[WirralWally]

Brain picking time again. Sorry folks.  

I've sown a whole load of Basil (Sweet Genovese).
50% of what appeared was recognisable by taste and smell as Basil.
The other 50% I didn't recognise.
My kindly neighbour informed me that it was Japanese / Australian or somewhere-else-on-the-planet Basil; until we both picked a leaf and immediately spat it out.

This is the offending item:




I'm hoping that someone will have a clue what Johnsons seeds have provided me with.

[Hawthorne]

looks like Thai / Vietnamese basil to me.

[WirralWally]

It doesn't have the characteristic taste or smell of basil.
It tastes and smells more like a dock leaf that a dog has watered liberally.  

[Trillium]

Bet it's some sort of flowering plant that accidently went into the basil mix, though I haven't a clue what the plant is.

[richyrich7]

Well if you hadn't of sown them I'd I've gone for a weed seen similar in my garden, redshank I think it's called

[WirralWally]

richyrich7,
I think that you've got it right.
Redshank (Persicaria maculosa) looks to be exactly what it is.
The black blotches on the leaves, and the flower forming (in the first pic above) seem to confirm it.

Well, they're all off to the hot compost bin then.

At least Johnsons did provide me with 50% of what I wanted.  
But . . . . . they may not get my custom next year.  :evil:

[Hawthorne]

Hmm - compare with the pics of vietnamese basil on this page - I stand by its identity. It does taste very different to the classic basil.

[gobs]

Hmm - compare with the pics of vietnamese basil on this page - I stand by its identity. It does taste very different to the classic basil.

There does not appear to be a Vietnamese basil - whatever that might be  - on this page you linked, Hawthorne.

I think it a weed, too, not that clever I don't know it's name. I'm growing 2 Thai Basil varieties, not them for sure.

[agapanthus]

Hmm - compare with the pics of vietnamese basil on this page - I stand by its identity. It does taste very different to the classic basil.

I think you meant the vietnamese coriander Hawthorne....in fact that was my 1st thought when I saw the plant that WW put up. I grew it for a few years and although it does'nt have the fresh taste of coriander it does have a kinda musty type coriander taste.

[Hawthorne]

Hmm - compare with the pics of vietnamese basil on this page - I stand by its identity. It does taste very different to the classic basil.

I think you meant the vietnamese coriander Hawthorne....in fact that was my 1st thought when I saw the plant that WW put up. I grew it for a few years and although it does'nt have the fresh taste of coriander it does have a kinda musty type coriander taste.

I do beg your pardon - you're quite right.  :oops:

[WirralWally]

Hah, this is now getting more interesting.  

Looking at the link provided by Hawthorne I'm sure that he meant Thai Basil, however, I agree with agapanthus that it looks like the  Vietnamese coriander.

It's a good thing that I haven't composted the plants yet.
I'll now let them grow on in the hope of a chance of a proper identification.

One thing is for sure.
It ain't basil.

[sclarke624]

I'd I've gone for a weed seen similar in my garden, redshank I think it's called

Don't laugh but I nutured two very similar to the pics at top of post, I thought they were peppers.
Then they grew little pink flowers just like the weed you mentioned Richy.


(You know how it is peppers take much longer to germinate than it says on the packet, you give up and sow something else in tray, and up pops something that looks like the pepper leaves you planted in first place),

[weeeed]

I have been pampering the self same weed for the last 2 months in the house. Mine was supposed to be lavender! Why is it the rogues always look so healthy? :twisted: