Italian Large Leaf Basil - Mid-Summer - August 2024

The basil that I've been growing for the past few seasons is named Italian Large Leaf Basil.  I've picked it up at the Morton Arboretum annual Arbor Day Plant Sale and have - for the past few years - tucked it into a raised bed along with some bush tomatoes.  

Between summer vacations and improper pruning, my success with basil has always been middling.  I'd get plenty of leaves, but it always would bolt.  This year, I tried to be deliberate with pruning and taking it down to spots where it could 'bush out' a little bit.  And, when I see seed heads (those little clusters of basil) growing, I've either pinched them off or cut-off the plant BELOW that part. 

That's lead to a good-sized basil plant this year.  And one that is producing a lot of, well...'large leaves'.  

Here, below, is a look at the Italian basil plant at the beginning of August:

It is healthy and happy and still producing a lot of leaves to use in the kitchen this Summer and (hopefully) Fall.  

Next year....when my pizza oven is up and running, I'm thinking I could use (at least) two of these plants.