Shrub basil scores with its intense aroma. Therefore, the green leaves are a welcome flavor when cooking all year round. If possible, you should go directly from the branch to the cooking pot. That is only possible if harvesting can take place in winter.

The flowers can also be harvested and eaten

Unlimited harvest time

The shrub basil can actually be harvested all year round. The plant only has to offer enough usable branches. In a sunny location and with optimal care, summer is characterized by lush growth.

The perennial shrub basil has to hibernate indoors in winter because it is not hardy. Its urge to grow is slowed down in the winter quarters. At this time, therefore, harvesting can only be done with caution.

What is harvested?

The young leaves of the shrub basil are the tastiest. Unwooded stems can also be processed. The flowers are also edible, but have a bitter taste. They are always a pretty, edible decoration.

This is how basil is harvested

Picking off individual leaves leaves bare stalks that rarely recover from this deforestation. Only whole shoots should therefore be harvested from the shrub basil.

  • Cut off the stems with scissors or a knife
  • 2-3 mm above a pair of leaves
  • at least one pair of eyes should remain standing
  • then the rest of the stem will sprout again

tips

Harvest the basil just before you plan to use it. If you only need it hours later, you can put the shoot ends in the water in the meantime. This keeps the basil fresh.

increase crop yield

Many shoots can be harvested from a specimen that grows nicely bushy. To do this, regularly cut back all new shoots to about 5 cm so that they branch out.

You should also cut off any flowers while they are still in the bud stage. While they are beautiful to look at, their development reduces the formation of new leaves, thus reducing yields.

tips

Cutting shrub basil produces cuttings that are not only useful for the cooking pot. From them you can easily propagate new plants.

Use of the harvested shoots

The edible shrub basil can be used in many ways in the kitchen. So it is an indispensable part of Italian cuisine. However, herbal oils or teas can also be made from this herb.

Use basil fresh from the bush or preserve the harvest for later use. Basil can be dried or frozen.

Category:

Vegetable garden