Basil is America’s most popular herb, and for many of us, that means the familiar Sweet or Genovese Basil and its use in Italian and French cuisines. But there is a broader world of basils out there – different varieties, flavors, leaf sizes, and colors. Basils are important to many different cultures around the globe – beautiful garden basils; pollinator-attracting basils; and basils grown for function, for fragrance, and even for bouquets. Join Extension Master Gardeners Kathryn Kellam and Susan Wilhelm as they introduce you to a wider world of basils and explain how to care for, harvest, use, and preserve exciting new basils as well as familiar favorites.
Zoom session, recorded May 13, 2022
Additonal Resoureces
- Basils for Flavor, Fragrance and Flowers – pdf list of different basils mentioned in the video.
Select Resources for Basil
- Appling, Shawn. Herb Culture and Use. Publication 426-420. Virginia Cooperative Extension.
https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-420/426-420.pdf - Brust, Gerald. 2021. Fusarium Wilt in Basil. University of Maryland Extension.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/fusarium-wilt-basil - Extension Master Gardener Help Desk
https://mgnv.org/programs/help-desk/ - Halbe, Becky. 2021. Microgreens. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/mg-virtual-classroom/ug-class- video/microgreens-2021/ - Herb Supplement – A Guide to Growing and Using Herbs. 2022. Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia.
https://mgnv.org/season-by-season-guide-to-growing-herbs/ - Herbs. William T. Kemper Center for Home Gardening. Missouri Botanical Gardens.
https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/Portals/0/Gardening/Gardening%20Help/Factsheets/Herbs19.pdf - Jackey, Beverly, Cheryl Bush and Shauna C. Henley. Harvesting and Preserving Herbs. University of Maryland Extension.
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/harvesting-and-preserving-herbs - McGrath, Margaret Tuttle. 2022. Basil Downy Mildew. Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
https://www.vegetables.cornell.edu/pest-management/disease-factsheets/basil-downy-mildew/#Symptoms - National Center for Home Preservation
https://nchfp.uga.edu/ - Sanchez, Elsa and Kathy Kelley. 2007. Growing Herbs Indoors. Penn State Extension.
https://extension.psu.edu/growing-herbs-indoors - Selection and Care of Herbs. University of Maryland Extension. https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/herbs/selection-and-care-herbs
- Williamson, Joey. 2019. Basil Factsheet 1327. Clemson University Extension.
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/basil/ - Zepp, Martha. 2019. Freezing Herbs. Penn State Extension.
https://extension.psu.edu/freezing-herbs - Zepp, Martha and Andy Hirneisen. 2019. Let’s Preserve: Drying Herbs. Penn State Extension.
https://extension.psu.edu/lets-preserve-drying-herbs