, with Misai Kucing leaves. (couple of leaves of each per mug)
Sweet Basil better in pestos & pasta sauces or beef stew garnish...
Chew as breath freshener! Can eat 'em flowers... chomp chomp
I am the only one eating the Thai basil. Thanks for the infos and uses.
Delete