How To Harvest Fresh Basil So You Can Enjoy It All Summer

Basil is one of those veggies that we can all pretty much agree that we love!  

In fact, the taste of fresh basil with tomatoes is the quintessential taste of summer, don't you think?

And luckily basil is really not that hard to grow...

Or is it?

Have you planted basil seedlings, in anticipation of making quarts of pesto and jars of perfectly seasoned tomato sauce, only to find that your plants produce just a few coveted leaves before becoming woody and pushing up blossoms?

A common issue many gardeners face when planting basil is keeping it properly pruned to produce the maximum amount of those sweet, herbaceous leaves we all love. 

But, luckily it's an easy technique to learn!

After reviewing these basic instructions you should be on your way to heaping harvests of basil!  

How to harvest fresh basil so you can enjoy it all summer

Here is the step-by-step guide to picking basil so it flourishes for you!

#1 Understand the basics of how basil grows

Now, I'm no scientist, so don't gloss over your eyes on me.  This is easy stuff!

Basil plants start with one central stem and leaf top. As the plant matures, it will start to branch at a 45 degree angle from each leaf, growing another stem and leaf cluster. After it produces 3-5 leaf sets from each stem, that stem will start to produce a flower.

The flowers are beautiful and can attract pollinators, however, once present, the basil plant begins to put all of its energy into the flower, rather than the delicious leaves. This can make the stem woody, and the leaves less flavorful. Not ideal for that pesto!

Check out the pictures below.  

Find the seedling plant with a single stem.  Then see the plants that have been pruned properly to see the bushy form and the absence of flowers.

#2 Identify a "basil top"

Basil tops are the cutest things!  It's the top leaf cluster of each stem of the plant.  This is crucial to your success!  

So here is where you say "note to self: don't just pick off individual leaves".  Because, guess what that does?  Encourage the plant to flower which is exactly the opposite of what you want!

Here are pictures of basil tops so you can get familiar with them before you start actually pruning.

#3 Use your fingers to pinch off the "basil tops" 

To prune a basil plant so that it continues to produce leaves, rather than flowers, simply pinch the largest tops of the basil from both the main stem and the side stems.

Pinching the tops will encourage the basil to grow more outward stems and leaves, rather than vertical flower stems.

See the pictures below to help you identify where to pinch.

While you can leave small clusters for next time, please don’t be nervous to take the top leaf cluster!  This is a case where harvesting encourages the right kind of growth!  

Keep harvesting until you have taken all of the big "basil tops" off the plant.  

When you’re finished pruning, the plant may look a little sad temporarily, but I promise, taking all those clusters will only help the plant produce more.

#4 Repeat as often as you want basil

Use this method to prune your basil plant regularly every week or two.

If you keep on pruning, a few basil plants can keep you supplied with basil for the majority of the summer. 

If you miss a few times of picking, then some of the largest basil tops or clusters will start to show signs of flowering. 

That's okay.  It happens!  And when it does, pinch them off!  Pinching off all signs of flowering encourages the plant to stay in vegetative mode rather than flowering/seed producing mode.

#5 Make good use of your basil :)

After going through the trouble of properly pruning your basil, make sure to make good use of it!  

Here's where we have all of our favorite basil recipes.

Or you can search "basil" on our website (scoll to the bottom to find search bar) and you'll get over one hundred ideas!  :)

And if you get overwhelmed with basil from all of your pruning (which is a GREAT problem to have) check out this blog post on how to make pesto:

How Making Pesto Can Help You Use Up Extra Greens in a Tasty Way

It takes the "problem" of basil excess down to a manageable as well as storeable size!  

What do you think?  Do you do this already?  Does it seem doable?  

Please hit reply and let me know!  Happy harvesting!