Basil tends to be easy to keep alive, so many people leave it alone to sit in a pot. However, it will not grow properly unless you take a few seconds to do a very simple task. Once the weather gets warm, basil can begin to flower, but this means it will start focusing all its energy on producing seeds rather than creating bigger leaves.
This will result in small, tough leaves that are difficult to chew and taste extremely bitter, so there is no point in growing the plant for cooking. However, Cynthia, a gardener from Grow Better Veggies, has shared that you can help basil grow fuller and sweeter leaves if you pinch it once a week.
Cynthia said: “I’ve talked to loads of people who seem to have trouble with basil. They plant it out in their herb garden or kitchen garden, and find that it never gets very big or bushy.
“The key to its success is pinch, pinch, pinching. Even at this very young age, we pinch off the top. No scissors or clippers required, the growing tip is easily removed with just your fingernails.”
It may sound bizarre, but pinching basil delays flowering and keeps the plant focused on leaf production.
Basil will put all its energy into making leaves so they stay soft and even more flavourful.
This tasty herb is an annual plant, so after flowering, it naturally begins to die. Delaying flowering keeps it healthy and alive for much longer.
Not only does this make the leaves bigger, but it also encourages the plant to grow more side shoots, so you get a much bigger harvest.
How to grow bigger basil leaves
The best time to start pinching basil is when the plant is above 15cm tall and the weather is consistently above 10C, which tends to be in late May to early June.
To pinch basil, look for the leaf nodes, which will look like a bump in the centre of the main stem where two leaves are growing opposite each other.
Use your fingers to snap off the stem growing above the leaves. Do not touch the leaves as they will grow into new basil branches.
In summer, it is very common for basil to flower, so make sure to check your plant at least once a week for any new bumps to remove any buds.
If you notice a lot of flowers on basil, you may need to consider getting a new plant or taking a cutting. Basil is in its final life stage and will only stay alive for a few more weeks.
Taking the time to do this very quick and easy task will greatly improve the health of your basil, no matter if you grow it inside the kitchen or out in the garden.