Basil gives many Italian dishes the finishing touch with its slightly peppery aroma. It's a shame that it often dies so quickly or doesn't grow back. That doesn't have to be the case - we'll show you what to do to ensure that basil grows back in the pot.
Does basil grow back in a pot?
With the right care and a professional harvestbasil grows back in the pot. When cut correctly, branches form and the royal herb in the pot grows thick and bushy without dying.
What do I have to consider when harvesting so that basil grows back?
If you have often had basil in the pot at home that has stopped growing, this may be because individual leaves were always plucked off for harvesting or because you picked the leaves. In order for basil to grow back, it must be able to form branches. For this purpose, when harvesting, it is always necessary to cut off entire stems orshoot tipswith a length of at least five cmabove a leaf axil and to avoid plucking.
Is pruning beneficial for regrowth?
Pruning is necessary at the latest when the culinary herb is about to bloom andpromotes regrowth At the latest, when basil flowers, it stops growing completely. Tip: When it comes to taste, pruning before flowering is also recommended - flowering basil has a bitter aroma, but is completely safe to eat.
Why does basil not grow back in the pot?
One possible reason is that thepot is much too small, which is almost always the case with basil from the supermarket. Then the only solution is to repot the plants with the ball of earth in nutrient-rich soil. If you like, you can also divide the plants and harvest even more later.
Another reason could be that thesoil does not contain enough nutrients (anymore) - regular fertilization then provides a remedy. An organic liquid fertilizer is very suitable for this.
Can it be the location if basil doesn't grow back?
It ispossible that the wrong location is to blame if basil no longer grows back. At temperatures that are consistently below 15 °C, it not only feels uncomfortable but also stops growing. This inevitably happens when the basil left outside lacks sufficient sun and warmth. However, excessive sunlight around midday should be avoided if possible, otherwise the Mediterranean culinary herb could suffer from sunburn.
Tip
Perennial varieties for long harvest enjoyment
The vast majority of basil varieties in this country are annuals and therefore do not survive the winter. But if you keep one of the perennial varieties outside during the warm season, you have a good chance of being able to overwinter it indoors - with the right care and in a sufficiently warm and bright location. Basil plants on the windowsill can of course provide fresh leaves all year round.
