She has spent the last 12 years learning and implementing a myriad of homesteading skills, specializing in growing food and animal husbandry. You've probably been pruning basil wrong all your life! Step 1: Look for Two Large Leaves Identify the spot on the branch where you can clearly see new tiny leaves forming. A little damage to leaves can be corrected by trimming off the damaged parts. How to Prune Basil for Big, Bushy Basil Plants (With Photos) July 2019 This little pruning trick will allow you to grow super-sized basil plants so you can enjoy all the pesto you've ever dreamed of. If you love everything basil, then you no doubt have a basil plant growing somewhere in your home! When it comes to pruning basil (or many other plants for that matter), the leaves you choose to remove matter for the health of the plant and for your continued enjoyment of fresh basil all season long. Basil plants turn leggy because of the use of excessive amounts of fertilizer, not enough sunlight and a lack of regular pruning. You can learn two of the easiest methods for drying herbs at home in our article here. Those two new branches will create new sets of leaves, and when you prune them again, they’ll create two new branches again. A tomato plant (center) growing alongside basil. Once you finish pruning your basil, you can use some of the stem cuttings to propagate new plants. Not sure how to prune basil? This post may contain affiliate links. Repeat this process with all branches that have tiny leaves growing. So, if the pot isn’t big enough, at some point your plant’s roots will bump into the wall of the container. Fresh basil is great to have in your kitchen as it's very convenient, and will easily thrive in a windowsill! Pruning basil leaves may seem counter intuitive, but it actually does produce more basil in a quicker amount of time. Start by looking for a set of 2 large basil leaves. Eight Or More Hours Of Sun. In this article, we'll show you exactly how to prune basil the right way so that your basil plant can produce aromatic leaves over and over again! Once the plants have grown to a few inches height, its time to start pruning the foliage. A lot of people plant basil in beds because they are best mixed with different types. Basil and mint are some of caterpillars favourites, dilute some pest killer with water in a spray bottle and spray over the plant. The three tips to prune basil include: Start pruning basil when basil plant is about 6 inches tall and has atleast two to three sets of leaves.Cut each stem to the last set of leaves.If the basil plant bolts producing flowers and seeds, pinch off the crown of basil. Cut the middle stem directly directly above the set of small leaves, leaving at least 1/2 inch of stem if possible. It’s a win-win situation for you and for the plant. Basil growing indoors requires at least six hours of sunlight. Dig up the basil plants that are healthy. Those big leaves take in the most sunlight and make sure the basil plant is getting adequate nutrients. Continue doing this throughout the growing season. If you love everything basil, then you no doubt have a basil plant growing somewhere in your home! If you purchase a product via those links through Amazon, Amazon will pay us a referral fee, at no extra cost to you. Choose a cutting that is around 3–4 inches (7.6-10 cm) long. The small leaves will now grow out in place of the one cut stem between them, and you'll get 2 new stems instead of just one! When to Prune Your Plants. Later, simply clip the stems at the first or second branch intersection below the tips of the branches. Basil is an important part of any herb garden because it's simply so versatile! This ensures the seed or flower don’t produce quickly as the focus of the plant will be to produce more stems and leaves. 7 Ways to Use Coffee Grounds in The Garden, 4 Best Bedroom Plants That Can Help You Sleep Better, 8 Rules for Healthy Houseplants That Everyone Should Know, 15 Low Maintenance & Pet Friendly Houseplants. Taking Your Basil Plant Indoors for Winter. Problem is, your basil is just not producing as fast enough as you would like it to! They should grow to about 12 to 24 inches in height. The green pot wasn’t as tall, though you can see a little bit of stem, but I probably could have left it a bit longer. Meredith is a freelance writer and founder of Backyard Chicken Project, a place for crazy chicken people to gather, learn, and share in their love of chickens. From then until the first flower buds form it will grow lush, tender foliage. If you’ve waited a bit longer, then I would suggest not pruning all the way down near the base, but rather on a higher stem. The first time you prune your plants you want to do exactly what I did here: cut off the main stem above a pair of leaves. It will grow exponentially bigger every time you prune the plant. It’s good to do this because you can cut off diseased or pest-infested portions of the plants. In a few weeks you’ll see that those tiny leaves turned into new branches, and you can again prune the new branches just above new sets of leaves so those will branch out again. Cut the middle stem directly above the set of small leaves, leaving at least a 1/2 inch of stem if … Basil seeds prefer warm soil and warm weather. Ideally, you’d start pruning when your basil plant is still pretty small, with only one or two stems (6-8 leaves) off of the main plant. For larger varieties, plant farther apart (about 16 to 24 inches). Put the plant in a pot adding soil as needed. Cut the middle stem directly directly above the set of small leaves, leaving at … Basil plants should be placed in a sunny window, preferably facing south. Identify the spot on the branch where you can clearly see new tiny basil leaves forming. (Straight, Stainless Steel Blades), 7 Essential Medicinal Plants to Grow and How To Use Them, 10 Reasons To Grow Lemongrass No Matter Where You Live, two of the easiest methods for drying herbs at home in our article here, How To Summer Prune Grapevines For Bigger Harvests. Just place your clean-cut herb trimmings into a jar with a little bit of water, and allow them to soak up sunlight from a window. Pruning basil will ensure the plant grows extra stems and leaves throughout the season. Instructions Identify the spot on the branch where you can clearly see new tiny basil leaves forming. We’d try time and time again to grow basil, excited to add it to our soups, salads, and Italian dishes, only to have it fail over and over again. This super aromatic herb goes great in Asian style dishes, salads, on pizzas, and anything else you may think of. Alternatively, if you were pruning the plant the wrong way, it would continue to grow leaves from the one central branch, but would eventually turn woody, skimpy, sparse, and ultimately die. Keep the pot near a window that gives sunlight or under grow lights. PlantInstructions.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for websites to earn referral/advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. How to Prune Basil The Right Way! So now that you know how to prune basil, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to pruning! Cut the branch just above those tiny leaves, making sure not to disturb the leaves themselves. Leave behind the those with blackened leaves or drooping stems. Use some herb pruning shears to ensure a clean cut. Do NOT cut the leaves closest to the bottom of the plant, because the basil plant needs a steady base. How to Repot Store-Bought Basil. Think of it as getting regular trims for your hair – your hair is healthier, and will grow better! You've moved it to a sunnier spot, you've changed its pot, and you've given it plant food, but your basil is still not producing. As soon as flowers become evident, pinch them off so the energy in the plant stays diverted to foliage growth. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. Prune basil when it is more then 8 inches tall. (Coming soon!) Meredith works from her woodland homestead where she spends her days writing, creating animal-inspired art, and chasing after her flock of chickens. Here are the basics: At the end of summer, tidy your plants and set them up for the winter. After a few weeks, fresh roots will emerge from the herbs, and you can transplant the trimming back into the ground or into a container garden. The more often you prune the basil plant, the bushier and leafier it becomes. If you use your hands or some scissors aren’t good enough, you might make your basil more susceptible to diseases by creating unwanted wounds. Pruning also helps the basil plants focus their energy on growing new leaves rather than the flowers or seeds. Typically, you want to prune your basil plants when they begin to grow tall and leggy. How to Plant Basil. This can form a compacted, hard ball that comes out of the pot with effort, retaining the shape of the pot. The biggest leaves on the bottom branches are the powerhouses of the whole plant. Store-bought basil (Ocimum basilicum) growing in a pot provides fresh leaves for a week or two, but a repotted plant can supply your kitchen for months. You can continue cutting the middle stems until your plant is at the desired size, or leave it as is. Rotate the water every few days. This is great! The leaves that you should remove are those growing on the top of the plant. Pair the right herb with the right size pot. Basil requires full sun, fertile soil and pruning once every two weeks to maintain a bushy appearance with abundant leaves rather then a leggy basil with sparse leaves. Once the plant becomes bigger and outgrows the existing pot, repot it into one size bigger container. And there you have it, the secret to growing big bushy basil plants! Simply use a pair of shears and shape them, not removing more than 1/4 of the foliage at a time. You can start growing basil indoors in small 6-8 inches deep pots. Have you ever bought a beautiful little basil seedling from your local nursery, only to have it quickly turn scraggly, tall, woody, and sparse? This … Tomatoes make great neighbors for basil plants in the garden—and on the plate! For more detailed information on how to prune your bay tree, see our guide. Use the pinched leaves or dry them, so there’s no waste. K17A. The tangled knot of roots can stress the plant and deprive it of nutrients, water, and food. Yes, they’re smaller and won’t make nearly as much Caprese salad as those big leaves on the bottom, but there’s a good reason to pick off the leaves from the top of the plant. Pruning is as easy as pinching with your fingers, to using snips or shears for heavier work. The problem may simply be one of pruning! Position your sun-loving … When learning how to correctly prune basil, it’s important to first know the wrong way to go about pruning. Harvest leaves a few at a time at first. But the second, third, fourth, etc. Problem is, your basil is just not producing as fast enough as you would like it to! How should you prune the basil plants? If your Thai basil gets rootbound for a long period of time, it might eventually die. Pruning them off significantly hurts the plant. Plant basil seeds in late winter or early spring. I’ve tried to grow basil tons of times and every time I end up with this long stringy plant with super tiny leaves. You’ll also want to prune your plant regularly. times you prune your plants the main stem probably won’t have that much new growth on it, so look around for other stems to prune. In a few weeks you’ll see that those tiny leaves turned into new branches, and you can again prune the new branches just above new sets of leaves so those will branch out again. The … Leave about a quarter of an inch of the stem above the last set of leaves. Where the base of each leaf meets the stem, you should see another small set of leaves or very small green knobs. If you cut one stem, it will reproduce to form two stems. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. As a general rule, pots as small as 10 inches in diameter … Make sure you learn how to dry and preserve your harvested herbs so that nothing goes to waste. Pruning this way allows the plant to grow outward instead of only upward. To prune a basil stem cut the stem down to the last set of leaves. Copyright © 2020 Rural Sprout on the Seasoned Pro Theme, TABOR TOOLS Pruning Shears, Florist Scissors, Multi-Tasking Garden Snips for Arranging Flowers, Trimming Plants and Harvesting Herbs, Fruits or Vegetables. Meredith Skyer is a writer, artist, and homesteader residing in Western New York with her husband and menagerie of farm critters. In this instance, transplanting your plant to a wider pot is crucial. First, it is more practical to grow basil in a pot if you only plan to use a handful of seedlings. A rootbound plant means that the roots have completely taken up the pot, often circling and creating a dense web of roots. 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