Types of Basil: 20 Basil Varieties and Their Use

Welcome back to Agronomag, in today's video we are talking about the types of basil, 20 basil varieties and their use. Basil is a warm weather fragrant herb that is known to make a lot of dishes taste 10 times better including pesto for that matter. It is the ingredient that most meals are missing and if you clicked on this link then chances are that you too want to learn more about every basil variety out there and how you should use them. But before we actually get into the meat of the video, the 20 basil varieties that you should know about, let's just give you a little brief intro which explains to you how you can start planting basil for yourself today. So planting, growing and harvesting basil. By far the most common type of basil that you will easily come across in most markets is the sweet basil but other than that you also have purple basil, lemon basil and Thai basil. You'll be happy to hear that basil in itself is actually quite easy to grow since all you need is a good location with fertile and moist soil that gets about six to eight hours of sun on a daily basis. You can also place your basil in containers or raised beds although the most important part here is that you need to make sure that the pH level of the soil needs to be around 6.0 to 7.5. You can start planting the seeds indoors around six weeks before the spring frost hits but if you want to plant them outside you will want to wait for the soil to reach a temperature of about 10 degrees celsius or 50 degrees fahrenheit to 21 degrees celsius or 70 degrees fahrenheit. Take the seeds and plant them about one quarter to an inch deep into the ground then as soon as the leaves start to sprout start laying out the seedlings to one plant every 10 to 12 inches. Ideally your basil should grow as tall as 12 to 24 inches or so. As soon as the branch has around six to eight leaves you will need to start pruning the branches again. Afterwards just fertilize them well with a 5-10-5 fertilizer and you should start pinching off the center shoot to make sure that they don't start flowering anytime soon. If your basil does start flowering don't be afraid to cut them right off and if the weather does get a bit too cold you may want to harvest your basil a bit sooner so that it doesn't die off completely by the time you actually harvest it. But hey now that we know how to plant, grow and harvest the basil which was pretty easy how about we talk about the 20 varieties of basil that you should look out for right now starting off with number one Christmas basil. This basil is quite popular for its two inch glossy green leaves and of course we can't forget about its purple flowers too. The Christmas basil is known for adding a fruitier flavor to any salad or drink it gets added to and not only that but it also makes for a great decorative piece if you want to make your landscape look all the more aesthetic. Overall the Christmas basil is a great border plant to go for one that usually reaches heights of up to 20 inches or so. Secondly we have cinnamon basil if you are more so looking for a spicer alternative to the Christmas basil then you most definitely need to go for the cinnamon basil because it's sure to hit the spot for you. This 25 to 30 inch tall plant looks astonishing to say the least thanks to its dark purple stems and its small and cute leaves. It is a fan favorite option for a lot of people and not only that but it can also make for a great ornamental option for fruit salads and other garnishes. Just keep in mind that the cinnamon basil is also quite a lot spicier than your standard basil so you may want to keep it away from picky eaters that can't stand a salad that bites back. Number three sweet basil as we mentioned previously this is by far the most popular variety of basil there is out there and for good reason too. It is mostly used in pesto salads and marinades although it can also be used as an extra ingredient in most other meals too. You can tell if you're dealing with a sweet basil or not based on the fact that your plant has rounded cup shaped leaves. Interestingly enough a lot of farmers have also been planting sweet basil into their crops in order to repel mosquitoes and since they are always so readily available there's no reason as to why you shouldn't do the same too. At number four we have Genovese basil. If you are looking to impress your Italian ancestors then you have got to go with the Genovese basil because there's no better option for you out there. This classic Italian basil is known for having very large dark green leaves and as you can probably tell by now it is most famous in pesto among other Italian dishes. Many people can't tell the difference between the Genovese basil and the sweet basil but you can clearly distinguish them one from the other based on their leaves alone since the Genovese basil leaves are a lot flatter while the sweet basil leaves tend to be a lot more pointed shaped. Number five Italian large leaf basil. You can instantly tell if you're dealing with Italian large leaf basil based on the fact they both smell and taste way sweeter than most other basil varieties out there. It is even sweeter than the Genovese basil which is why it's oftentimes used to replace the sweet basil since it has a very similar taste and smell but a much sweeter edge to it. Number six dark opal basil. If you're on the market trying to get your hands on a unique looking basil then look no further than the dark opal basil. Immediately you can tell why this variety is so popular since a lot of people would specifically go with this one just so they can make their dishes more aesthetically pleasing. Commonly referred to as the emo basil the dark coloring on it may look strange but when it comes to its taste the dark opal basil is honestly not that different from any other type of basil out there. It doesn't really stand out from anything else taste or smell wise but it does definitely look like a special addition to your dish doesn't it? Number seven lemon basil. The lemon basil is actually quite common nowadays you can even find it in most big box home improvement stores or nurseries out there. Interestingly enough looks wise it doesn't really stand out all that much but from the moment you snuff it down you can instantly tell that it has a very strong lemon flavor to it. As such it is one of the most popular options out there for many fish recipes although it can also be used in many salads too. If you want to make your very own lemon flavored iced tea you can also go ahead and add in a leaf or two of the lemon basil without having to add in any artificial lemon flavors. At number eight we have lime basil. As you can probably tell from the name alone the lime basil is very similar to the lemon basil in every way shape and form except for its taste. Taste wise as the name implies it packs on a very strong lime flavor as such it is another fan favorite option for both chicken and fish recipes alike. Interestingly enough it is also very popular in lime basil infused syrup form which you can add to your tea every day if you want to. At number nine we have holy basil. The name alone makes this basil sound very important historically and honestly it is kind of right since it was used a lot by hindu priests over the years. Another commonly used name for this variety is the sacred basil but even if you don't care about any of that you'll be happy to hear that this option can also make for a great addition to any tea if you want to boost up your immune system in an instant. Number 10, Thai sweet basil. This may be one of the most unique basil varieties your money could get you both looks and taste wise. You can instantly see what we mean by that since the Thai sweet basil has smaller dark pointed leaves which immediately stand out from the crowd. Not only that but taste wise Thai sweet basil has a much spicier flavor to it with some people even claiming that it has a bit of a licorice punch to it. It is also a very popular option for Asian dishes such as spicy sesame noodles or even the famous Thai basil chicken. Number 11, spicy bush basil. But hey if you prefer to have something a bit on the smaller size for your smaller indoor garden then you have to get yourself a spicy bush basil. This variety of basil has small and cute leaves or mounded plants which instantly makes this the perfect choice for indoor pops. As far as the flavor is concerned you're looking at a very intense variety that is sure to work well with any sauce or soup out there. Number 12, green ruffles basil. This variety of basil is known for its curled leaves which instantly make your garden stand out because of how unique it looks. When it comes to the flavor the green ruffles basil is known for being a much milder option than most other basils out there. As such this is the perfect choice for most sellers as long as you don't want your basil to overpower any of the other ingredients. Interestingly enough green ruffles basil is also one of the largest basils around growing as tall as 24 inches with its leaves reaching the size of almost six inches long during the harvesting season. Number 13, greek basil. If you don't have a lot of space around you then you should definitely look into getting yourself some greek basil since it is by far one of the smallest varieties of basil around. The greek basil grows as small as eight inches and while it is very small it is anything but flavorless to say the least. It is definitely not as punchy as some of the other options on this list but its flavor is nothing to scoff at since it can still be used in salads, meat dishes and a ton of different soups. Number 14, summer long basil. If you want to plant your very own basil and you don't want to have to wait long to actually have it be ready for harvesting then you should look into the summer long basil because it more than fits your requirements. This is known as a dwarf basil simply because it matures way earlier than most other basil types out there. You can expect it to produce the necessary flowers around 30 to 60 days after being planted which is definitely a great deal if you're in a hurry. Number 15, ararat basil. The ararat is always a treat to see in your salad because of how beautiful it really looks. As such it also makes for a great option for floral arrangements. When it comes to its flavor you can expect it to be sweeter with a bit of a hint of licorice to it. While it may not be the punchiest flavor it definitely more than makes up for it with its looks. Number 16, cardinal basil. The cardinal basil is one of the easiest to recognize varieties on the market and that's a fact. You can instantly tell if you're dealing with one based on the fact that it produces beautiful red blooms. It is not exactly the best option when it comes to its taste since it is a bit lackluster but it is just spicy enough to be used in vinegar and oils to literally spice up your dish. Number 17, spicy glow basil. The spicy glow basil is a great all-around option for your dishes. It can be added to soup, salads and even pasta due to its spicier flavor. Where it really shines though is in its ornamental value as it is quite a beautiful appetite variety that you can plant in your indoor garden this very moment. In fact it may be one of the best indoor options since it thrives in a container garden so if that's what you're sporting you're sure to love the spicy glow basil. Number 18, purple ruffles basil. As you can probably tell by now from the name alone this variety of basil is very similar to the dark opal basil with the main key difference between the two being the fact that this is a ruffle variety after all. Other than that this purple basil is a great ornamental option that you should definitely look out for on the farmer's market and while you're there you can also make your dishes better with it due to its mild yet flavorful flavor. Number 19, lettuce basil. As the name implies the lettuce basil has rather massive and fluffy leaves that dangle about as soon as they're ready to be harvested. On top of that they are around four inches wide and six to ten inches long making this the absolute perfect option if you want to use them in lettuce wraps and you don't want to use smaller leaves. Flavor wise you are looking at a relatively mild option right here which is quite disappointing since most of us would think that such a massive option should definitely be more flavorful but instead it just serves as the big brother version of the sweet basil. And last on our list at number 20 we have the African blue basil. This is by far the tallest basil variety you'll ever see since it can grow as tall as four feet if given the proper soil and whatnot. On top of that it is also a perennial which makes it different from most other basils out there. As such this is one of the best ornamental options on the market especially since it can grow time and time again as long as it doesn't freeze at any point. Its flavor is decent enough, it's nothing to write home about. If you want a basil to taste like basil then let's just say that you won't be disappointed by the African blue basil anytime soon. There are a ton of different varieties of basil out there for you to choose from but for the most part the sweet basil variety will be the most readily available option that you'll come across. As such if you want to actually find some of the other options we have in store for you here you may want to take some time and actually search up places around you because chances are it won't be as easy as you may think to find something like the African blue basil in the wild. We hope that this video was useful as well as interesting for you if so give us a thumbs up and a subscribe and let us know down below in the comments if you've had any experience with a basil plant and if so which kind of basil were you planting?