Herb Gardening: Popular Basil Varietals

Few spring herbs are as refreshing as the immediate crisp smack of basil on the tongue, and even the most humble pantry can be made fully satisfying with the aid of some fresh basil growing on the windowsill or in the garden. With the ever expanding popularity of herb gardens amongst cooks from every walk of life, every spring brings a few new basil varietals to market. Let's take a look at a few of the most tempting varietals that are available on the market.

Sweet Basil

Sweet basil is the most popular variety of basil on the market. As indicated by its name, sweet basil has a pleasant sweet taste that balances out the herbal tang. Sweet basil is a sun loving variety of basil that grows from 12" to 16". As with all varieties of basil, be sure to pinch off the flowering heads in order to maximize foliage growth. Sweet basil is easily recognized by its tapered green leaves that are shallowly serrated and lightly crinkled.

Mammoth Basil

If sweet basil leaves are somewhat crinkled, mammoth basils are exponentially more so: you might not even recognize it as a basil plant until you give it a sniff. It's the massive size of leaves on this variety of basil that earn it its name. The large, fragrant leaves grow to about 6" long and f4" wide each, but they retain all the zip of traditional basil Mammoth basil prefers full sun and grows as tall as 30" in height, so be sure to give this fellow a little extra room when planting. The leaves are great on sandwiches and salads, as well as traditional basil dishes. One great application is using the huge leaves to wrap fish or chicken prior to grilling. Although this is the first season that I have noticed mammoth basil, this variety is a new favorite that will be in my herb garden for years to come.

Sweet Genovese

Although most varieties of basil are well suited for the production of traditional pesto, the basil varietal sweet genovese is considered to be the best. Sweet genovese has distinctive shiny leaves that are shaped similar to almond nuts. This variety of basil is native to India and Africa. Sweet genovese grows to about 2' in height and is happy in either full or partial sun. Unlike many basil varietals, sweet genovese can be harvested up to seven or eight cuttings per season.

Other Popular Varieties

There are over 150 varieties of basil, and they all have their place. Thai basil is an anise flavored variety widely use in Vietnam, while anise basil has an even stronger licorice flavor. Lemon Basil is a popular Western variety used in fragrances and tea.

Sources:

http://americanplant.net/Pages/PlantCareInfo/BasilVarieties.htm
http://superherbs.net/GenoveseBasil.htm