\u00a9 2020 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Today we are going to prune/trim our basil! Jun 5, 2020 - Explore Bchambery's board "How to prune basil" on Pinterest. Every time you prune the leaves from the top of the basil plant, it allows the plant to create two new branches from the spot that you picked. In a few weeks you’ll see that those tiny leaves turned into new branches, and you can again prune the new branches just above new sets of leaves so those will branch out again. Please consider making a contribution to wikiHow today. When it comes to pruning basil (or many other plants for that matter), the leaves you choose to remove matter for the health of the plant and for your continued enjoyment of fresh basil all season long. As long as there are multiple sets of leaves, even if it’s just 2 sets, you can prune your basil. A leaf node is where a leaf connects to the stem of the plant. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This is to avoid crowdedness of basil plants. How to Prune Overgrown Basil. You can also store the basil by air-drying it. It turns out, the way you prune the basil has everything to do with your success in growing it. The first pruning is the most important for creating a bushy, multi-branched plant. If you’re growing the basil as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and flowers, then you probably don’t care if the basil stems are turning into wood. Basil loves hot weather, and if your plants are flourishing, it’s time to prune (and harvest). It might seem odd to cut a plant that is growing nice and tall, but this is a necessary step to grow a full, bushy basil plant. Basil (Ocimum basilicum) generally reaches no more than 12 inches tall, but its nicely mounded shape allows you to enjoy it in both edible and ornamental garden beds. As soon as flowers become evident, pinch them off so the energy in the plant stays diverted to foliage growth. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. These herbs require occasional hard pruning about once a year, usually in the spring, at the beginning of a growing season. And there you have it, the secret to growing big bushy basil plants! At this point, the stem should have anywhere between 2 or 3 sets of leaves. Hi AGners! It will grow exponentially bigger every time you prune the plant. I’ve had a basil plant hanging out in my kitchen for awhile now, and it’s just starting to get seriously out of control! Make sure there are at least 1 or 2 sets of leaves left at the bottom of your stem. Basil is one of my favorite plants to grow: it’s delicious, and it’s easy to care for! The biggest leaves on the bottom branches are the powerhouses of the whole plant. Continue to trim at each node until you have as much basil as you need. By using our site, you agree to our. Repeat this process with all branches that have tiny leaves growing. How to Prune Basil The Right Way! If the basil plant is growing vertically, pinch the leaves from the top to encourage lateral growth. These leaves are essential for converting sunlight into energy for your basil plant. Basil loves hot weather, and if your plants are flourishing, it’s time to prune (and harvest). Hi guys! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your basil plant needs to be at least 6 inches (15 cm) tall before you start pruning. Pruning them off significantly hurts the plant. Step 1: Look for Two Large Leaves Start by looking for a set of 2 large basil leaves. Whether in a container or in your garden, basil can provide a fantastic harvest with just one plant. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. You can prune pretty aggressively if you like, all the way down to about three inches from the base of the plant. To freeze the leaves, coarse-grind them in a food processor with a drizzle of olive oil. The more often you prune the basil plant, the bushier and leafier it becomes. Remember that basil plants will grow new branches in that area. In fact, great greenhouses will prune their basil plants before they put them out for sale. Your support helps wikiHow to create more in-depth illustrated articles and videos and to share our trusted brand of instructional content with millions of people all over the world. See more ideas about Pruning basil, Prune, Basil. Although this method works to store your basil, it may not preserve all of its flavor. Prune basil plant every two to three weeks throughout the summer. Lauren has worked for Aurora, Colorado managing the Water-Wise Garden at Aurora Municipal Center for the Water Conservation Department. Identify the spot on the branch where you can clearly see new tiny basil leaves forming. Tip: I find a sharp pair of scissors works well for pruning basil. http://www.gettystewart.com/how-to-cut-basil/, https://howtoculinaryherbgarden.com/grow-basil-from-seed-indoors/, https://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-harvest-and-use-fresh-basil-from-your-garden/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Those two new branches will create new sets of leaves, and when you prune them again, they’ll create two new branches again. Those two new branches will create new sets of leaves, and when you prune them again, they’ll create two new branches again. But the right kind of pruning can reward you with a bountiful harvest of fragrant basil for several months! Pruning every couple of weeks will keep the plant tidy, prevent flowering and encourage growth of new leaves. The last thing you want to do is prune your plant too early. Every day at wikiHow, we work hard to give you access to instructions and information that will help you live a better life, whether it's keeping you safer, healthier, or improving your well-being. This is the key takeaway here. Pruning this way allows the plant to grow outward instead of only upward. Easy peasy! If you don’t prune your basil, it will grow slim, tall and begin bolting. It is said that in the immediate vicinity of the tomb of Christ , and after his resurrection, a large number of basil … And, I will show you the best way to prune your basil! Having at least 5-6 sets of leaves is important, because you want to have 1-2 sets of leaves left when you cut it. The leaves will turn bitter as well. Take special care to grow them from seedlings, and trim them regularly to produce healthy basil plants that are ready to prepare and eat! wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. She has spent the last 12 years learning and implementing a myriad of homesteading skills, specializing in growing food and animal husbandry. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. I made a quick video to show you how I prune … For this method, remove the leaves from the stem and place them in a shady area. These are my favorite garden snips. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. I really hope you enjoyed these five steps on how to grow basil from a cutting. You should prune from the above where two braches meets. Basil quickly thrives in the home garden in … We do not want this so we prune to keep it healthy, in control and flavorful. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. Basil is one of the toughest and most comfortable to grow herbs for the summertime garden. Always use scissors or gardening shears to cut the stem. Chop or tear basil into pieces (you want the oils to come out) Place in a clean jar Fill the jar with your favorite oil (olive, grapeseed or your choice) Let infuse on a counter for a day or two Annual herbs like basil, cilantro, tarragon, and lemon balm benefit from constant, light pruning throughout their growing season, which runs from early spring to early fall.. Evergreen perennial herbs like rosemary, chives, oregano, thyme, and sage can survive year-round. For shaping, note that basil will always favor the tops / ends of the branches, so keep that in mind when harvesting and pruning. Once you finish pruning your basil, you can use some of the stem cuttings to propagate new plants. You can learn two of the easiest methods for drying herbs at home in our article here. Basil is a plant that is often used for culinary purposes and it is best when it is fresh. You should cut it when it grows larger. Let’s go! It’s so simple: basically, you want to cut off the main, middle stalks at the base. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Immerse the cutting in a glass of water, and keep it away from direct sunlight. Use liquid fertilizer at half the recommended strength every four to six weeks for indoor basil and every three to four weeks for basil that is grown outside in containers. Cut the branch just above those tiny leaves, making sure not to disturb the leaves themselves. Cut the branch just above those tiny leaves, making sure not to disturb the leaves themselves. How to Prune a Basil Bush. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. And you don’t have to prune it all at once either. Lightly fertilize basil with a 5-10-5 food once or twice at the rate of 3 ounces for every 10 feet (3 m.) of planting space. When to Cut Basil Ideally, you should start to cut basil early in the season, when the plant is about 6 inches tall or has at least 6 leaves. Alternatively, you can go ahead and harvest some basil by cutting down entire branches to just above a lower node. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Never use your fingers, as this may injure the plant. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Now that you know the wrong way to prune basil, let’s go over the correct way to pick off basil leaves. Basil is prized by cooks all over the world, and there are many varieties to choose from. Ocimum basilicum, or basil, is a culinary herb whose leaves are prized for pesto and many other recipes. Also, how to store it.". Use some herb pruning shears to ensure a clean cut. Episode 2: How to Prune (and Harvest) Basil. Yes, they’re smaller and won’t make nearly as much Caprese salad as those big leaves on the bottom, but there’s a good reason to pick off the leaves from the top of the plant. "The article is very clearly written and the illustrations are wonderful with markings to show where to cut the, "Helped me know when to cut basil plant and what to do with the flower on it. This article was co-authored by Lauren Kurtz. Copyright © 2020 Rural Sprout on the Seasoned Pro Theme, TABOR TOOLS Pruning Shears, Florist Scissors, Multi-Tasking Garden Snips for Arranging Flowers, Trimming Plants and Harvesting Herbs, Fruits or Vegetables. If you prune too soon, the plant will not receive enough energy. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Below we will tell you more about basil, and how to prune and trim it so it doesn’t become too tall. Ideally, you should start to cut basil early in the season, when the plant is about 6 inches tall or has at least 6 leaves. Remove the frozen basil cubes and store them in a plastic bag for up to six months. This ensures the seed or flower don’t produce quickly as the focus of the plant will be to produce more stems and leaves. Not only does removing those bottom leaves hurt the plant, it doesn’t help the plant create new leaves and branches. She earned a BA in Environmental and Sustainability Studies from Western Michigan University in 2014. When the young basil has developed three sets of leaves, and is over 6 inches tall, cut the main stem right above the second set of leaves (see photo below). To prevent blooming from reoccurring immediately, move down the stem a few sets of leaves before cutting. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Where the base of each leaf meets the stem, you should see another small set of leaves or very small green knobs. Pruning this way allows the plant to grow outward instead of only upward. If you’ve waited a bit longer, then I would suggest not pruning all the way down near the base, but rather on a higher stem. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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