Do you cut basil from the top or bottom?
1. Prune from the top. The bottom leaves of the basil plant are necessary for photosynthesis (and are also less tasty than the top leaves), so you don't want to remove them early on in the growing process. Always prune your basil plant from the top; avoid removing the bottom leaves of the plant.
Prune regularly for the best flavor. About every four weeks, prune basil back to just above the bottom two sets of leaves. If the plant is allowed to flower, it will lose flavor.
Start from the top, not at the bottom
Counterintuitive, but the best thing to do is to prune the leaves at the top, not the bottom. The big leaves on the bottom act as a sturdy base.
Pick off small amounts of leaves whenever you wish.
Once your basil plant is grown, you should feel free to pick off leaves whenever you want a fresh garnish. Remove a few leaves from each section of the plant without cutting off any stems.
Basil likes to stay moist and requires approximately 1 inch of water every week. Water deeply at least once a week to keep roots growing deep and the soil moist. Basil growing in containers will need more frequent watering. Your goal when growing basil in a container is to keep the soil from drying out.
Find a large canning jar and place a few inches of water inside. Make sure the jar is large enough that the basil stems won't be squished or packed inside. Place the basil stems inside the jar, cut side down. Screw on the lid of the jar, which helps to keep the basil fresh.
Basil plants initially grow one central stem. Once they are reach 6-8 inches tall, pinch the central stem back by half and about 1/4 inch above the leaf axils. This will force the plants to branch and grow more leaves. As the plants keep sending out new branching stems, continue to pinch them back in the same manner.
If you don't pick basil leaves or harvest your basil within 12 weeks, it will produce flower buds. When basil starts to flower, its taste becomes bitter. By pruning your basil plant, you're delaying its flowering and encouraging new growth.
ANSWER: Yes, you can freeze fresh basil leaves, but they just need a little help. Basil is a particularly delicate herb because it hates the cold and darkens when cut. Keep in mind any fresh herbs that you freeze will not be entirely the same as fresh. Freezing will change the texture and it won't be as stable.
Unfortunately, basil is an annual versus perennial plant, which means it does not come back every year. You'll have to replant it each season, but the good news is that it is super easy to grow as long as you have sunlight.
What is the best time of day to cut herbs?
Harvest early in the morning, after the dew dries, but before the heat of the day. Harvest herbs before flowering, otherwise, leaf production declines. Herb flowers have their most intense oil concentration and flavor when harvested after flower buds appear but before they open.
Slugs eat large ragged holes in the leaves of basil and many other plants. They feed at night and hide under mulch, plant leaves and rocks during the day. Trap and drown slugs using beer. Place the beer in a shallow dish sunk into the ground or use a half empty bottle laid on its side.
Every part of the Basil plant is edible that is leaves, seeds, stems, and flowers. Leaves can be eaten raw and seed and flowers are dried and used as herbs and spices in many cuisines. You can extract the healthy benefits of Basil from every part of the plant.
- Dipping Oil – Chop finely and mix with other herbs such as thyme, oregano, minced garlic, and extra virgin olive oil. ...
- Pizza Topping – Try adding torn basil leaves as a pizza topping.
- Caprese Salad – Nothing says summer like a Caprese salad.
Basil plants initially grow one central stem. Once they are reach 6-8 inches tall, pinch the central stem back by half and about 1/4 inch above the leaf axils. This will force the plants to branch and grow more leaves. As the plants keep sending out new branching stems, continue to pinch them back in the same manner.
So yes, if you remove the florets (either by pinching or cutting), the plant will continue to grow. In my kitchen there are two purple basil plants that have been growing hydroponically for over three years now. To keep them smaller size I regularly prune them quite severely.
First you likely end up with a tall leggy basil plant that produce very little leaves. Then the plant will go to flower and the leaves will start to taste bitter as it focuses its energy on producing flowers and seeds.
If the stems of your basil seedlings look fragile and leggy, you can bury them all the way to where the first set of leaves are.
Large-leaved basils, such as sweet basil, Italian basil, and lettuce-leaf basil can grow two to three feet in height. Small- leaved basil such as lemon basil, dwarf basil, bush basil, or spicy globe basil will grow 8 to 12 inches in height and width.
