Ocimum, Basil, Sweet Basil 'Italian Large Leaf'

While classified as an herb, we us it almost like a vegetable.

We make pesto with it every summer and freeze it in 1/4 cu...Read Morep portions for pizza sauce and spagetti sauce, etc.

Fresh basil is best with slices garden fresh tomatoes.

If you find you have not planted enough from seed, basil is also easily propagated by placing cuttings in water. They readily grow roots and can then be transplanted. In a short time you will be able to selectively harvest leaves.

This plant is grows like a champ in our hot, humid Arkansas weather and is larger than our other two varieties, Dark Opal and Genovese. ...Read MoreIt branches well when topped and seems very pest and disease resistant.

It serves as a good standard of comparison when tasting along side the others. The taste is softer than either of our other two varieties, making it a good general purpose herb for all the standard classics.

Grew well all summer in a 14" container in zone 8a. Removing flower heads and pinching back lead to bushier, stronger growth. Self-sowe...Read Mored itself into all the surrounding containers, but seedlings are easy to pull out. This is not a particularly strong-tasting basil although the leaves are a nice size for cooking (a few inches long and wide, not huge). Seeds are easy to collect - just shake them out of dried flower heads. I'll grow these again next year. Grows best in moist, rich soil in full sun.