Pick the Flowers Off Your Basil Plant

Posted on Jul 24 2009 - 3:15am by Mike Lieberman

Categorized as

Brooklyn

8071

In case you are new or couldn’t tell at this point, I am new to this gardening thing. Just taking things as they come.

The one thing that I do know (I think) is that when plants start to flower, they are coming near the end of their productive lives.

So I was a bit concerned, when my basil plants began flowering so early. What’s a man to do when his basil plant is coming to it’s end? I did what anyone else would do these days…I asked my peoples on Twitter.

Luckily for me, master gardener Teresa O’Connor of SeasonalWisdom dropped some knowledge on me and advised me to snip the flowers.

That’s what I did when I took to my Brooklyn vegetable garden. I picked off the flowers and am hoping to prolong it’s life.

Thanks Teresa!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lADERWZvac

7 Comments so far. Feel free to join this conversation.

sundevilpeg July 24, 2009 at 9:41 am -

Don't just cut off the flowers – you're encouraging the plant to flower more! Count down four leaf brackets (petioles) below the flower, and cut there. This lengthens the life of the plant considerably, as it encouages new leaf growth. Especially helpful on the woodier-stemmed Thai basils.
Mike Lieberman July 24, 2009 at 8:27 pm -

Ahhh, a little encouragement never hurt anyone. Not sure where exactly I cut off. I'll cut lower next time though. Thanks for the advice.
Meredith/Great Stems September 13, 2009 at 8:06 am -

Going out right now to snip my basil flowers and leaf stems…
Mike Lieberman September 13, 2009 at 6:32 pm -

THat should definitely help to prolong their lives.
Mike Lieberman September 14, 2009 at 1:32 am -

THat should definitely help to prolong their lives.
Cindy August 30, 2011 at 12:28 am -

so oh Hi*** so I should cut way below the flowers? & we can eat the flowers? I am loveing this thanks
Mike Lieberman August 30, 2011 at 2:07 pm -

Yes you can eat them. You don’t have to cut too far down from the flower.