The Mediterranean culinary herb that many hobby cooks keep in the flower pot on the windowsill is anything but easy to care for. A common problem is basil not growing. We show what could be causing this and also know how to prevent it.
Why isn't my basil growing?
If basil doesn't grow, it may be due to thewrong harvesting procedure. Also, if basil is not cut back in time and as a resultstarts to bloom, the plant will stop growing.
What am I doing wrong if my basil isn't growing?
It's probably because when you harvested the basil in the pot you cut off an entire stem below a leaf branchor picked off each basil leaf individually. Also, if all the leaf nodes on a stem are cut off, it is counterproductive to the growth of the basil plant. Another mistake is
if you have not cut back basil before flowers formAlthough this looks nice, it means that the plant stops growing. The aroma of the leaves also suffers.
Is it normal for basil not to grow?
It isnot normal that basil does not grow, but always has to do with mistakes in caring for the plant.
Does basil grow back?
If basil is harvested correctly by cutting off a shoot above a leaf branch, thenit will grow backIn addition to regrowth, there is even a very bushy growth as new branches are formed on the leaf axils - you can harvest more in the future. If the culinary herb was cut off in the wrong place, the stem dies and no longer grows back. Basil that is blooming has already stopped growing and will not grow back either.
What can I do to improve growth?
In addition to the measures already mentioned,correct harvest pruningand strongcutting back before flowering (recommended from three leaf axils per stem). It is always advisable for basil to do everything possible to ensure that the plant feels really comfortable and thrives optimally. These include:
- Choosing the right, sufficiently bright and sunny location
- Watering exclusively from below
- Regular fertilization to provide the potting soil with sufficient nutrients, which basil urgently needs for growth
Why doesn't basil grow in winter?
Basil is not hardy, but perennial varieties can be overwintered indoors with the right care. Since the plants like itnice and warm, they almost completely stop their growth in the cold season. That's why it's important not to over-harvest plants that are in the sun on the windowsill in winter so as not to weaken them unduly.
Tip
Use leftover basil
If you don't want to use fresh basil that is about to bloom, for example in a tomato and mozzarella salad, you can use it to make a delicious pesto. To preserve it, it is also a good idea to dry the leaves or, ideally, cut them into smaller pieces and freeze them in portions.
