Is it a problem that my herbs are growing flowers?

Question

I am growing mint and basil on my window sill and they have grown white flowers at the tips. Is this a problem? Will it effect the quality of the herbs? Should I cut them off or can I just continue harvesting the herbs as usual.

Answer 1

You can cut off the flowers soon after they open so they don't get a chance to go to seed, unless you want the seed. The flavor of herbs deteriorates when it flowers & goes to seed. Leaves & stems become fibrous

For Basil: "It is best to keep basil from flowering because, as an annual, once the plant flowers and sets seed it will go into decline."
http://www.ames.com/faqherbs.html
Trim off the growing tip(s) of the branches when the plants are quite small. Repeat this several times until the plants are as bushy as desired. When the plants become quite dense, some gardeners simply trim or shear them regularly and use the shearings in cooking. Other gardeners will cut off a larger proportion of the plant for harvest, especially if they plan to dry or freeze a quantity of basil all at one time. Drastic harvests can be done just a few times a season because it's stressful on the plants and eventually the plants just ‘wear out’. In either case, the trimming prevents the plant from flowering and it regrows in order to try to flower. If your plants are already quite tall, cut them back by about a third., which will give you a nice harvest and allow you to begin pinching as it grows back. Make sure the plant receives adequate water and nutrients to regenerate itself. Pinch tall middle stems to promote bushy, compact growth. Avoid lush growth as it may reduce the flavor...It is best to cut leaves for drying just before flowers open.

For Mint: "The more frequently the sprigs are cut, the better the growth. Use leaves at any time. Leaves to be dried are best taken just as flowers begin to appear".

Here's a site on growing herbs:
http://www.wvu.edu/~agexten/hortcult/herbs/ne208hrb.htm
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

the flowers won't hurt anything(they are kind of pretty) they will reduce the strength of the taste of the herbs a bit. Just cut them off if you don't want them there. Trimming them back will just encourage more fresh leaves. The younger leaves are the tastiest! Especially with the basil. Try oregeno and chives for your window sill also.

Answer 3

Yes problem, Cut back 1/3 to 1/2 for the plant, water well after cutting them back. Good luck

Answer 4

South sun too hot for baby plants, place your new pots behind pots that can shade them or get some screen (roll for a screen door) that is a sun blocker and put some of that around the balcony in the afternoon when the sun is the hottest. Keep a bucket or two of water around to dip from and also to keep the humidity up.

Answer 5

If you let them go to seed (which they are starting to do once they flower), the plants will die off. Pinch the flowers off to stop that process.

Answer 6

It is. They will start to die off so pinch the flowers off, or cut them back about one third so that they can not proceed.

Answer 7

lots of herbs bloom but some go to seed and bloom flowers