Basil enhances many recipes and offers numerous health benefits. This easy-to-grow annual aromatic plant requires regular care (watering, pruning, etc.) to ensure healthy growth. It can be harvested at a specific time of year or gradually as it develops. When harvesting or pruning basil, should you cut the stem or the leaves? Find the answer in this article.
Pruning basil: should you cut the stem or the leaves?
Basil needs to be watered regularly to provide it with the water it needs to survive and grow. Watering should ideally be done gradually, drop by drop. Pruning basil is important to optimize its growth and encourage healthy regrowth.
Pruning basil: should you cut the stem or the leaves?
To prune basil properly, you should cut the stems of the plants. However, this gardening task should not be done randomly. A specific method should be followed to avoid damaging the plant.
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How to prune basil
Basil should be pruned from the top down, removing part of the plant. Start at the fullest part of the plant and stop where new leaves are emerging so that you do not interrupt their growth. To cut basil stems without damaging them, it is best to use small scissors and follow these tips:
- Cut the basil stem as close to the node as possible (no more than 1 cm above it) to encourage new growth and prevent the plant from directing nutrients toward that section. This pruning method encourages branching, making the plant bushier as it grows. Basil nodes are the points where side shoots emerge from the plant.
- Pinch off the tips of side shoots and branches with your fingers. This helps create a fuller plant and encourages healthy growth. You can do this while watering the plants.
- Remove flower buds before they open so the basil continues to grow. It is important to note that basil will produce far fewer or no new leaves once it has flowered. Basil flowers are also edible, and their flavor is stronger than that of the leaves. If you no longer want to continue growing the plant, you can let it flower and enjoy its attractive blooms and rough, thick seed pods.
Good to know. When cutting back whole basil plants grown outdoors, it is recommended to cut the main stem around 8 cm above the ground using pruning shears. Then gently shake the plant to remove dust and insects.
Harvesting basil: should you cut the stem or the leaves?
When harvesting basil, you can cut either the stem or the leaves of the plant. Depending on the season, you can even harvest the whole plant.
Harvesting basil: cutting the leaves
Basil is an annual aromatic plant. It is generally harvested during the growing season, between April and September. During this period, it is recommended to harvest basil leaves to enjoy their full flavor and benefits. If you have grown basil in a pot, follow these tips when harvesting the leaves:
- Harvest the basil leaves once the plants reach between 15 and 20 cm in height, but not before. You can use a tape measure to check the size of the plants. Avoid waiting until the basil grows well beyond 20 cm before pruning it or harvesting its leaves.
- Pick basil leaves gradually once the plant reaches the recommended size above. It is best to cut a few leaves from different parts of the plant without cutting the stem. This method encourages the plant to produce more leaves.
- Cut leaves from the upper part of the basil plant so it becomes increasingly bushy. If you mainly harvest from the bottom, the basil will tend to grow taller and may become sparse.
- Avoid tearing or damaging the stem when harvesting basil leaves. Cut the leaves at their base, as close to the stem as possible.
- Gently pull the basil leaves to detach them from the stem. You can also use small scissors.
- Pick the leaves in the morning for maximum aroma.
Harvesting basil: cutting the stem
When basil starts to form a flower spike, it is recommended to cut fairly long stems just above a pair of leaves. This pinching encourages the growth of two new branches, especially when done around 2 or 3 nodes above the ground. It is best to cut less than one-third of the basil stems at a time so that the remaining leaves can continue producing enough glucose, a nutrient the plant needs for regrowth. Good to know. Basil grown outdoors can be harvested during spring and summer. Indoor basil can be harvested throughout the year depending on the size and development of the plants.
Harvesting basil: cutting the whole plant
For harvests carried out in early autumn, it is often necessary to cut the entire basil plant. To do this, cut all the stems as close to ground level as possible. This helps prevent frost from destroying the basil. However, stems carrying seeds can be left in place until they are completely dry in order to collect mature seeds. Good to know. Some basil varieties, such as African Blue basil or holy basil, can tolerate temperatures down to -5°C.
