Ridiculous
It seems like every year there is a plant or two that produce so far beyond normal that they can be labeled “ridiculous”.
I’ve had the pleasure of documenting 10′ sunflowers and 7 foot jalapeno plants previously and was wondering what 2012’s mutant surprise might be.
I think I have my answer; it looks like basil will be my freak plant this year.
Not one plant, but one bed of plants, 3 or 4 types actually. A healthy dose of composted manure in the bed and a consistent drip irrigation undoubtedly contributed, as did proper pruning/harvesting. Any flower buds on the sweet basil get nipped off every few days and harvests from the top down produce prolific branching. As for the Thai, I mainly grow it for the color and aroma of the flowers (plus the bee bliss it provides); it continues to grow as it flowers (vs bolting and declining/drying out).
This is perhaps 1/4 of the total in the garden and I share, so don’t be shy if you are local and would like some.
Pesto anyone?
(Front right is Thai, left is Genovese, tallest (I think) is large leaf Italian. .
Behind cohutt's fence 
Great pic! My two freak plants this year are a pepper (of course) and an herb. My Sigaretta di Bergamo sweet pepper from Italy is supposed to average 3-4 inches, mine are averaging 7-8 inches! I planted a big pot of slow bolt basil for my dad on father’s day. I threw the remaining seeds next to my shed in a pile of old potting soil. It is now a cilantro bush and is showing no signs of bolting. My precious potted cilantro doesn’t grow nearly as well.
one cilantro plant 3 years ago has given me volunteer cilantro since then- out winters have been mild and it does much better in the cool/cold than the instant-bolt summers here.
Wowee!! That’s pretty amazing!
🙂