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I just saw this other post, https://lemmy.world/post/50970674, about cutting the flowers off of a basil plant. I noticed that mine was growing fairly quickly, until the flowers showed up, and now the leaves have stopped getting bigger.
If the plant has already developed flowers, do I still cut them off?
You will get more edible leaves by cutting back. The taste of the basil leaves can change if you don’t cut them off too.
Or you can do what I do, realize you don’t use enough basil to justify growing it for food, then continue to grow it anyway and let the plant flower so the bees can have it. My local bees love when I let my basil flower.
This is why I let my Basil and Oregano plants bolt mid summer, and just plant new ones for the end of season. Our bees LOVE the flowers.
Heck yeah! Thank you for supporting your local bee community!
Can confirm that bees seem to love the shit out of basil flowers. Haven't seen many bumblebees, but the European honeybees adore them.
I like that idea, but this in on the balcony in a condo building several floors up, and I don't really get any pollinators up here. Maybe I could coordinate with the people on the other floors so that there is a "flower path" from the ground upwards.
That may make it a bit difficult!
Your plant has already bolted hard. Once that happens, the taste of the leaves becomes bitter and far more unpleasant.
If you just want a few basil leaves on occasion as a garnish, you should probably let the plant keep doing its thing. If you want good-tasting basil in volume, replant.
Cool, thanks for the info! I'm fine with just using it occasionally as a garnish.
You should prune it before they happen ideally, but you can use the buds to make "capers" if you wanted to reduce waste.
Something like this https://www.wildfoodie.co.uk/post/pickled-dandelion-buds-three-ways
Interesting, I hadn't heard of doing that before. Thanks!
Pinch it back but once it starts bolting it’s going to keep trying, and the stems will be woody. There’s ways to discourage that behaviour (lighting/fertiliser/temperature) but I don’t recall exactly. i use the flowers as garnish.
Nah if you prune it back, the new growth will be good.
It won't be the same basil flavor you're used to, but it'll still be perfectly good.
As others have said the flavor and mostly the texture can change after going to flower like this. If you are using you for teas, tinctures or infusion is actually kind of great. The flavor is stronger and more floral. It's great
Oh, I might try that! I was planning on using it for cooking, but I could use it for something else.
The easiest way is to infuse it in Apple Cider vinegar. Roughly chop the plant (Stems and all) and put in mason jar. Top with apple cider vinegar and let infuse for 4-6 weeks. Strain out the solids and you have basil vinegar. Great on a salad and great in a beverage. Just put a bit with sparkling water, or juice or soda to get a little basil kick.
Awesome I'll def be trying this with my water kefir, thank you!
It's delicious. Also it has most of the vitamins, minerals and other plant compounds of the basil. Good way to get more herbs in your life
Heck yeah, maybe some lemongrass in there too... I'll experiment.
I haven't done lemongrass but I have done tons of different herbs. I would recommend keeping each one single herb and then mix in a beverage or dish. The flavor intensity can vary a bit
Yeah, just pinch them off. You could prune it back to a division too.
Collect seeds to replant later.