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Basil Plant

Basil

Ocimum basilicum — Open-Pollinated Herb
Type
Usually OP
Cross Risk
Low–Moderate
Difficulty
Easy
Seed Viability
3–5 years
Family
Lamiaceae

About This Variety

Basil is one of the easiest herbs to save seed from, and one of the most rewarding. Most basil varieties are open-pollinated, making them true-to-type from saved seed. Whether you grow Genovese, Thai, lemon, or purple basil, the seed-saving process is the same. A single plant allowed to flower can produce hundreds of seeds — more than enough for next year and plenty to share.

How to Save Seeds

  1. In late summer, stop pinching a few stems and let them flower. You'll sacrifice some leaf production on those stems, but the rest of the plant keeps producing.
  2. Let the flower spikes bloom, get pollinated, and then turn brown and dry on the plant. This takes several weeks after flowering.
  3. When the flower spikes are thoroughly brown and crispy, cut them off the plant.
  4. Hold the dried spikes upside down over a bowl or paper bag and shake or rub them. Tiny black seeds will fall out. You can also crumble the dried flowers between your fingers.
  5. Winnow out the chaff (blow gently or use a fine strainer) and store the clean seeds in a labeled envelope.

Cross-Pollination

Different basil varieties can cross-pollinate via insects, but since most gardeners grow only one or two types, this is rarely a practical concern. Basil does NOT cross with any other garden plants — it's in the mint family (Lamiaceae), completely unrelated to your vegetables.

Will Cross WithWon't Cross With
Other Ocimum basilicum varieties Tomatoes, peppers, cucurbits
(e.g., Genovese x Thai basil) Other herbs (mint, oregano, etc.)
  Everything else in the garden
Tip: Basil seeds are tiny — like black specks. A paper bag method works great: put the dried flower stalks in a bag, close it, and shake vigorously. Seeds collect at the bottom. One flower spike produces more seeds than you'd think.