Cutting back basil is a technique to promote regrowth and vitality. But if you are unaware of the right methods to cut your basil plant, you are more likely to invite unwanted issues with the basil.
Considering your concern about cutting and harvesting basil, I’ve come up with this guide to help you follow the right approach while cutting your basil.
Basil plants continue producing leaves if you cut back regularly. Leaf production of the basil plant is directly related to its health and vitality.
To ensure optimal growth of the basil plant, you must be aware of the technique associated with cutting basil leaves.
Before you start cutting your basil, ensure you have the right tools:
As soon as your basil plant reaches a height of 6-8 inches, you can begin pruning its leaves. But check for 3-4 sets of opposite leaves before giving a pinch.
You can initiate by pinching the topmost central stem using your thumb and index finger. It is rather soft; you mightn’t need snips for this one.
Once you locate the growth of new stems with several sets of leaves in your basil plant, you can pinch or snip them off about half their length.
Make sure to prune ¼ inch above a set of leaves.
You need to continue pruning new stems and leaves of the basil plant ensuring the growth of more stems and leaves, making your plant bushier and more vibrant.
During the peak growing season, when you have to do a lot of pruning, you may have to use the snipping tool to make your task easy.
Once the summer begins, your basil plant starts producing flower buds and seeds. You are more likely to find flower buds at the junction of two leaves or stems.
When the warm air begins to flow around the surroundings, you need to regularly check your basil plant for signs of flower buds and remove them at first sight by giving a gentle pinch.
You should know that flowering tends to slow down the production of new leaves and eventually ceases the entire phenomenon.
If you miss the regular pruning of flower buds and your basil plant already has some flowers, you can still cut them back. There’s nothing to worry about!
If your basil has been overgrown with immense leaves and flowers, you can cut the entire plant in half and promote regrowth.
The ideal temperature for a basil plant is 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Although it can tolerate slight temperature variations, upon experiencing weather lower than 40 degrees Fahrenheit, your basil finds it hard to survive.
Therefore, it’d be best to harvest the entire basil leaves around autumn before freezing winter approaches.
Harvesting is one of the major reasons for cutting back your basil. Since basil is a popular culinary item, people prefer to use it in various dishes.
The aromatic taste of basil blends well in pasta, pizza, salads, and many more.
It should not surprise you, cutting back the leaves and branches of basil is a way to promote them for new growth, ensuring vitality and good health.
Yes, when you snip or pinch the matured leaves of the basil, you encourage the plant to grow more leaves. This way, you allow your basil to grow bushier and more vibrant.
In addition to that, you need to make proper cuts to your basil, or else your basil plant may experience stunted growth, reduced yield, and a leggy appearance.
Flowering is a general sign of the matured stage of your basil. If you were wondering, what to do with basil flowers, here's the answer.
Once your basil plant starts to produce flower buds, plant energy is mostly directed toward the flower and seed production, and hence, new leaf production may come to an end.
Therefore, if you are to enjoy the flavorful leaves for some more time, you need to continue eliminating the flowers and buds of your basil.
There’s no exact cutting order for your basil plant however cutting back every 1-2 weeks is considered ideal. But if your basil has grown heavily with flowers, you may need to increase the cutting frequency.
It has been suggested to develop a habit of regular harvesting, encouraging your basil plant for continuous growth.
Knowing the right time to cut back the basil is equally important as pruning techniques.
I’ve mentioned some of the common yet useful approaches that might help you understand the right time to cut your basil.
The ideal height of 6-8 inches with more than six pairs of leaves is considered best to initiate the pruning of your basil plant.
It might take around 3-4 weeks after the date of plantation. Make sure to cut back the basil plant only if you find enough leaves on it to support the plant growth.
Well, there’s no dedicated season or period for pruning your basil plant, but still, it has been recommended to prune in the spring so that you can bring the desired shape to your plant.
Further, you need to continue pruning your basil till the early fall before winter.
Cutting back the leaves and stems of basil is considered best if you prune them early in the morning.
This way, your basil plant can reward you with highly concentrated leaves offering the true essence of aromatic and flavorful taste.
Basil plant needs good hydration. You must ensure your plant receives adequate moisture after heavy pruning. This way, you allow your plant to overcome the stress, encouraging the new growth.
Further, while watering your basil, you should avoid overwatering and waterlogging, preventing the rot from rotting.
After giving a proper and sufficient cut to your basil plant, it would be best if you apply balanced and water-soluble fertilizer once every 2-3 weeks.
You can also consider using organic fertilizer or compost that is found to boost your plant for new and healthy growth.
Well, by now, you must have known about the proper trimming approaches for your basil plant.
You need to follow the exact methods for harvesting your basil. In addition to that, post-harvesting is another important matter to consider.
Find out the preservation and storage technique associated with the basil after harvesting.
There are several preserving techniques associated with the basil leaves once harvested. You need to choose effective approaches if you are to store basil so that it stays fresh.
Drying basil leaves is one of the methods you can adopt to preserve fresh basil. You can use any food dehydrator or simply dry your leaves in a room away from direct sunlight.
However, the true intense flavor might get lost to a large extent when consuming dried basil but still, it can work to some extent.
Well, freezing is the great innovation of this modern world to get into the actual preservation of any kind of food without having to lose the true essence.
Yes, you can add mild olive oil to the properly chopped basil leaves and place them in a freezer bag or trays.
After that, you can keep the container in the freezer and enjoy the flavorful basil leaves during the off-season.
Of course, you can make use of your house fridge to store your basil. Make sure to evenly chop the freshly harvested basil leaves wrap them in a damp paper towel.
Once wrapped, you can place them in the refrigerator for several days to come and enjoy the aromatic taste of the basil leaves.
You need to have a proper understanding of the basil plant if you are to perform cutting or pruning them.
Allowing them to thrive in the natural environment fulfilling all the requirements is what helps your basil to reach the stage of pruning.
