Take a look at the following. I have hydroponic basil, and I have basil planted in the ground. Notice the growth of the hydroponic basil, it's bushy, yet somewhat limpy. Take a look at the basil planted in the ground. It's not bushy, but it is standing firmly, and It doesn't have as many leaves either. In fairness, I fed both plants with the same nutrients. The only difference was that the basil planted in the ground also received rain almost every day for two months. I have not harvested any leaves from the soil-planted basil.
