Flowers can be found on basil plants in the garden or in the pot by summer at the latest. Such a basil flower looks beautiful, but isn't it better to cut it off?
Should you cut off the flowers of basil?
Cutting off basil flowers is alwaysrecommended if you want to continue to benefit from a growing plant and a rich harvest.
What happens to basil when it blooms?
When basil is in bloom, two things happen to the high-maintenance culinary herb:
- The basilstops growth.
- The taste of the harvested leaves issignificantly less aromatic and slightly bitter.
This bitter taste is unusual, but not harmful and the leaves can still be eaten without any concerns. It is almost strange that the taste of perennial basil does not change - only annual plants are affected.
How can flower formation be delayed?
In order to delay the formation of flowers or, in the best case, even prevent it, you should attach importance to aregular harvestof the Mediterranean culinary herb from spring onwards. The right harvest time has come at the latest when a bud can be seen. A courageous cutting off of the shoot tips is definitely preferable to hesitant or hesitant plucking, which leaves bare shoots. Another advantage of this regular cutting instead of plucking is that the basil grows much bushier.
Can seeds be obtained from the flowers?
It is very easypossibleto get seeds from the cut basil flowersThis is very practical as most varieties do not overwinter in this country and new plants must be grown next year. To do this, the flowers filled with seed heads in autumn are cut off after they have withered. The withered petals are then rubbed with your fingers over a bowl. The black seeds finally appear by sieving several times. These are kept dark and cool until they are sown in spring.
Can I let basil bloom too?
Of course it ispossible not to cut off the basil flowers. This is what you do with royal herb (the term is an alternative name) if you want to enjoy the look of the plant and are not primarily interested in harvesting the delicate leaves. Especially in a natural or cottage garden, the formation of flowers in different colors creates a beautiful feast for the eyes. And insects also enjoy the flowers because they find valuable food in them.
Tip
Use the flowers in the kitchen
If you have discovered flowers on your basil, you do not have to throw them away after cutting them off. The delicate flowers with their slightly bitter aroma are edible and the commonly heard assumption that they are poisonous is simply wrong. They are suitable for decorations and as an ingredient in salads. You can also use it to make a fine basil flower vinegar with white wine vinegar.
