Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves (2024)

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Annie Burdick

Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves (1)

Annie Burdick

Annie Burdick is a writer, editor, and gardener who has been covering a range of topics for publications like PEOPLE Magazine, Food & Wine, Apartment Therapy, and MyDomaine for the past several years.

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Updated on 07/09/24

In This Article

  • When to Harvest

  • Pruning

  • Storing

  • Additional Tips

  • FAQ

Knowing how to harvest basil is essential because it makes your plant last as long as possible. Basil is a garden staple, and whether you grow it in a garden or container, it is relatively easy to care for. Choose from basil varieties, including sweet basil, Thai basil, and lemon basil, and all are frequently found in kitchen gardens.

Basil is an annual herb but learning how and when to harvest leaves from your plant ensures it stays healthy and maximizes the yield so you don't end up with a prematurely barren herb. Read on to learn when to harvest basil and the proper way to do so.

Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves (3)

When to Harvest Basil

There are several timing elements to keep in mind when harvesting basil leaves. First, start pruning leaves once your plant reaches 6 to 8 inches tall. Additionally, once temperatures outdoors (if that's where your plant lives) hit 80 degrees Fahrenheit, leaves should start coming in more abundantly, and it's a great time to start harvesting. If your plant has put out at least four sets of leaves, it's safe to start harvesting.

For plump, happy leaves, harvest early in the morning. For the best flavor, harvest before the plant flowers. Harvest as much as possible because this encourages your plant to produce new leaves rapidly. You can harvest even more leaves than you need and dry or freeze them. This way you are helping your plant make new leaves and stay full and vibrant.

Once the summer winds down and the weather gets cooler, do any final harvesting before the first frost arrives. If possible, move your potted basil plant indoors to a warm, sunny spot and you'll likely be able to extend your basil harvest into the fall and winter months.

Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves (4)

The Right Way to Prune Basil Leaves

There are two ways to prune basil: harvesting leaves or full stems. Harvest leaves if you need a small amount for a recipe. Harvest entire stems for larger amounts of basil for specific recipes, such as pesto.

Harvesting Leaves

  • Pluck each leaf right at its base where it hits the stem.
  • Harvest from the top of the plant so your basil stays fuller, rather than harvesting lower leaves and creating a sparse bottom.

Harvesting Stems

  • Use scissors to cut the stems, working from the top down.
  • Cut stems about 1/4 inch above a node.
  • Remove flower buds as they form.
  • Remove no more than a third of the plant's height at one time.

Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves (5)

How to Store Fresh Basil

If you trim extra basil for the health and yield of your plant, you can store the extra harvest. Opt for the stem-trimming method when you harvest more. Place extra stems in a small jar of water and keep them at room temperature and out of direct sunlight. Stored this way, your basil should last at least four to five days until you have another recipe calling for fresh basil. Avoid refrigerating extra basil, as the cold turns it brown.

For more creative storage take a mold or an ice cube tray filled with olive oil and chopped fresh basil. Freeze these, then pop one or two cubes into a pan when you start cooking for a delicious, basil-infused oil to lend any recipe tons of extra flavor.

Tips for Growing and Harvesting Basil

  • Basil requires heat and lots of light to grow. Plant it in a location where it gets six to eight hours of full sun each day. Wait to grow until the daytime temperatures remain above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and night temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit before planting it outdoors.
  • Unlike other herbs, basil needs frequent watering. Water it deeply but make sure its soil is well-drained.
  • To keep your basil plant regrowing after harvesting from it regularly, fertilize it with an all-purpose fertilizer every month.
  • Harvest basil first thing in the morning when the temperatures are relatively cool but the leaves are dry.
  • Remove basil leaves from the top of the plant. Remove each leaf where it meets the stem.
  • Prevent your basil from blooming by pinching off the top sets of leaves as soon as the plant reaches about 6 inches tall.

FAQ

  • How do you harvest basil to encourage growth?

    Encourage bushy growth by pruning the top nodes of the plant and removing any developing flower buds.

  • What are common uses for basil?

    Fresh basil is commonly used in numerous Italian dishes, from caprese salad to pasta sauces. It is also the main ingredient in pesto.

  • How do you preserve basil for an extended time period?

    Preserve fresh basil by freezing chopped basil with oil in ice cube trays or air-drying basil leaves and making pesto.

Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves (2024)

FAQs

Here's How to Harvest Basil and Pick the Very Best Leaves? ›

If you only need a few leaves, pinch them off where the leaf meets the stem. Harvest from the top of the plant so more leaves are produced. If you pick from the bottom, it will get lanky and scraggly looking. For larger amounts, trim off full stems of basil from the top of the plant down.

How do you pick basil leaves so it keeps growing? ›

If you only need a few leaves, pinch them off where the leaf meets the stem. Harvest from the top of the plant so more leaves are produced. If you pick from the bottom, it will get lanky and scraggly looking. For larger amounts, trim off full stems of basil from the top of the plant down.

What does basil look like when it's ready to harvest? ›

You'll know the time is right when the plant has unfurled at least four sets of leaves. Your basil plant should be between 6 and 8 inches tall before you harvest its leaves. If you know when the plant was seeded, you can count on the basil being ready for harvest 60 to 70 days later.

Will basil grow back after cutting? ›

Prune Even After Flowering

To encourage new growth you can cut the entire plant back by half to encourage regrowth and use the leaves to make pesto.

How often should I water basil? ›

Basil likes to stay moist and requires approximately 1 inch of water every week. Water deeply at least once a week to keep roots growing deep and the soil moist. Basil growing in containers will need more frequent watering. Your goal when growing basil in a container is to keep the soil from drying out.

Where to pinch basil? ›

Basil plants initially grow one central stem. Once they are reach 6-8 inches tall, pinch the central stem back by half and about 1/4 inch above the leaf axils. This will force the plants to branch and grow more leaves.

Should I store basil in the refrigerator? ›

Caption Options. “Storing basil in your regular fridge may cause it to turn black prematurely,” says Frymark. “[Instead], packaged basil should be kept on the kitchen counter away from direct sunlight or other sources of heat.”

How long do basil plants live? ›

However, if you want to extend the harvesting window and grow basil all year round, grow basil indoors and harvest fresh leaves from the plants throughout the winter months. When properly maintained, basil plants usually last about a year indoors, but they can sometimes live up to four years.

Can you freeze fresh basil? ›

ANSWER: Yes, you can freeze fresh basil leaves, but they just need a little help. Basil is a particularly delicate herb because it hates the cold and darkens when cut. Keep in mind any fresh herbs that you freeze will not be entirely the same as fresh. Freezing will change the texture and it won't be as stable.

Does basil need full sun? ›

Basil performs best in full sun—that means 6–8 hours of direct sunlight per day—which is necessary for the best possible flavor and fast growth. If you're growing indoors, place the planter in a south or west-facing window. North and east-facing windows just won't cut it!

Can I root basil in water? ›

Basil rooted in water will continue to grow out for extended periods of time. Eventually, though, the herbs need additional nutrients. Adding specialized fertilizers to the water is a practice called hydroponics. Alternatively, you can pot the rooted basil into a soil-based medium and it can get nutrients that way.

Does basil repel bugs? ›

Basil also acts as a good insect repellent for flies and mosquitoes. Very useful using fresh leaves rubbed on the skin. Eucalyptol. According to research conducted by Kansas State University, this compound is effective in eliminating bugs from the kitchen and repelling cockroaches and weevils.

How do you keep basil alive after picking? ›

For a bunch of basil you'd like to keep around more than a couple days, take a cue from food director Chris Morocco. The best way to keep basil fresh, he says, is to trim the ends of the stems as you would a bouquet of flowers, and then place the cut basil in a glass jar, tall vase, or glass of water.

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