Amazel Basil

Amazel Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Amazel')

Amazel Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Amazel'), also known as **Amazel Sweet Basil**, is a unique and flavorful variety of basil known for its exceptional resistance to downy mildew and its vibrant, aromatic leaves. This hybrid basil variety offers the same classic basil flavor with an improved growth habit, making it an excellent choice for both home gardeners and commercial growers. With its compact size and high yield, Amazel Basil is ideal for growing in containers, raised beds, or traditional garden plots.

Distinctive Features

Amazel Basil features large, bright green leaves that have a sweet, peppery flavor, similar to traditional Genovese basil, but with an improved ability to resist disease. This variety grows in a bushy, compact shape, making it ideal for smaller garden spaces, containers, and raised beds. The leaves can be harvested continuously throughout the growing season, providing a constant supply of fresh basil for culinary uses. It's perfect for making pesto, garnishing dishes, or adding flavor to salads, soups, and sauces.

Growing Conditions

• Sun Exposure: Prefers full sun, with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. This helps promote strong, flavorful growth and ensures high yields.
• Soil: Thrives in well-draining, fertile soil. Amazel Basil performs best in slightly acidic to neutral pH and adapts to a variety of soil types as long as they drain well.
• Water: Requires consistent watering to keep the soil evenly moist. While Amazel Basil prefers moist conditions, avoid waterlogging, as this can lead to root rot.
• Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity. While it tolerates dry air, regular watering and mulching can help maintain the necessary moisture levels.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 9-11 (ideal for warm, frost-free climates, but can be grown as an annual in cooler regions).

Ideal Uses

• Culinary Herb Gardens: Amazel Basil is perfect for culinary herb gardens, offering fresh, flavorful leaves that can be harvested throughout the growing season.
• Container Planting: This compact variety is ideal for container gardening, making it perfect for patios, balconies, or small garden spaces.
• Raised Bed Gardens: Perfect for raised beds, where its compact growth allows for easy harvesting and prevents overcrowding of other plants.
• Indoor Herb Gardens: Amazel Basil can also be grown indoors, providing fresh basil for your kitchen all year round, especially in a sunny window or under grow lights.

Low Maintenance Care

Amazel Basil is a relatively low-maintenance herb that thrives with minimal care once established. Regular watering, occasional pruning, and light fertilizing are typically all it needs to produce healthy, vibrant leaves.

• Watering: Keep the soil evenly moist, especially during hot, dry weather. Water the base of the plant to avoid wetting the foliage, which can lead to disease.
• Pruning: Regularly pinch back the tips of the plant to encourage bushier growth and prevent the plant from flowering too early. This will also help produce more leaves for harvesting.
• Fertilizing: Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer every few weeks during the growing season to support vigorous growth and a high yield of fresh leaves.
• Harvesting: Harvest leaves as needed by cutting them from the top of the plant. Regular harvesting will encourage more growth and prevent the plant from becoming leggy.

Why Choose Amazel Basil?

Amazel Basil offers an improved growing experience with its disease-resistant nature, making it a great choice for both beginner and experienced gardeners. Its compact growth and ability to yield abundant leaves make it a versatile addition to any herb garden or container setup.

• High Yield: Amazel Basil produces an abundant supply of leaves throughout the season, allowing for continuous harvests and ample fresh basil for culinary use.
• Downy Mildew Resistance: Unlike many traditional basil varieties, Amazel Basil is resistant to downy mildew, making it a reliable option for gardeners looking to avoid common basil diseases.
• Compact Growth: Its compact, bushy growth habit makes it ideal for smaller spaces, containers, or raised beds.
• Vibrant Flavor: Offers the same aromatic, peppery flavor as traditional basil, perfect for enhancing a variety of dishes from pastas to salads.

For a disease-resistant, high-yielding basil variety with a sweet, aromatic flavor, Amazel Basil (Ocimum basilicum 'Amazel') is the perfect choice for your garden, container, or kitchen windowsill.