Basil Bonanza! By Kim Perry & Ruth Montalbano

This summer, Kauai Master Gardeners were busy in the greenhouse, growing plants for our annual Plant Sale Fundraiser at the Kauai County Farm Fair. This year, we propagated over 2,000 herbs, vegetable starts, native and landscape plants. In addition to old favorites, we grew some exciting new varieties, including several unique varieties of basil.

Did you know?

Basil is part of the genus Ocimum and is a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae). The genus includes various species of annuals, non-woody perennials and shrubs native to Africa and other tropical and subtropical regions of the world. As a tropical plant, basil loves light, heat, and lots of water. Grow basil in a rich, well-drained soil in full sun, and check your soil frequently to make sure it doesn’t dry out.

Most people are familiar with Sweet Basil, commonly used in Italian cooking, but don’t know there are numerous wild and wonderful varieties to choose from. We decided to mix it up this year and, in addition to the traditional Sweet Basil, introduce Red Rubin, Cinnamon, Lemon, and Lime.

Red Rubin

Purple or “red” basil is a wonderful plant to add to your flower bed. The purple basil tends to have a sharper flavor than other basils, so use sparingly. It is, however, a beautiful decoration for food presentation.

Treat purple basil, just as you would the standard green leaf variety, pinching the tips and leaves for use. This will keep your purple basil bushy and beautiful.

Basil can be propagated by seeds, or stem cuttings.

Cinnamon Basil

Native to Southeast Asia, Cinnamon basil is popular in Vietnamese cooking. Its fragrant, cinnamon aroma, originates from the chemical cinnamate, the same compound found in cinnamon bark. Pick the leaves and use fresh or dried in tomato dishes, pasta sauces, vegetables and soups or pair with beverages and fruits.

Lemon ‘Sweet Dani’ Basil

Basils are loaded with volatile oils, responsible for the heady aroma and strong flavor so essential to cooking. The composition of oils varies greatly in different basil types, thus accounting for the wide range of scents available. 'Lemon Sweet Dani' offers a different scent - pure, clean, citrus-lemon. Pick the leaves and use fresh or dried in herb vinegars, iced tea, fish, vegetables and soups.

You can also use basil in the garden as a companion plant to repel aphids, mites, and tomato hornworms.

Lime Basil

Peppy lime flavor imparts a savory snap to gourmet meals!

If you like the clean, citrus zing of Lemon Basil, then you'll definitely want to try this rare and hard-to-find Lime Basil! Its tangy lime flavor and fragrance is strong and finishes with a pleasing spicy-herbal bite. Use it to impart a unique gourmet flavor to fish and chicken dishes, vinegars, dressings, sauces, and herb oils. Add it to fruit salsas or chutneys as a fresh accompaniment to broiled or grilled fish or shellfish, or use it in traditional Thai dishes when Lemongrass or Kaffir Lime isn't readily available. You'll be amazed by

the complex flavor it lends to desserts and herb teas! Simply rubbing the leaves of this wonderful plant can scent an entire room!