Basil flowers are self pollinating, which means no insect is needed. However, if two different kinds of basils flower along side at the same time, they might get crossed. BTW , bees love basil flowers.

So if you want to prevent crossing, you can cover then with nylon tulle so the insects cannot get into them.

Thank you both. Bummer. I'll have to be more careful about placement next spring! I'm going to try the tulle next summer. Maybe I'll just put some in the veggie garden with my tomatoes and only one or two types in the herb garden as far away from each other as possible.

You may not have the space to do it by separation.

With basil, to ensure you won't get cross-pollination, you must separate basil varieties.or species by at least 300 yards. Most home properties aren't large enough to make that separation.

"Bagging" a few bloom clusters is much easier.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mesh Bags

African Blue Basil is an accidental cross between Dark Opal Purple Basil (italian origin) and an african basil. It does not produce viable seed, however, I am growing it among several italian basils in the hope that it produces some viable pollen, if not seed. It'd love to have a 3/4 Dark Opal and 1/4 African mix. The african parentage is great because of cold tolerance, perennial habit and soooo easy to propagate by cuttings.

Keep in mind that plants can be isolated in both time and space. By only letting one type of basil flower at a time, (that means cutting back before they flower) you can keep that basil pure. If you are in love with the tulsi, don't let the others flower for a few weeks, until you have the seed you need.

Hi yukkuri_kame:

I'll still assert that IMO, bagging a few bloom clusters is easier and more reliable. I've used bags on many different flowering plants over the years and it is really a simple do-it-once-and-forget-it operation. Just as one example, what if your neighbor down the block happens to be growing basil, too? Three hundred yards is pretty far. YMMV, of course.

Tulsi or sacred basil is a perennial unlike sweet basil. Dig and bring I for the winter. With luck, it will over winter for you. I've overwintered it successfully many times.

FataMorgana

you are surely right nickl

Collected the first of my seeds from Italian Sweet Basil which I have had growing right next to the African Blue Basil.

The African Blue does not produce seed, but it flowers and flowers. I watch the bees go back and forth between the Italian and the African, hoping the African produces viable pollen and I might have some crosses between the Italian and the African. Worst case scenario is I end up with a lot of italian basil.

The African is prolific, frost hardy, perennial and propagates easier from cuttings than most basils - but the flavor is only mediocre. I have some Dark Purple Opal seedlings and cuttings from Thai Basil coming along I will also try to hybridize with the African Basil.

Not sure how to emasculate basil... if I emasculate the Italian, Thai or Opal, then any seed should have African parentage?

Just what I was looking for. I'm fairly new to seed saving and didn't know about mesh bags.

yukkuri_kame, how did your basil crossbreeding go, please? It's been a while.

i wonder if the electric toothbrush method people use on tomatoes would work to pollinate if you bagged off flowers before they bloomed would work. I may have to try this this season