Basil
One of our most popular herbs, basil is indispensable to the market garden and the home herb garden. We offer a line of basil varieties featuring diverse flavors, colors, and disease-resistance packages. We now also carry several new downy mildew-resistant basil varieties that offer a stronger level of resistance than the first-generation varieties. All our basil seed lots are lab-tested to confirm the absence of seedborne Fusarium. Filter to view basil varieties suited for hydroponics, growing in containers, or for use in cut flower bouquets. Choose from conventional or organic seeds, as well as pelleted seed for ease of sowing. To compare days-to-harvest, heights, seed types, and growing options, see our Basil Varieties Comparison Chart.
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Genovese Compact, Improved Multi-Seed Pellet
Pelleted Basil Seed
Multi-seed pellets for precision sowing and convenience.
Kapoor Tulsi (Holy Basil)
Basil Seed
Spicy aroma with hints of coffee and chocolate, a mild spice flavor.
Prospera® DMR (CG1)
Organic (F1) Basil Seed
Fast-growing, classic Genovese. Downy mildew and Fusarium resistant.
Nufar
Organic Pelleted Basil Seed
Fusarium-resistant, Italian large-leaf type for field or greenhouse.
Genovese
Organic Pelleted Basil Seed
Classic Italian basil variety with authentic flavor and appearance.
Most basil types and varieties can perform well in container production and/or hydroponic systems, but which ones will perform best for you? With a few facts in hand, you'll be prepared to match your system to the best varieties. Here's help getting your container and/or hydroponic basil production off to a successful start.
Here's a look at the results of Johnny's R&D basil team's extensive research on Prospera basil in relation to its basil downy mildew resistance.
Key Growing Information
Basil | Key Growing Information
Essential information for growing basil from seed, from sowing indoors or direct-seeding, germination, transplanting and spacing, to soil and temperature requirements, culture, and harvesting.
Article
Basil Downy Mildew and Prospera®️ DMR Basil | Breakthrough Breeding Innovation Provides Solutions
Research and industry experts discuss basil downy mildew, disease management, and tracking, and the latest in breeding innovations, including the new Prospera DMR.
Key Growing Information
Ornamental Basil | Key Growing Information
Written by our research team, this reference contains the essential information for growing ORNAMENTAL (FLOWERING) BASIL. Read more for a successful harvest!
Looking for a compact Genovese basil variety to try this year? 'Everleaf' offers: a) Disease resistance; b) Compact habit, with short spaces between leaves and branches — perfect for live plant and container production, or for extended harvest in the field or garden; c) High productivity, despite a small stature; d) Attractive, cupped leaves with a traditional asil flavor and aroma; and e) last but not least, plants that are slower to bolt than most varieties, by up to 8 weeks, lengthening the harvest window for top-quality leaves. Learn more by watching our video!
Comparison Chart
Basil Varieties | Comparison Chart (PDF)
A downloadable, printable, full-color PDF version of our Basil Comparison Chart, including part numbers, varieties, days to harvest, height, seed options, disease resistances, growing applications, and uses.
Here's a look at Prospera Red, the first red downy mildew-resistant basil, available through Johnny's Selected Seeds.
Overview and recommendations for common basil pests and diseases, cultural prevention and management, and recommended treatments, from Johnny's research and trialing team.
Introducing Prospera® basil, a plant-breeding breakthrough combining improvements in disease resistance, plant habit, leaf shape, agronomic qualities, and above all, flavor and aroma.
Download a full-color, print-friendly, PDF version of our Hydroponic & Container Basil Guide. This brochure prints on 4 single-sided sheets of 8.5x11" paper, or on two, double-sided sheets. Refer to our accompanying Hydroponic & Container Basil Comparison Chart for more information.
Learn how to prevent, recognize, manage, report, and control basil downy mildew (Peronospora belbahrii), from the research team at Johnny's Selected Seeds.