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Re: Harvesting Basil

Hi Tristan,

> This may sound stupid to the experienced gardeners out there, but when
> you harvest basil leaves, should you pick off just the leaves, or should
> I take the whole stem?  I have been picking the leaves only, and I think
> the plant is trying to go to seed now.

Doesn't sound stupid at all Tristan, we all have to learn this stuff sometime!

:-)

Pick it by the tops.  As flower tops begin to form pick them off, going a bit
down the stem so you get a set or two of those choice new leaves too.  The rest
of the plant leave intact, it supports the growth of more tender tops and the
older leaves aren't as tastey anyway.  (If you harvest too much of the plant
at once it may slow the development of new leaves.)  You can then take the fresh
picked tops in and pick the leaves off for use, the remaining stem and forming
flower stem can go into the compost. For tops where the flowers are really small
still you can use them too, they're tender enough.

Doing it this way the plants won't go to seed, but continue to branch out more
and produce much more tender, fresh and flavourful leaves until frost kills the
plants, providing you with a continuous harvest.  Basil plants can get quite
large and bushy by the end of the summer, a beautiful sight!  So pinch off all
your flowers now before they get any further along making seed!

Before the killing frosts come you can pick some longer pieces, pinch whatever
flowers they have on them and root them in water.  Pot them up and have a bit of
fresh basil growing on the window sill into the winter.

It is at this point that you'd harvest the entire plant too, using all the
"decent" leaves.  Some of the oldest leaves might be a bit too blighted or
insect damaged to be edible, but otherwise make use of as much of it as you can.
The whole, fresh leaves freeze quite well, the flavour keeping nicely.  Drying
is not as good, the essential oils of basil that impart it's distinct smell and
flavour are a bit too volatile.

> I would also ask if anyone knows about cilantro too.  The bottom few
> leaves were big and then there was all this little fern looking stuff on
> the top.  Is this going to seed or is this part of its regular growth?

Cilantro is a little different in the way it grows.  It has one central
growing point, lacking basil's ability to branch out when topped.  So you pick
the larger leaves as you need them or the whole plant before it starts to
flower if you want a lot at once.  Yes, that ferny growth showing now is the
plant starting to produce a flower stalk. They can get three feet taller,
sometimes more, open little white flowers and make seeds.  The dried seeds are
corriander, nice to have too.  If you let a few go to seed like this you'll have
lots of volunteer cilantro next spring.  I don't bother harvesting whole plants
usually, just plant a lot and harvest as needed, letting it bolt when it will.
Even when they're bolting the larger lower leaves are still pretty good.  The
smaller leaves that come along with flowering aren't as flavourful, but can be
used as well.  If you want a continuous supply of the best young leaves then
make succession plantings every few weeks (it's not too late even now), much
like you'd do with lettuce or radishes.

> Thanks for any help you can offer.

You're welcome Tristan ... basil and cilantro are two of my favourite things!
I love pesto (who doesn't?) and cilantro pesto is pretty good too ... and I
can't image salsa without cilantro in it!  Yum! :-)

> Tristan
> Renton, WA
> t*@i405.com

Cheers!

--
 Bob Carter  -  bcarter@awinc.com
 Kootenay Bay, BC, Canada  -  Zone 6b
--

Procrastination means never having to say you're sorry.

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