Pruning Young Basil
Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 11:07 am
It's been a very strange year for gardening so far here in minneapolis. Weather all over the place. Finally getting some strong sunny days in a row now. I've been using neem oil on my aphids. The aphids are so resilient. Thinking about introducing lady bugs.
Anyway, I have a question about pruning basil. I've got some young plans that are getting very bushy already, around 6-8 inches tall. I know not to ever harvest more than 1/3 of the plant, but when harvesting basil that young (because its so bushy), if I pinch the top 1/3 of the plant off, meaning the stem, that wont stop it from growing vertically, will it? The stem doesn't grow back up where its pinched off, but the other leaves where it was pinched will turn into main stems. Is that right?
Anyway, I have a question about pruning basil. I've got some young plans that are getting very bushy already, around 6-8 inches tall. I know not to ever harvest more than 1/3 of the plant, but when harvesting basil that young (because its so bushy), if I pinch the top 1/3 of the plant off, meaning the stem, that wont stop it from growing vertically, will it? The stem doesn't grow back up where its pinched off, but the other leaves where it was pinched will turn into main stems. Is that right?