How should I cut basil to encourage continuous growth?

Correctly cutting basil can mean the difference between one harvest and several months of constant growth. Use sterilized scissors to prevent the potential transmission of diseases between plants. When harvesting, cut stems above the leaf nodes at a spot that is ½ inch (1.25 cm) above. It is best to harvest in the morning, as this time captures the essential oils at their highest peak and lessens the amount of stress on the plant.

Limit harvests to one-third of the plant for each harvest. Rotate areas where you cut to stress the plant evenly. My weekly routine alternates between harvesting the outer stems one week and then the inner stems the next. This enables the plant to maintain its photosynthetic capabilities and then initiate new growth in multiple areas.

Observe the reactions of your plants following pruning. Healthy plants should produce new growth at the cut sites in five days. Yellow leaves are an indicator of excessive harvesting or improper technique use. Make necessary corrections to your practice based on your observations. I maintain a pruning journal to document how each plant reacted.

Avoiding flowering can be accomplished through disciplined harvesting. Regardless of harvesting, simply by removing the top growth tips back to the uppermost leaves each week, you will keep the energy and manufacturing inside the basil plant directed toward leaf growth versus reproduction to seed. The longer the basil stays in a vegetative state, the more flavorful and tender the leaves will be.

Read the full article: How to Grow Basil Successfully at Home