Tony Scavo

An intensely flavored, aromatic basil. Plants grew 12-15" tall in 2016 at Heritage Farm before bolting. Bolting began in early July. Leaves have prominent veins and a serrated margin. Produces well if continuously picked. The Tony Scavo basil is a family heirloom that can be traced back to when Nicholas Scavo (1892-1977) emigrated from Bari, Italy in 1905 with only a small suitcase which included a package of mixed seeds. Gale Morris (Donor and Seed Source) from Indianola, Iowa started growing and saving seed from this variety from a sample he obtained from Nicholas’ son Tony (1922-2003) in 1993. Gale related that Tony truck-farmed in Des Moines his entire life, selling produce both at the downtown farmers market and from his yard. Gale and Tony shared a common love for gardening. After Tony’s death in 2003 Gale continued to grow and save Tony’s seeds to the present day. Gale was concerned the variety’s seed would be lost after he died and decided to contact SSE in 2014 interested in making a seed donation. He had already lost some melon seeds his grandfather had saved for 90 years “all because I didn’t plant them for 6 or 7 years”. SSE Accession # 132342