Pruning and Picking Basil

lonewolfrissy 8/20/2012, 10:34 pm

When do you harvest this and when do you harvest parsley? o.o We have some growing indoors in a windowsill container. Just not sure when we can harvest.

cheyannarach 8/28/2012, 4:36 pm

You can harvest it anytime as long as the plant is established! If you pick it consistantly it will encourage more growth!

**camprn** 8/28/2012, 6:10 pm

Harvesting basil.
Take a good look at your plant. Look under the top most leaves and down the stem. You will see new growth where the leaves attach at the stem. Pinch the stem above the new growing tips.

Basil ready to be picked
Pruning and Picking Basil Basil_10

Locate where you will pinch the stem above two growing tips.
Pruning and Picking Basil Pick_t10

Pinch the stem and harvest the tops.
Pruning and Picking Basil Pinchi10

Two growing tips from where you just removed the upper part of the stem.
Pruning and Picking Basil Two_gr10

After harvesting. This plant will put out more growth for another harvest.
Pruning and Picking Basil After_10

floyd1440 8/28/2012, 8:32 pm

camprn

Good pictures as that is how I prune or harvest my basil as well. Do you or anyone grow basil indoors under lights through the winter?

**RoOsTeR** 8/28/2012, 8:45 pm

I did an indoor herb garden this past winter. It did great except for the cilantro was to short lived. I gave the containers to my mother this spring and she's still got the basil, parsley, thyme and oregano growing on her deck. I've got a thread on it someplace, but couldn't find it thinking

Chopper 8/29/2012, 1:02 am

Nice instructional!

floyd1440 8/29/2012, 8:08 pm

RoOsTeR wrote:I did an indoor herb garden this past winter. It did great except for the cilantro was to short lived. I gave the containers to my mother this spring and she's still got the basil, parsley, thyme and oregano growing on her deck. I've got a thread on it someplace, but couldn't find it

I have the same problem with two computers as were I stored different threads... Pruning and Picking Basil 3170584802

Earlier this summer I attempted to grow some basil indoors but does not do well. Now it is cool in the basement were the basil is growing and I wonder if this are needs to be a certain minimum temperature?
Another question is how big a container do you need for herbs as my basil is in Solo cups and the roots are 6 inches out the bottom. Perhaps you can shead some light on my problems.......

lonewolfrissy 9/1/2012, 9:44 pm

That helps greatly with the basil. What about Parsley? Same principle? o.o

My chives don't seem to want to grow either... Or it does but it looks like grass. Is that normal? o.O

CapeCoddess 9/2/2012, 7:05 pm

Yes, chives look like grass. You can 'cut the grass' and they come up again. I just planted garlic chives yesterday for the first time. Can't wait to have some of those babies!

CC

nycquilter 9/2/2012, 9:03 pm

parsley keeps growing so all you have to do is clip an outside stem close to the base. It grows from the center so new shoots develop constantly.

floyd1440 9/2/2012, 9:13 pm

nycquilter wrote:parsley keeps growing so all you have to do is clip an outside stem close to the base. It grows from the center so new shoots develop constantly.

Oregano is like that as well. I planted one plant per square and though I needed more but after several trimmings it has taken over the whole square.......

lonewolfrissy 9/2/2012, 10:46 pm

Aha. That's good to know. Smile

Thank you.

nycquilter 9/3/2012, 7:38 am

oregano is very invasive--you may want to pull it out and plant it elsewhere than your SFG. I started with one or two plants and the oregano now covers--and I mean COVERS--about three square feet. It is fighting with the lemon balm for space--both are invasive. I expect that one day, they'll mate and I'll really have problems. Laughing

**donnainzone5** 9/3/2012, 11:27 am

Hilarious!

floyd1440 9/3/2012, 7:57 pm

nycquilter wrote:oregano is very invasive--you may want to pull it out and plant it elsewhere than your SFG. I started with one or two plants and the oregano now covers--and I mean COVERS--about three square feet. It is fighting with the lemon balm for space--both are invasive. I expect that one day, they'll mate and I'll really have problems.

Got home late and will have to cut my oregano back tomorrow as it is loving this heat and rain may be coming Wednesday. I think I will dry this bunch and save it for winter as I still have plenty. Sifted some compost and got it in a planter, do chives grow well under lights?

lonewolfrissy 9/4/2012, 7:49 pm

That's why, if given the chance and income, I want one of those tiered style containers. Plant an individual herb in one spot, label and go as I need. I would try drying some of this basil and parsley, but it's really humid here and I think it'd backfire on me.

floyd1440 9/4/2012, 8:37 pm

lonewolfrissy wrote:That's why, if given the chance and income, I want one of those tiered style containers. Plant an individual herb in one spot, label and go as I need. I would try drying some of this basil and parsley, but it's really humid here and I think it'd backfire on me.

What is a tiered style container? Does it have several levels?

nycquilter 9/4/2012, 8:50 pm

Floyd, you might want to try drying it in the oven if you can't dry it by hanging it upside down in a dark spot. Place it on a baking sheet, oven temp pretty low, maybe 190-200 F, and keep a close watch on it. Home-dryed herbs sure beat store bought; I dry parsley and use it all winter. When I dry it, it stays really green and still looks like it has flavor and life left.

lonewolfrissy 9/5/2012, 3:47 pm

Yeah. They're like several containers stacked on/in each other with at least 3 tiers. Supposed to be great for herb growing.

floyd1440 9/5/2012, 8:28 pm

nycquilter wrote:Floyd, you might want to try drying it in the oven if you can't dry it by hanging it upside down in a dark spot. Place it on a baking sheet, oven temp pretty low, maybe 190-200 F, and keep a close watch on it. Home-dryed herbs sure beat store bought; I dry parsley and use it all winter. When I dry it, it stays really green and still looks like it has flavor and life left.

Dumb question but do you leave it on the stem and take the dried leave off after they dry or take the leaves off them dry?

Pruning and Picking Basil 3170584802

floyd1440 9/5/2012, 8:38 pm

lonewolfrissy wrote:Yeah. They're like several containers stacked on/in each other with at least 3 tiers. Supposed to be great for herb growing.

Hey lonewolf do you have a link to these tiered containers..I cannot find them.

Thanks;
Floyd

lonewolfrissy 9/5/2012, 8:47 pm

Here we go: http://www.amazon.com/Akro-Mils-RZJMEDI-Medium-Stack-A-Pot-30-Quart/dp/B002IYHIKG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pdT1_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=2X859UZEX88RJ&coliid=I31VDO4XLYORQF

jrfrommd 6/21/2014, 3:45 pm

I may have let this Basil get too far..almost flowering?(think I read that somewhere)

what do you think

Pruning and Picking Basil Basil_10

I saw a thread by camprn I think..but I couldn't find it again...

can anybody point me in the right direction?

I'd like to harvest some and keep growing it if possible

I'm definitely giving this a try by Elizabeth:

Elizabeth wrote:I grow lots of Basil in my herb bed. I use basil in my cooking but the real reason I grow it is to make Basil Aioli.

Home made mayonnaise is best. If you use commercial mayonnaise use Hellman's.

1 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsps. extra virgin olive oil
1 - 2 cloves garlic
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil
zest of a small lemon
2 tbsps. lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

Put all ingredients in a food processor. Pulse until basil is finely chopped and ingredients are well blended.
Taste and adjust seasoning.
Refrigerate until ready to use.

Use this Aioli as a dip for fresh vegetables, as a sandwich spread or for salad dressing.

Makes your very happy.

johnp 6/21/2014, 4:42 pm

Just cut it off with a few leaves left and it will regrow.

jrfrommd 6/21/2014, 5:38 pm

johnp wrote:Just cut it off with a few leaves left and it will regrow.

thanks..I did..& the Aoli is on the $

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