Basils To Order For A Balcony
Answered by: Inge Poot
Question from: Sepand
Posted on: April 07, 2010

I have a relatively large balcony (6m x 2m). Last year I grew some cherry tomatoes, tarragon, and mint and had around 7-8 pots of Genovese basil. This year, I want to add some variety to my basil, but I’m looking at my order right now and it’s seems like I’m going overboard.

If you had to choose 4 or 5 of these varieties, which one would it be? I usually use basil in soups, salads, pasta, and Persian food. Sometimes also in chicken.

Basil, Purple Bush Plants
Basil, Pesto Perpetuo Plants
Basil, Spicy Globe Seeds
Basil, Green Globe Seeds
Basil, Napoletano Seeds
Basil, Sweet SowNatural(tm) Seeds
Basil, Sweet Salad? Seeds
Basil, Anise Seeds
Basil, Envigor? Seeds
Basil, Greek Bush Plants

Instead of Purple Bush Basil, I would get Rosie Basil, since it is new for this year (2010) and has not had a chance to mutate back to green or cross with green varieties to get greener. Purple basils are a bit more peppery tasting than green sweet basils, so add less pepper to a dish containing it. They add appetizing colour to salads. Perpetuo basil is a good choice because it does not slow down leaf production to flower and the white margins look nice in salads or fresh garnishes. Green Blobe basil would be my choice for a small-leaved variety to use for drying. Anise basil would be my choice for Persian dishes. Envigor basil would be my choice for a disease free big-leaved standard sweet basil.

May I suggest Sweet Dani Lemon basil as a lovely lemony basil to go with chicken, fish and salads?

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