Blooming Basil

[Mawood]

Hi
I have a nice basil plant and it has a very sunny spot like it is suppose to but it started blooming and has less actual basil leaves. I tried to keep cutting them but they grow so fast. I have had that happen to me a couple of times where eventually I would just toss the plant Any suggestions what to do to make it stop blooming? Maybe a more shadier spot??
Thanks Mamas!!!

[velochic]

Yes, basil blooms fast. I go out just about every other day and have to pinch some of mine back. I also harvest down leaving the bottom 4 branches and the cuttings will keep in water, in a cool, shady spot in the kitchen for quite a few days until ready to use. One way I like to preserve it, if you're tired of the usual pesto, is to make herbed butter that I chill, cut into coins and freeze. Good luck!

[Magelet]

as soon as basil starts making flowers (which is fast), I check it every day for them, and cut them off. I've heard you can cut basil WAY back and have it pop back as well. Basil bolts pretty fast though, so maybe succession seeding might be nessicary?

[verde]

Yep -- just pinch off the blooms. And watch diligently and pinch off the blooms. You can keep a basil plant going and going and going by cutting it back and pinching off the blooms.

[Ammaarah]

Pinch off the top couple leaves every time you notice them. I do this a couple times a week and mine doesn't bloom.

I have a bumper crop of basil already. It's time to make some pesto - like a LOT of pesto! Yay.

[Mawood]

Thanks so much for all the responses. I love the idea of herb butter!!!

[Chicky2]

For pruning basil cut back to right above the 2nd set of leaves (from the bottom). You will need to do this at least once a month. Once it blooms, it signals the plant to stop producing so well, and eventually it will all go to seed.