Herb
How to grow basil
Pinch it often and it thrives.
Overview
Basil is a tender annual that grows fast in warmth. The single biggest difference between a scrappy plant and a bushy one is regular pinching of the growing tips.
Common problems and what to do
Flowering early
Once basil flowers, leaf production slows. Pinch out flower buds as soon as you see them.
Tall and spindly
Not enough pinching, or too little light. Cut back above a leaf pair to force branching.
Blackened leaves
Cold damage. Basil needs warmth; move pots indoors when nights cool.
Harvesting
Pinch stems just above a pair of leaves rather than picking single leaves. Two new shoots grow from that point.
Beginner tips
- Harvest from the top down, never by stripping the base.
- Basil grows happily alongside tomatoes in the same warm spot.
- Take cuttings in water late in the season to keep a plant going indoors.
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