Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

[dj_backq]

Northpine, just a little tip

If you tear it with your hands or mince it with a mortar and pestle, the basil will keep its vibrant green color.

When you chop it with a knife, the basil tends to turn brownish.

[OGrubber]

Northpine,

I use the red as I would the green. It has a hint of cinnamon in the taste and I much prefer it over the green.

[Surly]

I'm having the opposite results reported here. Mine are doing better in containers!

well it sure is an unpredictable plant, isn't it?

I use the purple in salads. I like the colour and I love fresh basil torn up in a salad. I add it to frozen pizza too.

anyone else grow lemon basil? I love the smell of it.

[bluewillow]

I could never grow either the green or the purple. The grubs did a good job and I gave up.

bw

[dj_backq]

blue willow, I never succeeded before also. But this year, I started mine very early. By the time I transplanted them outside, they were already 1 foot high, 6 inches in diameter. These plants are to strong to get eaten by intruders, couple holes here and there but nothing major.

[butterfly]

Basil keeps it full color with freezing as well and I never add oil

[LinkCrim]

dj_back, thanks for the tip

I think it's earwigs..but it may also be beatles I have no idea. The holes on the leaves are really bothering me, I think it's earwigs because I mowed the lawn today and while passing my garden bed (it's against a fence) there were so many earwigs crawling out of the fence. Did you have any luck with that trap setup u are talking about? Thanks

[dj_backq]

Yes the traps work well. Here's how I do it. I dig a whole near the infestation and insert a container (I use an emptied margerine containers). The top edge of the container must be equal to the soil. Then I add soya sauce and dishwashing soap (or natural insecticide soap if you have some).

If your having a major infestation like the one I have this year, I also suggest DE (Diatomaceous Earth). It's a powered fossil completly safe and organic. The sharp edges cut soft bodied insects, and then absorb the insects body fluids leaving them to dry out and die. It's good for earwigs, ants and slugs. YOu can get it online at Veseys.

[Northpine]

Isabel asked for a picture of my basil in containers. Here it is. Keep in mind that the one on the left has been harvested, so looks a bit bare.
I hope this helps. The basil plants in the garden look so pathetic I didn't take a picture of them.

<a><img src="http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a282/North53/100_1665.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[isabelbrinck]

looking really nice, northpine, thanks for posting the url!