How to Pick Basil

Pick basil properly to keep your plants flourishing.

Basil plants are warm-season garden favorites. You can use the leaves to make pesto and add to tomato sauce as well as season oils and teas. If you pick basil correctly, your plants will continue to thrive and produce lots of fresh, fragrant leaves.

Things You'll Need

• healthy basil plants
• a sack to put basil in

Instructions

1. Look closely at your basil plant. Look down the stem and locate the junction where the stalk meets leaves on the side.

2. Pick the stem and top leaves at this junction, leaving the small bunches of leaves on either side. One or both of these bunches will now be the "leader" and produce more large basil leaves.

3. Continue to harvest your basil frequently to encourage production. If you see your plants producing flowers on top, pinch these off.

References

• Clemson Cooperative Extension: Basil
• North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service: Basil

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish