How to harvest basil???
berkeleyluddite
18 years ago
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Daisyduckworth
18 years agoRelated Discussions
When can i start harvesting basil?
Comments (4)Look up 'pinching' basil. Maybe you can get a better idea or pictures of what to do with this size plant. Both previous posters gave wonderful advice. Basil grows a leaf pair, then the stem goes up in the middle. Pinching takes out that stem, encouraging the plant to bush out more, rather than just growing one stem. Personally, I would pinch some tiny new growth to encourage the bushing, then just enjoy the scent a little longer and wait before actually trying to harvest--give your plant more time and leave the larger leaves for now....See Moreharvesting basil plants?
Comments (18)I'd hardly call squeezing a single basil plant in a 16" pot cruel. An 8" pot yes. Besides, if they were suffering, I'd know it. Instead, they are thriving and quite large, with leaves as big as your hand. And thanks to pinching them back early, they've bushed out nicely too. I do know one thing, they wouldn't be half that size if I put them in the dirt in the backyard. Too rocky and too much clay and they would get half the sun they now get by being on the deck. They'd just be stunted. Nope, they do fine and produce great amounts of basil right where they are, providing me with more than enough to cook with for the season, and enough to share and then some to put up. And the five pesto perpetuos (HUGE now).....well, they'll come in during the winter and do fine, so I'll have year-round basil. :-) Oh, they smell and taste incredible! And if 16" is good enough for my citrus, then it certainly is good enough for basil....See MoreBasil Harvest Photo
Comments (1)Luscious!...See Morebasil harvest
Comments (8)I harvested my basil last night because we're supposed to have a freeze tonight. The freeze forced me to do it; it's been on my to-do list for weeks! Had to scramble to get it done before dark, though. Maybe that will teach me for next time, but I doubt it. My plants did pretty well this year, despite neglect and a grasshopper onslaught. Been picking some throughout the summer, but last night harvested a large garbage bag full, which was great, but then we had to put it up! DH helped me, thank goodness. We washed it, plucked off the leaves and then whirred it in the food processor. I froze most of the chopped basil in ice cube trays or muffin tins, but I did make some into a big batch of pesto. I left some in the garden in case the freeze passes us by, but we have plenty for winter use now. I second (third, fourth) those who said to grow it from seed. So easy, and I think those plants do better than the purchased ones. It also roots easily, so if you don't have the option of growing from seed, buy a healthy plant and take cuttings, root them in water and pot them up! Leigh...See Moreteendoc
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