Pinching Basils - the Key to Success

These are some of the little basil seedlings growing in our greenhouse.  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.

Right below your pinch point, the basil will send out two new shoots.  This starts the branching process.  Once the two new shoots get bigger, you can then pinch the tops off of those.  Four new shoots will then sprout, two from each pinch point.  Repeat the process continuously throughout the season.  Eventually, the basil will send up some fledgling flower spikes.  It's imperative you immediately remove those as well.  If you don't, the basil "senses" that it has fulfilled its biological destiny, which is reproduction.  It then stops growing, and dies. 

You see, basil is an annual plant.  It has a short life span, just the warm part of the year.  Here in coastal central California, we start the seeds on a heat mat in our greenhouse in late January.  We then separate the tiny plants into larger pots about a month later.  Shortly thereafter, we start to pinch.  Since our last frost will be sometime in April, we will wait until after May 1st to transplant these babies out into our herb garden.  But we still get the taste of summer now, as the pinched tops don't go to waste.  We will take these precious handfuls into the house, and throw them into a pasta sauce, or even the quick and dirty quesadillas we often make for lunch.

Comments

[Heather]

Cynthia, I know this is an old post, but on the off chance that you'll get this comment - can you plant leggy basil deep the way you can with tomatoes? Thanks so much - miss your postings!!!!

Heather

[Otis King of Compost]

Great information! I had the world's most leggy and anemic basil last year. I thought I wasn't giving it enough space for its roots in a large pot. It also looks like you started it from seed which I've always been way too intimidated to try. I attended your early spring gardening class and I'm feeling confident to the point of cocky. I'm going to start my basil this week. Thanks Cynthia, you are my gardening goddess.

[Farmgirl Susan]

So great to have you back posting regularly again, Cynthia! Your basil is beautiful. I've always pinched my plants, but never that early and probably not often enough. Thanks, as always, for the helpful tips. : )

[Composting Cathy]

Yes, I would wholeheartedly agree with you that the secret to successful basil plants is pinching them back regularly! Last year I grew 10 basil plants and I pinched them back about once or twice a week. I was rewarded with full, beautiful plants that were highly productive. Plus all those pinchings are great for seasoning and garnishing your dinner plates!

[katie]

Thank you so much for the picture! I never know where to pinch and my basil growns into long, tall, leave-less stalks.

[Matron]

Here in England it is a bit too early for basil. I find that it needs a bit more heat and light than is available at the moment. Good advice about the pinching out though!