How to harvest and prune Basil

Once you’ve bought some of our fragrant and tasty Basil plants, you’ll want to know how to harvest it! That’s why we’ve put together this step-by-step guide on how to harvest and prune Basil plants properly. Keep reading to learn exactly what you need to do to keep both you and your Basil herbs happy.

How it’s done

1) The first step might surprise you, but it’s confidence! You won’t hurt your plants if you know what you’re doing, and this guide will teach you, so don’t be nervous about hurting your herbs, they actually like a trim.

2) The next thing to know is timing, as it’s best to know when to take from your Basil. If the plant is between 6 to 8 inches tall then you’re good to go, though if you only plan to take a few leaves then there’s no harm in pinching a couple beforehand, herbs are hardy plants after all. Starting in spring and then throughout summer, your Basil will grow beautiful and delicious leaves for you to collect.

3) Now you need to know how much to take. Basil likes to grow back double whatever you pick, so just pick as much as you need, so long as there’s some leaves left! Take every couple of weeks or so, that way the new leaves have a chance to grow big. If your plant starts to look unhappy, then just hold back a bit, simply looking at your herbs can tell you a lot of what you need to know. To learn about the signs of an unhappy herb and what to do about it, check out our previous blogs.

4) Ready to get to work? To take what you need, just pick from where the stem leads towards a couple of leaves, as picking off a little bit of the stem encourages new growth. Use either a pair of scissors or just pinch with your fingers until the stem breaks. The most important thing is to be careful and clean, you don’t want to pull and twist your plant, so just keep pinching until the part you want comes off.

5) Last but not least, enjoy! Is Basil good for you? Yes! And, we have recipes that you can check out to get the most out of your Basil and other herbs.

Greek Basil variety –

Some bonus advice, we’ve included things to know about pruning/harvesting your Greek Basil leaves too!

1) When you’re harvesting this type of Basil, use your fingers to pick off a few leaves, right where they meet the stem. Picking close to the leaves makes sure you don’t damage the stems, and you can use this method for your other Basils too if you prefer.

2) Start from the top, the newer leaves taste better and the bigger leaves are the ones doing all the work. Do this, and your plants will stay nice and healthy.

To learn more about the other herbs and varieties you’ll need to prune, stick with us. We’ll tell you everything you need to know about harvesting all your SEASON herbs!