OK, who likes pesto? (Wanna grow some basil?)

16 years ago

Seriously. Do you plan to grow basil this season? Have you bought the seeds yet? Do you want some for free?

I bought some certified organic Genovese basil seeds (Ocimum Basilicum) from Seeds of Change. Specifically, I bought a quarter pound of them, and since there is an average of 16,400 seeds per oz, even though I've used half of them for a project, I, um, still have some left over and I'll gladly eat the cost of a few stamps to share some.

If you're someone who has contributed at least once to a GP conversation before today, send me an email through my member page with the subject line "Basil." (Don't be shy.) Include your GW name and a mailing address in your email. I'll acknowledge receipt of your request by your member name in this thread within a day of getting it. Then I'll mail you about 1/4 tsp of seeds, which is more than any rational human needs. I'll post to this thread when/if I ever run out.

My only request is that if you request these seeds you actually plant them.

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Comments (42)

jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
P.S. I probably can't ship these internationally.
mwoods
16 years ago
I think Genovese is one of the best for pesto...good choice. I grow roughly 10 or more varieties each summer and would put that one up there with the best of them. I can taste it already..oh will summer ever come? For those who have never grown basil,start it early inside and put it out after frost. It's really a very easy herb to grow.
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rob333 (zone 7b)
16 years ago
and cinnamon basil. My top two favorites. Mmm to smell,eat and pet as you pass by.
oscarthecat
16 years ago
Would sure take you up on that but already have a bunch coming up under lights down in the dungeon. I guess they would keep till next season wouldn't they? Steve in Baltimore?
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Personally, my "must grow" varieties are Genovese and Thai (for stir fries), but Genovese is the "basiliest basil" I know.

Treehouse, I got your email. Any other takers? Seriously, I've got a lot of seeds left! M & Rob? You game?

For any of you that "don't garden" this is an absolutely risk free way to try. All you need is a sunny little patch of soil that you can water occasionally as the plants get established. You can even plant them with your flowers if you don't have a dedicated herb spot.

Oscar, the package says these seeds were packaged for 2010, and were tested on 9/1/07 with a 99% germination rate. Though if you're anything like me, if I don't plant seeds within a couple months of getting them, I tend to never plant them...
mwoods
16 years ago
Thanks Michelle but I have all my seeds and I get quite few things from Seeds of Change too. They are a great company. How generous of you to do this and I hope you get a lot of takers. Other basils i like are the purple ornamental varieties..just because they are so beautiful in the garden..little shrubs of tiny wonderful purple leaves.
calliope
16 years ago
It is a wonderfully generous offer. I also have my Basils for spring, and Genovese is one of them. Marda talks of the ornamental value, and about ten or fifteen years ago when the Spicy Globe basils were a new hit on the market, I used them for borders in a small formal knot garden. (not an herb garden, either) Very nice display.

I love to pop extra basils here and there in my beds for their surprise value. An animal or gardener accidentally brushes them and is sent to olfactory heaven for a few minutes.
gandle
16 years ago
Very generous of you Michelle but I too have all the basil seeds we can possibly use. Thai and Finissimo Verde A Pallo.
andie_rathbone
16 years ago
Gandle, Did you know that Thai basil is one of the best mosquito repellents around? I regularly rub it on my arms when I'm out gardening on summer evenings & it works like a charm.

We've still got a (small) stash of pesto in the freezer. We freeze it in ice cube trays from big batches we make as we're cutting down the plants right before the first frost.

I'm looking forward to the warm growing season to have some more fresh. Still a little early here, but in the next couple of weeks it will be about time to plant.
nicolewi
16 years ago
I e-mailed you just now! It's really nice of you to take the time to send them.
nan_nc
16 years ago
I sent you an email this morning..hope you got it. I would LOVE to have some seeds! Basil is one of my favorite things..and planted with tomatoes, it keeps most of the bugs off. Andie,I'm happy to hear its a mosquito repellant..they are absolutely fierce here.
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Today's batch will include Treehouse, Robin, NicoleWI, MWheel, Lisa_H, Liza070831, Krista_Marie, and Nan_nc (if she sends me another email with a mailing addy). There are still plenty left...
lindac
16 years ago
Bless you....but I don't think I will ever see bare ground here....all is ice and snow....and when spring does come...likely I will buy plants so I have some basil NOW!! and then plant seeds for later.
And yes...I sure do like basil!! Love it in fact...I hype out every summer worrying that I will have enough to last through the winter....and last late winter when I sorted the freezer, I found I had 24 1/2 cup contaioners....
Yes...I said 24!
I'm like the kid who, when asked if he liked peanut butter sandwiches, said..."Yes! I have a trunk full in the attic."
Thanks any how Jaz...
Linda C
mawheel
16 years ago
Michelle, I sent you an email, but hadn't thanked you on line. Please know that I'm thrilled that I will get some of your basil seeds. I'll do my best to make them grow. (Will I get kicked out of the GP if I confess I've never made--or even had--pesto?) I plan to remedy that when the basil grows.
gabriell_gw
16 years ago
Thanks for the offer. I sent you an email.
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
LOL, mwheel! No you won't get kicked out of the GP! Quite the opposite! In fact, I'm sending a pesto recipe along with the planting instructions just in case you need help.

People like you are exactly the reason I bought so many dang seeds to begin with! Every spring Steve and I throw a Vernal Equinox party. (It'll be a week late this year on account of so many of our friends celebrate Easter, plus, I'll be having a houseful that weekend.) I like to send easy-to-grow seeds with my invitations. My evil plan is to trick innocent newbies into a new hobby while honoring the new season.

Sending herb seeds along with a recipe is double evil because I might trick people into enjoying both gardening and cooking! Bwah-ha-ha!

Linda, you made me laugh too. I understand the compulsion. I also hoard pesto in my freezer. I know you don't need my help with recipes and such, but much of what doesn't go into dinner ends up getting made into Paula Deen's Pesto Blossom as a make-a-day-ahead take along for get togethers (except I use my own pesto recipe and assume that Ms. Deen got her refrigerating and freezing mixed up in her last paragraph).
User
16 years ago
Chicken breast, bacon and pesto is a favorite here even if not 'healthy'. Will send email, we need to do more vegie gardening this year.
rob333 (zone 7b)
16 years ago
Linda, I'm still giggling. A trunk full. I only do that with jewelry, sewing projects, seeds, seed catalogs, shoes, cars, recipes...

Pesto is one of the very few things (Carpaccio is another one of which I am particularly proud) I've actually been able to win hubby over from the meat and potato side. He loves it on pasta with grilled chicken. (I just noticed Don said the same thing! Great minds, it's almost our birthdays! Hey Pam, do you love chicken and pesto?). Thanks Jazzy woman!
mwoods
16 years ago
I found a pesto torte recipe online one time and have served it for brunches here and have taken it to different meetings. Rave reviews everytime. It not only is simple,but it's beautiful. Just Google Jimmy Dean pesto torte and you are sure to find it. Don,I stuffed pesto under the skin of a chicken breast and then grilled it one time. What a great combination.
plantphreak_ca
16 years ago
Pesto and provolone pizza; can't beat it. Well, unless you add chicken and spinach.

Thanks for the seeds Michelle. I will plant them very soon.
User
16 years ago
Seeds arrived today! Thanks Michelle. Missy came home with a flier for a tomato plant sale at the horticulture department of the community college where I used to teach. Looks like a start on good home grown food this year.
gabriell_gw
16 years ago
Thanks to Michelle, my seed arrived today. I have one empty milk jug and will winter sow some of the seed tonight. I'll save others to direct sow when grounds get warm.
oakleif
16 years ago
jasmynsmom, I'd like a few seeds,really just a few seeds. Have seeds i can send you.

Will send e-mail.
thanks,
vickie
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Husky & Oakleif, your seeds are addressed, stamped and ready to go. Oakleif, I'm not asking for anything in return, but if you mailed me the cucumber seeds you mentioned, they'd get planted. :o)
rob333 (zone 7b)
16 years ago
Merci boucoup m'ami! I'm looking tres forward to this weekend when I start my seeds (it'll actually be exactly 6 weeks before plant out time).
dirt_yfingernails
16 years ago
I'd like to try some if you have any left. I wanted the other more regular posters here to have first chances.
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
E-mail me a mailing addy, dirt_yfingernails, I have plenty left.
treehouse
16 years ago
Jazz, the seeds are here!!!!!!!

YYYYYYYIIIIIIPPPPPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks.

Jan
Lisa_H OK
16 years ago
My seeds arrived.....Thank you!!!!!

Lisa
liza070831
16 years ago
Mine too!!! thanks a lot
mawheel
16 years ago
My seeds arrived, yesterday, Tues. 2/26, but I didn't get on the computer to thank you. But I do thank you, very much, for the seeds and the pesto recipe, too.

My DH got the mail and said, "Who the heck is 'Jazmyn's Mom', ? :>)
shadowgarden
16 years ago
If you have any left I will take some if you can mail it after April 5. That is when like the bird I am I fly north! P. S. Is it invasive like my mint?
dirt_yfingernails
16 years ago
Hey, I received mine too! Many thanks and I can hardly wait to grow some and also try out the recipe. Thanks!
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
It's nowhere near as invasive as mint. It's an annual (or at least it is in our Northern climes) and I've never noticed it resowing itself... unlike evil mint that grows beneath the winter snows and pulls that high-school-date-in-a-movie-theatre-move where it pretends to be "yawning," but is really staking claim to surrounding territory.

I have seeds to send you. Just send me your addy and I'll mail 'em when the time is right.
husky004_
16 years ago
Michelle-Received the seeds on 2/29/08 thanks so much for the receipe also!!!
nan_nc
16 years ago
I just realized that I haven't thanked you online. THANK YOU!

I will start some seeds now for my indoor herb garden, and the others will go outdoors when the ground gets warmer. Thanks again, you generous person.
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Sheesh! Do all you folks thanking me not realize that doing so is sure to jinx your seeds so they won't germinate? (Or does that superstition only apply to actual plants?)

Leaveswave, I've addressed your envelope and will mail it tomorrow.
husky004_
16 years ago
Naw!!! Think that superstition is only for plants!!! Im not jinxing my basil seeds!!!
leaveswave
16 years ago
Seeds arrived. I will think of you as I'm watering them and then making pesto.
jazmynsmom
Original Author
16 years ago
Speaking of which, Shadow, I got your addy and your envelope will go out post April 5. And Oaklief, while the aforementioned superstition prohibits me from thanking you for the cucumber seeds, I will thank you for the non-mayonnaise-containing creamy cucumber salad recipe... or more specifically, my mayonnaise-loathing husband thanks you!
oakleif
16 years ago
I've not thanked you on line either. Got the seeds and they're planted. Loved your receipe.I'll con my daughter into making the pesto. Just up her alley.

You sent enough seeds for my whole county.Have already got a lot of takers.

Glad you liked the cuke receipe. I do. Course i love mayonaise, esp with tomatoes on bread.
vickie
plantphreak_ca
16 years ago
I'll second that about the amount of seeds. I've planted some, but since I have such a long growing season (like, 12 months) I think I'll start some every month so that I always have fresh basil, which is one of my favorite things. And, I can give friends some basil plants. Or make pesto for Christmas presents.

OK, who likes pesto? (Wanna grow some basil?)

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