2007-06-02 01:49:00 · 8 answers · asked by Debra 1 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
Pinch off a few leaves from nearest the bottom of the plant. Actually, you can pinch off a few leaves from anywhere without ruining the plant, just be sure to leave the stalk and topmost leaves.
2007-06-02 01:58:59 · answer #1 · answered by ~RedBird~ 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Harvesting Hints:
Begin harvesting basil as soon as the plants have several pairs of leaves. If you harvest frequently, you'll help encourage your plants to produce new growth—which, in turn, will give you even more basil to harvest. You can keep harvesting basil up until the first frost. After harvesting, wrap dry foliage in paper towels and store it in resealable plastic bags in the fridge. To have fresh herbs in the summer, invest in a herb saver, which is a tall plastic container where the bottom part you fill with water and the herbs go into the container. Pop the lid on and your herbs will stay fresh for weeks. You can also freeze your fresh herbs by cleaning them, air dry, wrap in plastic or waxed paper and then place in a freezer bag. They will keep for months this way.
IIf you don't pick your leaves they'll stop producing leaves, and the flowers will seed. So as soon as you see a flower, cut it off. If your basil is branching, cut the tops off all the branches, then leave it alone to grow back. It seems like the more you cut, the more the basil will branch out and regrow.
2007-06-02 02:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by JoJoely 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
How To Harvest Basil
2016-10-03 11:08:33 · answer #3 · answered by riesgo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I started doing is just pinch off the bigger leaves only leaving the stems intact. The stems are somewhat hollow and when cut and exposed will die away. Try pinching the leaves and allow a day in the sun to simi-dry on a wire cookie cooling frame so air can circulate entirely around the leaves. Happy cooking & harvesting.
2016-04-01 11:16:06 · answer #4 · answered by Leigh 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Debra, you might want to start pinching them from the top of the plant as basil (like coriander) are prolific bolters. They love to produce seeds and if you let them get this far into their growing stage the leaves will become bitter and unusable.
2007-06-02 04:00:32 · answer #5 · answered by Stuart Robinson 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Just pull off a few of the leaves and leave the stems intact. The stems will re-grow more leaves later.
2007-06-02 01:52:10 · answer #6 · answered by Gary D 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Pinch the leaves off the bottom of the stem.
2007-06-02 01:53:27 · answer #7 · answered by tatertown_94 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Just do it by hand instead of using the John Deere.
2007-06-02 01:56:47 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋