How to Harvest Basil

The basil leaves or Ocimum basilicum, have been used by people for over hundred years. In India, this leaf is considered to be holy and they believe that if a person is buried with a basil leaf, then the soul of that person reaches heaven. These leaves are also used by some in the kitchen to make stews, to improve the taste of the boring sandwiches, to season the pasta and so on. People in England, use the basil leaves to ward off insects. These leaves, if taken with honey, are good for getting rid of cough as well as improving digestion. If you want, you too can grow these leaves in your garden today. Want to know how to harvest basil leaves? Here are some tips that are sure to help you.

Harvesting the Leaves

After growing the basil leaves, the next most important thing is harvesting the plant. There are certain points which you need to keep in mind. These steps will help you to grow the plant to the maximum height possible and also get the bushiest plant with a large number of leaves. Some people are not aware of the correct method of harvesting basil plants. Here are the important steps.

• Harvest your plant after every 3 to 4 weeks. Cut off the growing tip of the plant.
• Before you chop off the tip, first ensure that the plant has at least 3 sets of leaves there and that it has at least reached a height of 1 foot. It's better that you wait unless and until the plant has around 4 to 6 leaves.
• If done properly, then per season you will have around 16 to 25 cups of basil leaves.
• Leave the smallest of the leaves on the top so that you can chop them off next harvest season.
• Remember that the basil leaves are pick and come again kind of plants, hence, the best thing that you can do is instead of picking up the leaves from one plant, pick up a few leaves form a number of plants.
• If by chance you do not clip off the basil leaves on time, then those leaves will turn yellow in color and then they will lose their turgidity and then fall off by themselves.
• If you are growing basil indoors, then you do not have to worry about their growth as they will grow throughout the year. But if you are growing basil outdoors, then you have to dig them out from your garden and plant them indoors in order to protect them from the first frost and also to help them survive the winters. These basil plants should not be exposed to cold wind.
• When the flowering of the buds takes place, you will know that the end of the plant is near. Of course you can carry on with the harvesting by snipping the buds before they start blooming.

When to Harvest

Now the question that some of you might ask is when exactly to harvest. Well, the best time to harvest is during the morning just after the morning dew and also just before the temperature starts increasing and it is afternoon. The previous night (i.e. the night before you harvest the basil), water the plant well in order to get rid of all the dust particles that had collected on the plant. Morning is the time when the essential oils are at their best, hence this gives a strong flavor to the leaves of the basil. Thus, one important point that you need to keep in mind is that it's done best in morning.

Harvesting the Seeds

One important tip is to let the seeds remain on the plant and ripen there as that helps them to reach full flavor. When the seeds are ready to pop out, just bend the stem of the plant a little and put the seeds in a paper bag for the next growth of basil plant.

Now you know how to harvest the leaves as well as seeds. Just follow the above steps of harvesting and your plant will grow strong and bushy. Basil leaves benefits are many. So if you grow them in your home, you will not be sorry.