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Description &
Type Variety
Recommendation
Fast-Growing Varieties
Popular choice for hydroponic
Aroma 2 growers because of uniformity and
fast growth.
Use during times of high downy •Downy mildew resistant
Eleonora mildew pressure. Also, fast growing •Fast growing
and uniform. •Uniform growth
Genovese / Pesto
Recommended only for harvest
of individual leaves, stems, or
Genovese
bunches, due to lack of uniformity
in plant height and habit.
Genovese appearance, with Italian
Large Leaf type yields. Performs
very well in containers. While it is
used successfully by experienced
Dolly
hydroponic growers, it is not rec-
ommended for those new to
hydroponic production because of
its sensitivity to nutrient imbalances.
Popular choice for hydroponic
Nufar growers because of its uniformity
Italian Large Leaf
and fast growth.
Recommended only for harvest
Italian of individual leaves, stems, or
Large Leaf bunches, due to lack of uniformity
in plant habit.
Slower-Growing Varieties
Disease-resistant, compact plants,
ideal for attractive, full, uniform live•Very full, compact plants have short
plants. NOTE: Because the plant
Everleaf
architecture is so dense, a seeding
rate of 2-5 seeds per 4” pot is
Compact Genovese / Pesto
recommended.
Compact plants with large leaves
Elidia are ideal for attractive, full, uniform
live plants.
Genovese Full, compact plants with large
Compact leaves are ideal for attractive, full,
Improved uniform live plants.
Copyright © 2018 Johnny’s Selected Seeds. All rights reserved.
Hydroponic and Container Basil Guide
Seed Forms
Benefits Disadvantages Common Uses Part #
Offered
•Fast growing Preferred Use: Live plant in container or with Organic seed 2946G
Plants are relatively lanky and sparse, with fewer leaves than
•Uniform growth growing medium attached. Secondary Use:
more compact types. Leaves are a bit smaller and flatter than Organic seed with
•Classic flavor/aroma profile Individual leaf, tip, and bunch harvest, pack- 2946GP
standard Genovese. NOP-compliant pellet
•Fusarium resistant aged in clam shells or bags.
Flavor/aroma profile is slightly spicier than traditional Genovese. Preferred Use: Live plant in container or with Conventional seed 3148
Leaves are a bit smaller and flatter than standard Genovese. growing medium attached. Secondary Use: Organic seed 3148G
Plants are relatively lanky and sparse, with fewer leaves than Individual leaf, tip, and bunch harvest, pack- Organic seed with
3148GP
more compact types. aged in clam shells or bags. NOP-compliant pellet
Conventional seed 911
Conventional seed
While fuller than Aroma 2 and Eleonora, plants are still relatively 911P
•Fast growing with conventional (Online Only)
lanky and sparse, with fewer leaves than more compact types. Preferred Use: Individual leaves, stems, or
•Large, cupped leaves pellet
Growth rate and plant habit can be variable, making it difficult bunches packaged in clam shells or bags.
•Classic flavor/aroma profile Organic seed 911G
to use for a dependable harvest of uniform live plants.
Organic seed with
911GP
NOP-compliant pellet
•Fast growing Conventional seed 3875
Preferred Use: Live plant in container or with
•Uniform growth Sensitive to nutrient imbalances; often will show zoning/discol-
growing medium attached. Individual leaves,
•High-yielding plants with very large, cupped oration in leaves more than other varieties, both in hydroponic
tips, or bunches packaged in clam shells or
leaves systems and in the field.
bags.
•Classic flavor/aroma profile Organic seed 3875G
•Fast growing Italian Large Leaf types have a sweeter flavor/aroma profile that Preferred Uses: Live plant in container or with Organic seed 2178G
•Uniform growth is not suitable for markets demanding a Genovese flavor/aroma growing medium attached. Individual leaves,
tips, or bunches packaged in clam shells or bags. Organic seed with
•Large leaves on productive plants profile. Plant type and flattened, serrated, and rugose leaves are 2178GP
NOP-compliant pellet
•Fusarium resistant also not as popular as the Genovese type. Good for mechanical harvest.
Italian Large Leaf types have a sweeter flavor/aroma profile that
is not suitable for markets demanding a Genovese flavor/aroma
•Fast Growing
profile. Growth rate and plant habit can be variable, making it Preferred Uses: Individual leaves, stems, or
•Large leaves Conventional seed 944
difficult to use for a dependable harvest of uniform live plants. bunches packaged in clam shells or bags.
•Seed is generally inexpensive
Plant type and flattened, serrated, and rugose leaves are also
not as popular as the Genovese type.
•Intermediate downy mildew resistance
•Fusarium resistant
If spray treatment is required, it may be difficult to
get good coverage on the extremely dense, compact Preferred Uses: Live plant in container or with
internodes
plants. Dense plants are not ideal for bunch harvest. growing medium attached. Individual leaves Conventional seed 3334
•Medium-large, cupped leaves
Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above. or tips packaged in clam shells or bags.
•Classic flavor/aroma profile
•Uniform growth
•Extremely slow to bolt
•Fusarium Resistant
Preferred Use: Live plant in container or with Organic seed 3622G
•Full compact plants have short internodes
growing medium attached. Secondary Use:
•Large, cupped leaves
Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above. Individual leaves packaged in clam shells or
•Classic flavor/aroma profile
bags (a faster-growing standard Genovese is Conventional seed 3622
•Uniform growth
preferable if leaf harvest is primary purpose).
•Slow to bolt
Organic seed 2922G
•Uniform growth Preferred Use: Live plant in container or with
Multi-seed Pellet:
•Full, compact plants have short internodes growing medium attached. Secondary Use:
Conventional seed
•Large, cupped leaves Slower growth rate than fast-growing varieties noted above. Individual leaves packaged in clam shells or 3188P
with Conventional
•Classic flavor/aroma profile bags (faster-growing standard Genovese is
pellet
•Slow to bolt preferable if leaf harvest is primary purpose).
Conventional seed 2922
1 March 22, 2018 8:46 AM
 Aroma 2 Eleonora Genovese Dolly Nufar Italian Large Leaf Everleaf Elidia Genovese Compact,
Improved Multi-
Seed Pellet

Amethyst Red Rubin Dark Opal Purple Ruffles Sweet Thai Cardinal Cinnamon Aromatto Mrs. Burns’ Lemon
Improved

Specialty Basil
Type Variety Description Seed Forms Offered Part #
Specialty Basil
Amethyst Improved Red basil most like Genovese, with shiny cupped leaves. Conventional seed 228
Organic seed 924G
Red Rubin Uniform red basil with sturdy, productive plant habit.
Red

Conventional seed 924

Dark Opal Fast-growing red basil with slightly ruffled leaves. Conventional seed 902
Purple Ruffles Compact red basil with large, ruffled leaves. Conventional seed 905
Organic seed 945G
Lime Piccolino Spicy Bush Tuscany Sweet Thai Popular Thai basil with small, spicy leaves; compact plant.
Asian / Thai

Conventional seed 945

Cardinal Large leaves; compact plant. Organic seed 3732G
Cinnamon Large leaves; fast-growing, tall plant. Conventional seed 906
Commercial Container & Hydroponic Production Aromatto Large leaves, fast-growing, tall plant. Organic seed 1772G

Basil is a popular crop for container and hydroponic production Mrs. Burns’ Lemon Vigorous, fast growing; medium-sized leaves. Conventional seed 774
Organic seed 848G
Citrus

because of its high value, ease of production, and quick crop Lime Small-sized leaves.
Conventional seed 848
time (approximately 28 days under optimal conditions in
Piccolino 6-8” tall plant; spicy flavor. Conventional seed 3294
hydroponic systems).
Greek

Spicy Bush 8-14” tall plant; spicy flavor. Conventional seed 907
To learn more, read our BASIL VARIETY SELECTION GUIDE FOR
COMMERCIAL CONTAINER AND HYDROPONIC PRODUCTION.
Lettuce
Leaf

Tuscany Very large leaves; compact plant. Conventional seed 3719

Copyright © 2018 Johnny’s Selected Seeds. All rights reserved. 2 March 22, 2018 8:46 AM