perennial basil (forum)

nick giancola starts with ...
Hi All.
I have always enjoyed Basil in my cooking and salads and always grew it every spring to last me to the end of summer, when it went to seed, then wait to next spring for fresh basil.
I have now dicovered a Perennial Basil that provides our family with Fresh leaves all year round. I have limited pots for sale small,medium and large [30lt] for sale here in WA. Email nick.giancola@ceramictilescentre.com.au




Time: 14th January 2012 12:57am

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About the Author nick giancola
perth wa
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MaryT says...
Hi Nick it may be difficult to find buyers because they reproduce so madly that everyone has them to give away. I have two types myself and just received seeds for another two from Mike. Pictures shows mine; can't even give them away as all my friends have them now :) Sorry for the duplicate pic.
Pictures - Click to enlarge

Picture: 1
Picture: 2
Picture: 3

Time: 19th January 2012 10:07am

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About the Author MaryT
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chillilover says...
Damn i don't have one and i have been buying basil from coles..ripoff. Are these seed raised. Need to go buy some seeds now.

Time: 19th January 2012 10:30am

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About the Author Chillilower
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MaryT says...
Happy to send you some seed Chilliover. Email me at tngmry at yahoo dot com dot au.

Time: 19th January 2012 10:52am

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About the Author MaryT
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chillilover says...
Thank you so much Mary. I've emailed you.

Time: 19th January 2012 12:02pm

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au0rey says...
Are these perenniel basil also thai basil?

If they are I managed to root and plant several from market cuttings.

However they always die when the weather turns cold ie winter. Do you guys think they have a chance to overwinter in the house?? I dont have a greenhouse and am thinking of moving the pot into the living room next to the window.

Time: 19th January 2012 6:54pm

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About the Author au0rey
melbourne
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Charles cant spell says...
Audrey - I would call those pics Thai Basil and while mine last a while they are nothing like Tulsi (holy basil). My Thai basil even if it last through winter dies in spring summer rather than returning to last years vigour.

Time: 19th January 2012 7:08pm

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About the Author Charlesstillcantspell1
Perth Innaloo
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amanda says...
Charles Can't Spell! where have u been!? We have missed U.

You could always let a plant or two go to seed over summer au0rey - then u will have continuous seedlings popping up, when they are ready to. I haven't planted seed for 4yrs now.

It might work au0rey...but herbs have their best flavour when they are under a little 'stress' (IMHO) is there no-where protected in your garden?

A warm dry north facing wall or such?

Time: 19th January 2012 7:21pm

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About the Author amanda19
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Mike says...
The pictures are of 2 forms sweet basil which also gets called thai basil.Confusingly Italian basil that has broad leaves also gets called sweet basil.The hot basil which I assume is the one charles is calling hot basil is the pork and chicken stir fry one.The lemon basil obviously smells citrusy,the opals are just coloured sweet basil.Chinese and vietnamese basils are smaller leafed distinctyive ones as well.What is unfortunate is that they all cross and when your lemon basil and hot basil cross they have an unholy taste.

Time: 19th January 2012 7:22pm

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amanda says...
Well - "italian sweet basil" and Thai basil don't cross readily...as I grow them in thickets...but - I did get one cross this year...and it was very nice in fact.

Thai basil is not useful as a substitute Italian cooking - IMHO. The flavour is very different.

I found the "columnnar" basil a very interesting plant...it loved winter here.

Time: 19th January 2012 8:54pm

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Mike says...
My 7 kinds were cut down to the 3 I use most and liked the best.I ditched the italian and use the sweet/thai in all the same ways like pumpkin soup and it is better.The hot I use in meat stir fries and the lemon I use with drinks,fish and chicken mostly.I have to admit I didn't have the italian one crossing.

Time: 19th January 2012 9:09pm

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amanda says...
I should have kept the seed hey Mike - it will no doubt pop up again tho - if it comes true to type. I let them go wild in my tomatoe patches - and I noticed this cross straight off the bat. Thai basil and Italian sweet basil are very different looking plants.

The taste was really good. I don't use Thai basil in Italian type recipes myself...but the cross could work fine.

A Pho soup is not the same with Italian basil and a pesto not the same with Thai basil. So I keep both types now (my only two that are a basic necessity)

Time: 19th January 2012 10:50pm

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au0rey says...
Thai basil is the one I use for Asian cooking and its flavour is totally unlike the other basils and I find it indispensable for chicken stir fry.

Amanda I have tried for two years to protect it but it inevitably died so I am wondering about bringing indoors during coming winter. I know I can strike from market cuttings again when the weather warms up BUT thai basil actually becomes expensive only during winter when supply is short, so that is why I hope to keep it going during winter.

Once I collected seeds from them but the seeds did not germinate when I planted them. I am not sure. So since I havent allowed any to flower and seed, been pinching off buds every time I see them popping up. Perhaps i will allow one plant to do just that as per your suggestion.

Can I know the lowest temp you ever get in winter? Looks like your temp allows the seeds to survive and resprout even in winter/early spring??I am just wondering if the seeds that lie around will survive our Melbourne cold to resprout.

Time: 19th January 2012 11:19pm

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About the Author au0rey
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amanda says...
au0rey - I often freeze my herbs..? It's not perfect - but heaps better than dried stuff. I also have a vacuum sealer which helps this too. U can get a similar effect with snap lock bags and just sucking the air out a small gap b4 u fully seal.

Not so great if u want "presentation" but disguised in the dressing or such - it works fine...I have to freeze copious amounts of whole coriander plants - as they run to seed so damn fast here - and I use a lot.

The seeds may survive - but the wet may be more the problem than the cold. What about an enclosure? Like a poly tunnel or such? A warm spot in a pot under the verandah?

My basil grows all year round (so can't really compare there..) Seed is usually very reliable - even here it is almost weedy - popping up in paving cracks etc.

Lowest temp here 2oC - usually 6oC the worst tho. No frost.

I have managed to keep a Vietnamese mint (Laksa herb etc) going all thru my summer this year (a first after 10yrs of trying!!) so anything is possible :)

U can only try it indoors - so give it a go!





Time: 19th January 2012 11:41pm

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au0rey says...
Hi Amanda, I never tried freezing thai basil, they even turn black just a few days in the vege compartment, really sensitive. I have also never tried freezing coriander, I use a lot too. Yes they bolt so quickly, I seem to collect more seeds than leaves haha!

I saw in the supermarket coriander stored in sunflower oil. That gives me an idea. How about storing these delicate herbs in oil? I suppose we can store thai basil similar fashion too. If we are using them as flavour rather than garnish, yes we just need the taste rather than the look. :)

My vietnamese mint survived many rounds of winter too, very resilient, but not my thai basil.

I reckon I would give indoors a go and give the herb+oil a go too. :)

Time: 20th January 2012 11:30am

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amanda says...
Hey that's a good idea with the oil au0rey! I have seen some odd looking Perennial coriander in Bunno's too? Coriander freezes quite well - I put the whole plant in. It goes brittle but stays green.
Or maybe we could juice our basil and freeze it into tiny ice cubes...!? I have not tried drying it either.

Maybe if you put your pot out just on nice days in a sheltered spot.

Let us know how it goes? :)

Time: 20th January 2012 11:46am

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chillilover says...
Hi Mary,
I got your parcel today. Thank you so much for the seeds. Got 4 all together. Once again appreciate. Hope i grow them well and pass on the love.

Time: 20th January 2012 4:26pm

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sydney
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MaryT says...
That's good; chillilover. Happy growing. Let's see who can sprout Mike's basil first!

Time: 20th January 2012 5:22pm

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Treen says...
Hi, I was just wondering if someone had some seeds left? Would love to give it a go! (after winter of course!)

Time: 4th June 2012 11:03pm

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madhav says...
Where can i get seeds for Perennial Basil?


Time: 13th October 2015 11:12am

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About the Author madhav
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betr2garden says...
I visited a friend last weekend (NSW East Coast), who gave me a tour of their garden. They had 3 'Perennial Basil' plants: 1) Bought as Perennial Thai Basil 2) Bought as Perennial Basil and 3) Bought as Perennial Wild Basil. All three plants were identical (to my eye), woody, true perennial bushes (ranging from 50-90cm tall) which provide basil leaves all year round. My searches on the internet today have raised more questions than they have answered. Seems many varieties, including annual (might last longer if in right conditions) and bi-annual (might die down but come back next year) varieties are all being sold as 'perennials'. PS If anyone knows what the variety I saw might be, I'd love to know if it would grow from cuttings or layering and what it's common and/or botanical name might be.

Time: 4th November 2019 12:26pm

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About the Author betr2garden
Central Coast, NSW
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