45 Basil Plant Types: How To Grow Basil Indoors, Growing Zones, Care, Benefits

Image Credit: Jan Haerer (leoleobobeo)⁴¹

Tips on How To Grow Basil Successfully

With just a few top tips, it’s possible to have Basil Plants of all types growing in and around your home for as long as you want.

Following a few guidelines will make it easier and even more rewarding:

1. Protect them from the cold: Basil Plants are sensitive to temperature changes, so keep that in mind if you live somewhere cold and are experiencing trouble growing the herb. Basil seedlings are sensitive to frost and should not be planted until the danger has passed.
   If you’ve planted your Basil in pots and the temperature is expected to drop at night, bring them inside.
2. Don’t forget drainage: Growing Basil successfully calls for soil with good drainage, or choose a pot with multiple drainage holes. If you are doubtful that they may not be enough, drill a few more.
   You can also add a layer of pebbles no more than a few inches thick at the base of the container to ensure the soil will not hold on to too much water.
3. Don’t let the soil dry out, but don’t keep it sodden: It can be a delicate balance to keep them moist without drowning them as Basil Plants need to be watered often. If you overwater, the stems may become mildewed and decay, which will adversely impact the health of the plant.
   Ideally, once a week, give your plants a thorough soaking and let the excess water drain away in the soil. Bear in mind that any container-grown Basil will need more frequent watering Basil because the soil in pots dries out more quickly.
4. Do not drench the leaves, water the soil: When watering, only soak the soil around the plant’s roots, and avoid wetting the leaves that should remain dry. The most effective strategy is a long, gradual soak, or the task can be undertaken by drip irrigation which is another viable option.
   Herbs and vegetables grown in pots outdoors can be watered with a watering can.
5. Give it enough sun exposure: As Basil Plants require a lot of direct sunlight, they have to be placed where they can bask in the sun for 6 to 8 hours a day and be protected from the wind when outside. Indoors, the containers should be on a windowsill with plenty of daily sunlight.
6. Add fertilizer regularly: Feed your Basil with a decent organic fertilizer once every 4 to 6 weeks for indoor plants and once every 2 to 3 weeks for outdoor plants.¹⁰ This will encourage more leaf growth.
7. Use organic mulch: Mulching the area surrounding your plants is a great way to save water and prevent weeds from taking over.
8. Harvest often: The process of harvesting Basil is similar to that of trimming. But while it’s tempting to strip the entire Basil Plant at once when the leaves are ready, it’s better to pick no more than 20% at any one time.
   One of the reasons for this is that by keeping a sufficient number of leaves on your plant, will promote fresh new leaves to regrow quickly. Early in the season is the best time to harvest and then fairly often throughout the growing season.

How To Grow Basil Indoors

Getting started with a good seed packet and a bag of organic soil couldn’t be easier,¹³ and the good news is that you can grow a large quantity of Basil from a single package of Basil seeds.

The container required can be the standard size of 4-6 inches as the plants do not ascend to astronomical heights and are easy to manage.

(Image: tookapic⁴⁰)

An organic starter mix should be used and some growers prefer to use self-watering planters to ensure the soil remains moist and doesn’t dry out but that is a personal preference.

Remember that Basil Plants love the sun and do best in a south-facing window where they can get direct sunlight for most of the day. If you don’t have access to a sunny window, a grow lamp can do the trick.

You won’t need to add any additional fertilizer to our starting mix for at least six weeks as Basils are known for being low-maintenance plants.

Growing a Basil Plant From a Seed Indoors

It is not a big challenge to at all to start the growing process from a seed with just a fresh potting mix required to be lightly dampened down and packed into your pots.

1. It all starts with a few seeds. All you need to do is gather a few together and scatter them over the top of the soil so they are evenly spaced.
2. After that, sprinkle a thin layer of soil over the seeds and gently press down to compact the soil around them, but not too tightly.
3. Using a spray bottle or can, softly water or spray the plants.
4. It’s important to choose a sunny, south-facing window so the plant will be exposed to a sufficient level of heat.
5. Now even if the location receives a lot of sunlight make sure that the temperature doesn’t suddenly plummet at night, and that the spot isn’t particularly draughty.
6. It’s possible that your plant can grow awkwardly if not taken care of. To prevent them from slanting towards the sun, as they grow you should rotate their containers regularly so they grow straight and erect.
7. The recommended time for grow lights to be on is 14 hours each day so make sure that the lighting fixture is just over the seedlings for maximum benefit for the entire plant, not just a section of it.

Best Growing Conditions for Basil Plants

Soil composition plays a significant role in the health of a Basil Plant, as does the surrounding ecosystem and sunlight exposure.

The soil needs to have the ability to drain away water if too much is applied, yet still able to retain a high degree of moisture. A solution to ground that becomes easily waterlogged is to keep the plants in pots.

The advantage is that you can create the perfect draining substrate within the containers and position them wherever is best to receive the most sunlight, and if the weather turns nasty the containers can be sheltered in an indoor environment.

Germination Time for Basil

Growing Basil is easy, whether you’re starting with seeds, starter plants, or even cuttings. When the danger of frost has vanished at the start of spring, plant seeds or transplant seedlings.

Sunlight, heat, and moisture are essential for the growth of Basil as well as a high nutrient content in the soil that has good drainage.

When growing Basil from seed, it takes about 10-14 days when the composted and fertilized soil is between 75-85°F.

Under these conditions, within 2 weeks you can look forward to the next stage and adding another Basil Plant to your crop.

How Much Sunlight Does Basil Plant Need Each Day

Are you wondering how much light or shade your Basil Plant needs to thrive in the garden?

Well, if you want your Basil Plant to grow up to be the best and bushiest it can be, direct sunshine is essential.

(Image: fabersam⁴⁰)

While full sun, 6 to 8 hours a day, is a priority requirement for these plants,¹⁶ even partial sun of 3 to 6 is acceptable for some types.

In fact, in extremely hot and dry climates, being partially shaded throughout the day may be preferable.

At the end of the day, so to speak, if the zone where you live makes it difficult for your Basil Plants to get the maximum sun exposure times, all may not be lost.

The plant may end up not being as vibrant or as bushy, but if it can be exposed to at least a good hour of direct sunlight a day it will survive and grow.

Basil Plant Care: How To Take Care of Basils

Even though Basil is used in popular dishes like pesto and caprese salad, the plants are not as tolerant of freezing temperatures as some other herbs.

Basil is typically grown as an annual, but with some gardening know-how, though, you can keep fresh Basil on hand all year and use it in any of your favorite Basil-based dishes all day long if you wish.

Just follow these few simple steps and the aroma and extra flavor that you will be able to squeeze out of the leaves will blow you away:

1. To maintain the health of your Basil Plant, be careful not to let the soil dry out completely.
2. As the plants expand and grow, you can use a pair of sharp scissors to trim them out if necessary.
3. Alter the height of the grow lamps as plants get taller. Any leggy plants can be remedied by bringing the grow lights in closer.²² However, if the lamps are too close they may cause white dots to appear on the leaves and will need to be adjusted.
4. Basil’s pleasant fragrance can be experienced one month after planting simply by passing your hands over the tiny leaves that will release the scent slightly.
5. If the foliage begins to look yellowish, or off-color, you should begin feeding it liquid fertilizer at the rate specified on the bottle.
6. Just about two months after starting, you might have enough Basil leaves for your first batch of homemade pesto.
7. The best way to guarantee that you will have a continuous supply is by planting new seeds at regular intervals so you never run out.

Disease Prevention (How To Stop Basil Plant Disease)

During the warm, humid summers, it is very easy for downy mildew to spread quickly throughout your Basil crop. If its spores are left to run wild the damage will be so severe that the infected plants will have to be dug up and disposed of.

The key to effective cultural control is drying off the leaves and increasing ventilation around the plants. The use of drip irrigation or soaker hoses is the most efficient method of watering Basil Plants without getting the leaves wet.

Also, planting Basil in a spot that gets a lot of direct sunlight will keep the leaves dry after a brief shower.

7 Basil Growing and Planting Tips

Aromatic, tasty, and a complementary addition to recipes, Basil is a warm-season annual herb that can be found in the gardens of nearly every summer resident who likes to cook.

It is a fast-grower, yet has a tendency to get lanky and sparse if not pruned regularly which can affect the quality of the leaves. With proper care from the very beginning and consistent monitoring, Basils can provide an inexhaustible harvest throughout the year.

1. Best soil for Basil seedlings: Before inserting your freshly grown seedlings into the ground, check the temperature. For successful germination, you ideally want it to be between 75 to 85°.
2. Growing zone: Even though a Basil Plant can tolerate a fair amount of shade, the same cannot be said if the roots are constantly standing in water. To that end, if your garden soil is a water trap, building a mound for your plants out of well-draining soil is a quick and easy solution.
3. How to speed up the growth rate: All plants benefit from fertilization. A good organic fertilizer can bring invaluable nutrients that can promote the growth of larger flowers and leaves as well as further nourish the plant.
   No doubt, Basil Plants can benefit from this and develop more rapidly. If you’re growing Basil indoors, you should fertilize every month or within 6 weeks.
   Outside, because of their greater nutritional demand, outdoor plants may require fertilizing more frequently than their indoor counterparts.¹⁴
4. Watering needs: Morning is the best time to water your plants so they have a full day for absorption. It is imperative, though, to water the soil only and not the leaves to avoid any risk of mold. Provide enough water, yet avoid drowning the roots.
   If for whatever reason you forget to water in the morning, wait until the following morning to do so.
5. Mulching: Mulching around trees or Basil Plants can help prevent weed growth and retain soil moisture during dry spells as well as maintain a steady temperature for the roots. Organic mulch is best and can be homemade from compostable components or dried leaves, but should still be kept away from resting against the stems to prevent rot.
6. When to harvest: Harvesting can occur 50-60 days after it has been planted, and when there are 6 to 8 leaves on a branch. Harvesting leaves on a regular basis helps maintain plants healthy and prevent them from blossoming, therefore pinching is recommended.
7. Harvesting Basil leaves: To start, pick the middle and outer leaves and discard the first set. This will stimulate expansion as the plant grows.
   When picking leaves, a top tip to remember is that the morning is the best time because that’s when the leaves are at their peak flavor.
   Take care when picking the leaves so that they are not crushed or damaged in the process. Be gentle.

Growing a Basil From a Cutting

This is the third option for growing Basils apart from by seed or by seedlings, and it is even faster and easier.

For starters, it saves on the 6-8 weeks seed growing phase and then the further 8 weeks as the plant matures from a seedling. That waiting time is drastically cut in half by growing from a cutting.

(Image: khushboo21⁴⁰)

Admittedly, It may take a few weeks for the plants to start rooting, but once they do, they’ll put forth a lot of new growth very quickly.

Rooting either in water or potting soil are two methods of growing Basil from a cutting. Both are straightforward and require alcohol-cleaned herb snips or scissors to prevent any risk of contaminating the host plant.

• To start, cut a stem that is 4-6 inches long from the Basil Plant. In order to maximize surface area for water intake, cut it at an angle right below a leaf node.
• Take off all the leaves from the lowest third of the plant’s stem. If you’re planning to root the cuttings in water,¹¹ this is especially crucial, since you don’t want any leaves to become wet and rot.

1. Rooting in Water

Here’s a guide to successfully root Basil Plants in water:

• It is advisable to use filtered water to minimize the risk of any impurities. You can use tap water if you prefer but just let it sit out for 24 hours so the chlorine can dissipate if necessary.
  After the water has been prepared, pour it into a jar or a small glass jug and place the leafless cuttings inside.
• Put the glass container where the cuttings will receive indirect yet bright light. It’s important to replace the water on day 2 at the latest to avoid the growth of bacteria and algae.
• Every day, spray a fine mist of water over the cuttings and in 10 to 14 days, you should notice the first little roots.
• As soon as you notice that the roots are an inch or two long, you can take the cuttings out of the water and place them in a pot that has wet potting soil already prepared.

2. Growing Basil in Pots With a Potting Mix

Preparation is the key when growing directly into a potting mix with a stem cutting. The last thing that you’ll want is for the tip of your fresh cutting to dry out before you have time to plant it.

So, to this end, fill your pot even before you have harvested the cuttings so as soon as they are cut they can be firmly pushed into the soil.

• Just as with rooting in water, place the pot in a spot that will get lots of indirect sunlight.
• To increase the humidity around your plants, you can simply drape a clear plastic bag over the top of each one. Alternatively, a plastic plant dome can be placed over the tray the pots are sitting in to retain moisture which will increase this growing phase.
• Every morning, pull back the plastic drapes and give it a gentle spray of water.
• Also, check the soil’s moisture levels regularly, and add water directly to the soil if it is dry to the touch.
• When a couple of weeks have gone by, give a gentle tug to verify if the roots have taken hold.
• You will know when it’s time to transplant it into the garden or to a larger container when there is a strong resistance when pulled,²⁰ a clear sign that the roots have anchored themselves firmly in place.

Pruning Growing Basil Plants

If you want your Basil Plant to develop into a full bush, you must prune it. Pruning your Basil Plant is crucial to its development, even though it seems counterintuitive to do so when your goal is for the plant to expand and grow as bushy as possible.

Before you begin, make sure that your plants are at least 6 inches in height. The use of specific herb shears or small scissors will work well for this purpose.

First, do not start snipping and trimming at random. If you want your Basil Plant to thrive, prune its leaves but resist the urge to trim the huge, dark green leaves at the plant’s base.

Look at that area as the forbidden zone that shouldn’t be touched or entered.

These are your plant’s photosynthesis engines, designed by nature to soak up the maximum amount of sunlight and transport nutrients throughout the plant.

Instead, choose the more manageable ones near the top, the tiny new leaves that are growing on the branch. And then carefully cut the stem slightly above them, taking care not to damage any of the young leaves.

When you cut back the foliage at the top of your plant in this pruning process, two new branches will sprout from that node, each one with its own set of leaves.

This double-replication will continue to occur after every pruning which will make your Basil leaves denser over time.

Planting zones play a factor in cultivating healthy Basil Plants, but proper pruning techniques are also crucial details that should never be overlooked or underestimated.

Common Pests and Natural Pest Control for Basil Plants

The fact that Basil isn’t as easily damaged by pests is one of the plant’s many great attributes.

Its strong fragrance also makes it an effective organic pesticide and is exactly that pungent fragrance that keeps a large number of pests away from other plants.

(Image: mdherren⁴⁰)

This makes Basil a handy companion to have around for other species but still does not make it 100 percent bad-insect-proof.

There are just some pests that can’t resist a bite of a Basil.

One of the most common insect problems for Basil and other early spring and summer plants is aphids.⁷

1. Aphids

It’s not a big concern if your Basil Plants get a few aphids as just a hefty spray from a high-pressure water hose will shake them off. However, aphids, as tiny as they are, can become a major problem if left to proliferate at will and unmolested.

As a marauding horde, they cause small yellow spots to form on the underside of Basil leaves, which will eventually curl inwards and become deformed. This is one of the most obvious indicators of an aphid infestation, as is the sticky material that they secrete.

Aphids can be effectively controlled with neem oil and insecticidal soaps if a heavy spray of water proves insufficient.

2. The Japanese Beetle

Basil Plants are easy prey for Japanese beetles, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the sun is still out and shining but the temperature is somewhat reduced and bearable.

They are a major pest of Basil Plants, preying on developing leaves and flowers to such an extent that only the bare stems are left behind in their wake. That level of decimation will adversely affect the health of the plant.

Using dish soap and water or horticulture oil will serve to suffocate them.

3. Grasshoppers

Not really considered as pests that attack your common garden plants, they feed hungrily and non-stop on Basil leaves. As they mature into adults, the damage is even more noticeable with the prevalence of half-chewed leaves hanging sadly from what remains of your once-healthy Basil Plant.

Companion planting with marigolds, for instance, will attract bird species that will eat them for lunch and save you the hassle of trying to get rid of them.

Other pests to look out for are:

• Slugs
• Nematodes
• White-flying Midges
• Whiteflies
• Spider Mites
• Caterpillars and Cutworms
• Leafminers

A mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice forms an effective home treatment for many of these infestations, as can regularly dusting off your plants with a powdered blend of cinnamon and cayenne pepper.

To prevent a gathering of bugs such as these, frequently rotating your vegetables and regular inspections will catch them in the act before they can do more harm.¹

Companion Plants for Growing Basils

No matter which part of nature you visit on any given day, whether in a forest or an open field, you will notice that different species of flora and fauna grow in harmony together.

Plants rarely grow alone in the environment, isolated from other types that are similar to them or completely opposite. And, in fact, most plants are constantly surrounded by a variety of other species, each one taking something from the local ecosystem but giving something back in return.

(Image: congerdesign⁴⁰)

Companion planting mimics nature by putting together or clustering plants that work well together by some enhancing soil quality, others providing essential nutrients, and still others drawing in pollinators, and warding off pests.

Some common Basil interplanting options are listed below:

1. The Tomato Plant: Growing tomatoes alongside Basil Plants is a classic pairing, the actual taste of both plants is said to improve when they are grown together,
2. Peppers: Tomatoes and peppers both thrive in warm, sunny locations during the summer and share similar soil preferences. The Basil Plant helps protect the tomato plant from a wide variety of bug pests so it bears more fruits, while the tomato plant returns the favor by providing much needed shade.
3. Oregano and Chives: Interplanting the right plants together takes practice, patience, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the plants in your hardiness zone. Pairing Basil with herbs like oregano, chives, or parsley is a smart move.
   The time and effort spent interplanting and caring for these plants will result in less time required to care for them in the long term as each tends to improve the quality and the health of the other.
4. Marigolds: Pairing the marigold flower with Basil is a no-brainer, both experts at repelling different pests that frequently assault the other. Even more importantly, when planted together they deter nematodes and the dangerous asparagus beetle from decimating your tomato plants.

Companion planting should be practiced no matter how big or small your garden is.⁴ It will save you time and reduce the possibility of any type of insect infestations or disease infections.

Basil Facts and Benefits

Are the aromatic leaves and the different types of white flowers all that the Basil Plant has to offer?

Absolutely not.

It has a slew of beneficial properties apart from the extra flavoring it can bring to your favorite dishes.

Here are just 8 of them:

1. Consuming the leaves can help in the reduction of inflammation.
2. The plant contains vitamins A, C, and K.
3. The essential oils derived from the leaves have been known to lower high blood pressure when consumed regularly.
4. Clinical trials have shown the effectiveness of Basil leaves in relieving the symptoms of asthma.
5.  Freshly brewed tea from Basil leaves is used as a common, tasty cough remedy.
6. Cancer treatments have been helped by the consumption of essential oils made from the leaves.
7. The essential oils produced from the Basil Plant are used to combat urinary, skin, and respiratory infections.
8. Native Americans traditionally employed the leaves to fight snakebites.

How To Identify: What Does Basil Look Like?

Aromatic and delicious, Basil is used in a wide range of culinary applications, and is also aesthetically pleasing in just as varied a selection of cut flower floral arrangements.

Yes, Basil Plants do grow flowers, white or purple, that are quite fragrant. They are a nice feature when they blossom unexpectedly the first time, but they should be removed early for the protection of the leaves.

Among the distinguishing features of the Basil herb plant is its taproot.²³ It is visually striking because it is very thick, grows almost vertically, and is the plant’s primary root from which all the other roots radiate.

This central root helps to deliver water and nutrients to ensure the health of the plant as well as anchor it firmly in place.

With such a wide range of cultivars, several types of Basil Plants stand out from their herb brothers and sisters by the different colors of their stems. For example, common sweet Basil always has green stems that match the leaves, but Thai Basil and Dark Opal Basil can have purple ones that contrast dramatically against the green foliage.

Despite this, all the stems are generally square and slightly hairy.

Basil Flower

Basil Plants are not particularly thought of as a species that grows colorful flowers, yet when they bloom they range in colors from purple to scarlet to white to a rosy lavender, depending on the variety.

Just like the leaves, the flowers are edible and are often used as garnishes but should be tested for bitterness before ingesting so as not to leave a not-so-nice aftertaste in your mouth.

Unfortunately, once a Basil Plant bears flowers the leaves may lose their pleasant flavor quickly and can become very bitter. This bitterness may be so distasteful that unintentionally adding it to a recipe could render a delicious-looking plate of food inedible.

But why does this happen?

When the flowers bloom the plant has to divert resources away from nourishing all the other parts. They absorb too much water and essential nutrients that the leaves require for optimal growth.

For this reason, many gardeners remove the blooms as soon as they appear to prevent the plant from blooming too early and losing their culinary appeal.

Here is a list of the main Basil Plants and their colorful flowers and leaves.

Basil Seeds: Growing Zones

Since Basil is a blooming plant, its flowers will produce seeds that may be saved and planted the following year to grow your very next crop of Basil Plants.

The herb is tolerant of shade but does well in full sun exposure positions where the soil is nutrient-rich, retains moisture, and drains well.

The seeds are black, and oval, and are gaining popularity outside of India and Southeast Asia, where they are often used in sweets and beverages.

Preliminary studies show the seeds may help prevent illnesses including cardiovascular disease and some malignancies, improve gastrointestinal health, and aid with weight control, and have long been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicines.

Carbon Footprint of Vegan Diets

Unlike vegetarians who refrain from consuming any meat products whatsoever but can eat eggs and foods made from dairy, vegans only tend to eat foods that are exclusively plant-based.

Vegans avoid any and all by-products derived from animals which include honey and any type of seafood and as a result, are sometimes deficient in some nutrients and a sufficient level of protein.

(Image: lisa870⁴⁰)

Lack of vitamin B12 is often a concern and occasional supplementation is required to offset nutritional deficiencies in iron, calcium, protein, zinc, and even omega-3 which is an essential form of healthy fats derived from eating fish.⁸

Experienced vegans make up for these nutritional shortfalls by eating more leafy greens such as Basil and broccoli, dried fruits and nuts, and sesame seeds, and drinking soy milk for vitamin D.

And they swear that they are healthier for undertaking a strict meat-free diet.

Studies have revealed that the consumption of meat and processed food is responsible for exacerbating ailments such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, where a vegan diet has been proven to reduce the risk of contracting any of them.

Opting for a healthier lifestyle has encouraged millions to adopt this format of alternative eating, but many vegetarians and vegans also have an ulterior reason for foregoing meat – saving the planet.

The Greenhouse gas produced from commercial livestock farming around the globe contribute to nearly a conservatively estimated 15% of worldwide emissions.

This is an unsustainable level of pollution that is causing irreparable harm to the planet in the form of methane, nitrous oxide, and carbon dioxide emissions.

Climate-conscious individuals have reached the conclusion that if less meat was consumed then less meat would need to be produced, and less harm would be done to planet Earth.

There is no denying that meat and dairy production methods have a disproportionately negative effect on the environment. Not only because best farming practices are not being adhered to such an extent that farmers are actually compounding the problems in the form of land erosion and deforestation.

The most exhaustive study recently conducted found that switching to a vegan diet drastically minimizes environmental damage caused by livestock food production.

The study found that compared to diets including more than 100g of meat per day, the carbon footprint of vegan diet resulted in 75% less climate-heating emissions, water pollution, and land utilization.

The study also found that water use was reduced by 54% and the killing of wildlife by 66% when people adopted vegan diets.

Carbon Footprints

Measured over the course of a day, it was calculated that those who consumed more than 3.5 ounces of meat contributed 22.5 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions towards global warming in the atmosphere.⁶

The rearing of cattle and the land utilized to grow animal feed were factored into the results. And for those who ate less meat, roughly 11.8 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions were attributed to them.

Those who primarily ate fish but weren’t vegetarians emitted 10.4 pounds of CO₂ per day, while vegetarians created 9 pounds of CO₂ per day.

Not surprisingly, vegans created a significantly lower carbon footprint by producing the fewest gas emissions at just 5.4 pounds of CO₂.

Partly due to climate change and the desire for a healthier way of living, the popularity of vegetarianism and veganism is on the rise.

In recent years, this increase has been boosted by a wider variation in foodstuffs that are nutrient-dense, more readably available, and contain sufficient levels of protein and vitamins, that missing the taste of meat was no longer a concern.

By simply converting from a meat-eating individual into a vegan has the ability to cut your personal carbon footprint by up to 75%.

Although the vegan lifestyle may not be for everyone, making small dietary adjustments to the levels of meat consumption can have a big impact on the worldwide stage from the many negative effects caused by carbon emissions.

How To Harvest Basil Without Killing the Plant

The ability to conveniently grow Basil in a small corner of your back garden or in a sunkist area in your home provides a steady supply of leaves whenever you need them. As long as you pick them correctly.

Pinch the leaves where they connect to the stem if you only need a few. Getting more leaves from a plant requires harvesting from higher up, not lower at the base.

If you prune it from the bottom up, it will look lanky and scraggly.

(Image: thetravelnook⁴⁰)

Basil can be harvested in bulk by cutting off entire stems from the plant’s crown if needed. If the stems are particularly thick, you can use your fingers or a pair of tiny scissors to cut them off.

To do it properly without causing any damage, remove the top quarter of an inch of the stem just above where the leaves are branching off from the herbs.⁹

In an effort to promote even branching, prune no more than a third of the plant’s height at any one time and from a variety of different locations. Maintain the same method of pruning for as long as new growth appears on your Basil, and a long and healthy harvest is guaranteed for years.

How To Store Your Basil

There are several methods that can be employed to preserve the freshness of your Basil depending on the length of time you wish to keep it.

Harvesting the leaves and packing them in the back of the refrigerator where it’s coldest won’t help in the preservation process.

The first problem is that those beautifully vibrant green leaves can swiftly turn dark and mushy when exposed to cold storage conditions.

To keep them fresh for a couple of weeks, follow these steps

1. Cut the leaf free from the plant with no part of the stem attached.
2. Fully submerge it in a jar or a vase filled with water.
3. Place a plastic covering over the top but do not fasten it tightly.
4. Keep the container at room temperature.
5. Every couple of days change the water.
6. When you’re ready to use one for cooking, take it out, rinse, dry, and enjoy.

There will be occasions when you have too much of a good thing and want to preserve the freshness of your Basil leaves or other produce for longer than just 2 weeks.²⁵ One method will give you a grace period of 3 months, and the other will allow you to store them for up to 1 year.

How To Freeze

You already know that throwing the leaves to the back of the freezer will not work, but there is a way to use the freezing temperatures to your advantage.

1. Pick the leaves that are ready to be harvested and wash them thoroughly.
2. Bring a pan of water to the boil and plunge the leaves under for a total of 10 seconds.
3. Immediately drop them into a bowl of cold water then wipe them completely dry.
4. All stems should be removed, placed into a food processor with some olive oil, and made into a paste.
5. Now they can be frozen. Pour the pesto into trays and freeze.

Basil that has been frozen can be used for up to 3 months in either hot or cold recipes at your leisure by just being added from frozen.

Dry Storage Method

This method is probably the best and cheapest and starts with washing and drying the selected leaves.

1. Once completely dried, carefully remove all the stems.
2. Turn your oven to 200 degrees.
3. Spread a baking sheet onto a tray and lay your leaves on it.
4. Leave inside for between 2 to 4 hours until the leaves are dried and crumbly to the touch.
5. Remove and allow them to cool down.
6. Crumble them carefully and store them in a container that is 100% airtight.

In this fashion, you can have an inexhaustible supply of your favorite herb on hand ready to be made into a classic Basil pesto or sprinkled onto your pizza.²⁷

And the good news? Your well-tended Basil Plant will stay fresh for up to a whole year. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Basil Plant