When harvesting basil, be sure to pinch off your basil from the top, along the stem, directly above a set of leaves. Be sure to cut or pinch right above a leaf pair rather than leaving a stub. Bouquet Garni Recipe Here’s what you’ll need: 1. You can also cut the stem 1/4 inch above a leaf if your basil plant is getting taller than you'd like. If you plan to remove the herbs before serving the food, skip stripping and use whole stems. It reminds us of sunny summer days, it tastes amazing and smells even better. How to Store, Preserve and Use Basil. The pot needs some kind of drainage. You either want to harvest the top few inches to eat or use to make new plants using step 1. How to Plan a Vegetable Garden At 8" tall, they could have a ways to go, depending on the pot you have them in. Unfortunately, once bolting begins it is impossible to stop it and flower stem removal only slows down the process. Now it’s time to enjoy the fruit (leaves, in this case) of your labor. This encourages the plant to set new leaves and to grow in a bushy, round shape instead of growing leggy. In fact, you should. Here are step by step instructions to harvesting, and drying, basil. Once your basil plant begins to bolt, you will find that the flavour becomes weaker and the smell resembles that of dry basil sold in glass jars in the grocery store. If you look closely, you will see tiny leaves emerging in the joint, where the basil leaf connects to the stem. A pot that offers drainage. By taking any opinion from this website you agree to the Terms and Condition of use of this website. Don’t forget to read up the extra tips for more flavorful recipes at the end of this article. Place your pots in full sunlight, but be sure to water them daily, since the soil will dry throughout the day and basil will not thrive in dry soil. When pruning your basil leaf, use only sanitized tools. When you spot 3 to 5 sets of leaves, pick them from the top, leaving the set of the second leaves. Work your way from the top down to the bottom, cutting a third of the total height of your plant. Learn how to harvest your basil! Pot on into individual pots when plants are big enough to handle. Be extremely gentle during this phase as the leaves can easily break. Whether you are trying your hand at homemade pesto or in need of a few leaves to add flavor to a frozen pizza, basil is your best friend! Just in my experience. While it's fun and sometimes more cost effective to Do It Yourself. Remove any dead leaves and cut off the flowers. Before you make your pinch, take a close look at your basil plant. Every couple of weeks, repeat the process, cutting just above the first or second set of leaves on your newest branches. Harvesting Larger Amounts: Harvest the leaves from the top down, cutting back up to a third of the total plant height. According to HarvestToTable.com, harvesting basil leaves should occur 50 to 60 days after planting. Having said that, I harvest basil by slashing it back. Basil likes water, but too much H2O stresses it out. The more you harvest, the more fresh leaves that will be produced, which will delay bolting. While not precise, this is a good indicator that your plant is ready for pruning, and you can cut the stem above the second set of leaves. Pinch off flowers forming to delay the plant going to seed. However, knowing when and how to cut the leaves can help you enjoy more flavorful dishes while protecting your basil sprout’s wellbeing. It means that this is the best time to pinch a handful of leaves. To preserve your basil harvest, certainly you can dry the leaves. Sharpie Indeed, summer is the best time to enjoy your plant’s leaves. Mistake #5: You are refrigerating basil. Final Harvest: At the end of the season (before the first frost), cut the stems to the ground and pick off all the leaves. ... place a layer of small stones or pebbles in the bottom of the pot to aid with draining. I am not sure (because the photo is a bit blurry), but it seems that the tops have flower buds already. White paper towels or white plate 3. If you have more than one plant, pick a few leaves off each one rather than all of them from a single one. Basil prefers well draining, loamy soil, and consistent moisture. However, to really get the maximum flavor from your crop, consider turning the leaves into a pesto or simple pack the washed leaves into a freezer bag. Trim the leaves from the bottom of the stems and place the basil in a glass of water, much like you would flowers. Leave at least half of the leaves on the plant so that it continues to grow. Thereafter, harvest basil … The Best Way to Harvest Basil Tip #7: When harvesting basil, be sure to pinch off your basil from the top, along the stem, directly above a set of leaves. Through this method, you can trim your plant back up to less than half of its current length. Remove the top of the stem with as many leaves on as you want, but ensure you leave at least one leaf pair at the base of the stem. Transplant Seedlings - 15 Steps Regarding the soil, you should ensure that it is moist, yet well-drained. You can harvest a basil plant at any time, but, as a general rule, try not to harvest any more than 25% of it in one go. Basil leaves grow in sets of two and the leaves are positioned exactly opposite from each other on the stem. You won’t be able to enjoy the delicious leaves of your basil plant for long unless you prune it properly! In order to have a continuous supply of fresh basil, be sure to regularly harvest basil leaves from your plant. Not only does removing those bottom leaves hurt the plant, it doesn’t help the plant create new leaves and branches. The top should feel cool and dry, while the bottom should be cool and moderately damp. They’re small and compact and won’t take up a lot of space. Tip #8: Remove the leaves from the bottom two inches of the cutting, and place it in a glass of water. Each seed head will produce a large quantity of seeds, which will be ready for planting next year. This is the best way to harvest your basil plant and get yourself more than 20 cups of delicious and fresh basil leaves per season! Don’t pick leaves here and there along the stem. If you're growing basil in a pot or planter, make sure the pot is big enough for the roots. Basil plants can be sensitive to diseases and pests. Here are some suggestions on how to pick the leaves off to facilitate its growth and health. Tip #3: You can pick any leaves you prefer, but reaping the top ones can facilitate the growth of the plant. That was easy, right. —Lynne C., San Diego, Calif. December 30, 2020. Enjoy your basil! Pick off the entire leaves. How to Make Herb Salt However, if you are growing indoors then you should follow our suggestions below to ensure an abundant harvest. Click here to download the Basil Pesto recipe! Water sparingly – basil hates to sit in wet compost. This way, your basil will grow lush and full. A harvest of several cups of basil works well for making homemade pesto sauce, a green sauce that tastes delicious on meats and pasta. On the contrary, picking from the top actually increases growth by encouraging side shoots and more bottom growth. Seeds may be started indoors, at a minimum of 6 weeks before the final frost date or planted directly in the soil 1 week before the final frost date. To harvest … The final harvest; This is done at the season’s end, alias before the first frost. Cut any flower blossoms to encourage continued growth. Repeating the process every 10-14 days will make basil growing new shoots and producing a healthy specimen. The correct way to prune basil. If you just want a few leaves, just pinch off the first two pairs of leaves. Basil includes a diverse group of cultivars including sweet basil, Thai basil, lemon basil, purple basil, and more. Harvesting of basil can begin as soon as the plant has at least six sets of leaves. Mother nature provides most of what a healthy herb needs naturally. But cold temperatures can damage the plant and stunt its growth even when it's just 50 degrees. If you examine the point where the leaves meet the stem, you should see two sets of tiny leaves growing out of the junction. Do trees grow from the top, the bottom or both? Once the roots are a couple inches long, you can plant the basil cutting into potting soil. Basil leaves taste different before and after your plant begins to go to seed. 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