How to Snip Basil

How to snip basil so it keeps growing bushy and healthy is so simple. Snip basil for a larger yield only takes a few minutes a week. Snipping and picking basil keeps the plant growing more bushy than leggy. Early harvesting of basil is key before the herb grows flowers.

How to Snip Basil Plants to Promote Growth

Long and leggy basil plants will not produce the best. It’s a best practice to prune this herb; especially in the center of the stem. Pinch out the center plant and more growth will grow from the side shoots. A bushy plant is better than one that grows tall.

Snipping basil to prevent flowers from growing is key to keeping the plant growing. Once the flowers are allowed to grow, it stops the plant from greatly producing. Once the flowers start growing, the plant gets leggy and no longer will be able to maintain stay bushily.

Regrowing Basil from Cuttings

Basil is a typically easy herb to grow. Once they grow, they will supply you with endless leaves for a long time. Steps to regrow basil from cuttings are listed below.

• To grow basil you will need to strip the leaves from stems for around 75 percent using a sharp knife or carefully pinch off (be sure not to strip any of the stems off, this will damage the stem)
• Place the stem in a clear glass jar and fill it with filtered water
• Put the jar with the stems in a sunny place but make sure it’s not too hot
• Change the water every other day or when it starts to get cloudy
• To prevent getting cloudy water, you may use a few pieces of charcoal in the bottom of the glass jar
• Once the roots have grown around 2 inches from the stems, you can transplant them into a pot with good soil or out in the garden if the weather is warm enough

It is very important to use filtered water at all times. Chlorine and other contaminants can hinder root growth. Ensure to buy produce or plants that are organic and not treated.

Growing Basil in a Container

You can grow basil outside in a container then bring it indoors for the winter to enjoy fresh basil all year round. It’s so easy to start basil from seeds or from cuttings to grow them all over again.

If you would like more to know about container gardening, visit my post Guide to Container Gardening.

When to Snip Basil

Start pruning the basil for the first time when the leaves are large enough. Snipping or pruning the basil early on and frequently will guarantee an abundance of harvest all year long.

Did you know most all grow houses, pinch the basil back before shipping to the stores? This way during the shipment and set up at the store, flowers will not have a chance to grow immediately.

How to Prune Basil Easy Video Tutorial

How to Dry Basil in an Oven

• Clean and destem the basil
• Set to the lowest temperature
• Place on an oven-approved Silpat
• Dry until completely dried
• Store in a cool, dry, and dark place

How to Dry Basil in a Dehydrator

• Clean and destem the basil
• Set the dehydrator on herbs or 113 degrees
• Place on Silpat lined trays
• Dry until completely dried
• Store in a cool, dry, and dark place

Are you new to dehydrating or would like to know more about dehydrating? Read my post on Methods of Drying Herbs and Dehydrate Food Natually using a Dehydrator

Infused Basil Oil for Cooking

• Clean and destem the basil
• Chop or tear basil into pieces (you want the oils to come out)
• Place in a clean jar
• Fill the jar with your favorite oil (olive, grapeseed, or your choice)
• Let infuse on a counter for a day or two
• Place in the refrigerator with a lid
• Use in cooking, sauteing vegetables, and best of all in infused oil and vinegar dressing

Ingredients for Basil Pesto

• 1/4-1/2 cup of nuts (pine, cashews, hemp seeds, or hemp seeds)
• 1/2 cup of freshly grated parmesan or asiago cheese
• 2 cups of cleaned and destemmed basil leaves
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup of oil (olive or grapeseed are a good choice)

I love salads all the time and basil is a great accent to having a salad alongside a smoked dinner. Smoked Steak and Chicken Salad is a blog post where you may like to try your homemade pesto?

Directions to Make Basil Pesto

• Blend all in a food processor
• Pulse till finely mixed
• Basil pesto freezes well in ice cube trays or once frozen placed in a freezer-safe glass jar
• Refrigerate and consume within 2 weeks

In Conclusion How to Snip Basil

Growing and knowing how to snip basil is very easy. I highly recommend if just starting to garden, get a basil plant. I keep mine in my dining room window now that is winter on the mountain. I tend to eat lots of salads in the winter and I pick a few leaves off the basil plant each time. Not to mention, homemade pizza cooked in my bee-hive oven!

Are you interested in the Health Benefits of Basil, check out the WebMD for great information on that!

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