Best Way to Harvest Basil

Proper Basil Harvesting Techniques 

Now that we are in the peak of summer, our gardens are bursting with life and food!  It is the moment we have all been waiting for - harvesting the abundance.  We are often asked how to best harvest basil for an optimal and continual harvest.  The reality is that  harvesting basil is a simple process.  Best of all when done correctly it encourages the plant to continue producing fresh leaves.  

1. Choose the right time: Harvest basil when the plant has grown to a sufficient size, usually when it has at least six to eight leaves on each stem. Avoid harvesting more than one-third of the plant at once to ensure it continues to grow and thrive.

2. Use clean and sharp scissors or pruning shears: Before harvesting, make sure your cutting tools are clean and sharp to prevent any damage or transferring any diseases to the plant. Dull blades can crush the stems instead of making clean cuts.  Always clean your blades between different harvests.  A small bottle of alcohol mixed with water is effective at killing most plant diseases.  Simply use 50% isopropyl alcohol/50% water solution and have it in your garden bag for easy access.

3. Cut above the leaf nodes: Identify a pair of healthy leaves on a stem and cut the stem right above these leaves, about ¼ inch above the leaf nodes. The leaf nodes are the points on the stem where new leaves emerge. Cutting above these nodes will encourage branching and new growth.

4. Avoid cutting into woody stems: As the basil plant matures, the lower stems can become woody and less flavorful. Focus on harvesting the tender, young stems at the top of the plant for the best flavor.

5. Regularly pinch off flowers: To prolong the life of your basil plant, it's important to pinch off any flower buds as soon as you see them. This prevents the plant from going to seed and encourages it to produce more leaves instead.  We actually use the flowers in our pesto and any other recipe that calls for basil!

6. Harvest before the first frost: If you live in a region with cold temperatures, make sure to harvest your basil before the first frost. Basil is sensitive to cold weather and won't survive freezing temperatures.

7. Store properly: After harvesting, rinse the basil leaves gently with cool water and pat them dry with a paper towel. You can use the fresh leaves immediately or store them in a plastic bag with a damp paper towel in the refrigerator.

8. Process Basil : Processing food for long-term storage or to share as gifts is a wonderful to save and savor the season at another time.  Basil can easily be properly frozen or dried.  Our favorite method to preserve basil is by making pesto and freezing it.  There is nothing like the taste of fresh pesto on a cold winter day!

Regular harvesting and proper care will keep your basil plant healthy and productive throughout the growing season, providing you with fresh and flavorful leaves for various culinary delights.  It is not necessary to plant basil in succession.  Usually a handful of basil plants is enough for most households basil needs!