Admittedly, they are an ornament. But is this what we primarily care about when it comes to bush basil? We say no! It is the green, aromatic leaves that the owner is after. But then the flowers have to go before they have even fully bloomed. We'll tell you why.
Why should you cut off basil flowers?
If you cut off the flowers of the bush basil, you promote the growth of the leaves and save energy for the plant. Using clean, sharp scissors, cut the flowers 2-3mm above a pair of leaves to encourage new growth. The flowers are edible and can be used in the kitchen or dried.
Flowering time of the bush basil
The perennial shrub basil is available in different varieties. Their flowers differ partly in color, but also in the flowering period. Here are data on some popular varieties in this country:
- “African Blue” blooms from May to September
- the flower color is pink-purple
- Greek basil and mammoth rarely bloom
- “Cypriot basil” blooms relatively late
- “Magic Blue” blooms bright purple from June
Flowers as a cooking ingredient
The flowers are edible! The best reason for cutting off the flowers is their use in the kitchen. But their taste is bitterer than that of the green leaves. Some connoisseurs find this bitter note quite welcome. If you don't like eating them, you can still benefit from them. For example, by soaking them in vinegar to flavor it. The flowers are also ideal as colorful food decorations.
Tip
If you harvest the flowers in the bud stage or when they have just opened, they will be more tender compared to older specimens.
Cutting off for more green leaves
Even if the basil flowers don't suit your taste, you should still cut them off. Of course, their existence makes the plant more attractive. But removing the flowers also has advantages.
- this saves energy
- the f altering leaf growth is picking up speed again
- this allows you to harvest more
Tip
Don't pull the flowers. Cut them off with sharp, clean scissors. Plant about 2-3 mm above a pair of leaves so that the shoot will then sprout again.
Basil flowers for the vase
Cut off the basil flowers including the stem and leaves. The flowering branches are ideal as an addition to other cut flowers. You can quickly spread your typical scent in the vase. They're pretty to look at too.
Basil flowers can also be dried well. Either just the flowers themselves or with stems. They are then used for scented purposes in dry bouquets or are placed in bowls to provide scent.
