Mulberry Creek Herb Farm

Key To Our Descriptions

Here's a sample entry with an explanation to follow

Basil, African Blue'
(ideally there is a photo)

Ocimum x 'African Blue
Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
Light: Sun - P. Shade
Height: 3 x 2-1/2 Feet
Water: Normal
Soil: Organic - Loamy
Common Uses: Butterfly, Culinary, Ornamental

Explanation:
Basil, African Blue = COMMON NAME

(we're working on photos, folks)

Ocimum x 'African Blue' = BOTANICAL NAME (in this case it is a cross; the cultivar in single quotes is African Blue which happens to be its common name too)

Cold Tolerance: Zone 9a 9b-11
The USDA zone rating reflects the plant's hardiness. You can click on the zone to get a popup window of what temperatures the herb will tolerate. Ohio is roughly zones 5 & 6 so this basil is a tender perennial, not able to survive our winters. Zone 1 is arctic, Zone 12 is tropical.

Light: Sun - P. Shade
This basil PREFERS sun but WILL TOLERATE part shade.
Full Sun= 6 hours or more hours of sun
P. Sun= 4 - 6 hours of afternoon sun
P. Shade= prefers morning sun, shaded afternoons
Shade= grows well or tolerates shade

Height: 3 x 2-1/2 Feet= MATURE SIZE TO EXPECT IS 3 FEET TALL AND 2-1/2 FEET WIDE

Water: Normal = PREFERS NORMAL WATERING
Water in all new transplants deeply about 3 times a week until established (usually about a month).
Normal = about 1" of water weekly by hose or from above
Dry= no supplemental water unless under dire drought
Wet= plant near a water source so you can water as needed
(Above recommendations refer to plants in the ground not in a container)

Soil: Organic - Loamy= this basil PREFERS organic soil, but loamy is fine
Clay is not recommended for any of our plants but you can improve your clay. In the fall and spring sprinkle gypsum and add a 2" layer of compost.
Loam = any well draining soil with some organic matter
Organic = soil high in added potting soil, compost, aged manure, ...
Sandy = well draining sand; add compost, if necessary to retain water

Common Uses: Butterfly, Culinary, Ornamental= THE MORE POPULAR USES BUT BY NO MEANS THE ONLY USES


Other Useful Definitions
Annual = plant lives 1 year and dies
Biennial = plant's lifecycle is 2 years. First year, it sends up foliage. Second year it produces flowers also which seed and start the process all over again. Example is parsley. Plant 2 successive years of a biennial and you'll have it forever.
Hardy Perennial = plant comes back from the crown every year. Some are short lived perennials while many entertain us for 6 or 7 years if maintained and divided.
Half-Hardy Perennials = if protected from wind during a mild Ohio winter, it may survive
Tender Perennial = no amount of burlap, evergreen pine bows, saran wrap teepees or other protective devices will save this plant under most Ohio winters. In warmer climates it would come back year after year.

Hardening off = highly recommended!
Indoor seedlings are gradually exposed to sun, outdoor temps and wind over a 7-14 day period, from 1 hour to all day.

Frost Free Date is generally considered to be May 15th, but don't let me hear about you putting in your basil until Memorial Day.