How to Harvest Basil (without killing the plant) - The Kitchen Herbs (2025)

Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a beginner, harvesting basil can be a simple and rewarding process. In this article, we will provide you with some tips on how to harvest basil in a way that promotes growth, keeps the plant healthy, and discourages it from flowering.

Harvesting basil

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is a versatile and flavorful herb that is very rewarding to grow at home if given the right care.

Harvesting basil is a crucial step in ensuring that your basil plant grows healthy and strong. Not only can regular harvesting help to promote new growth, but it also helps to prevent the plant from flowering too early, which can negatively affect its flavor.

>> Related post: How to harvest basil seed

How to harvest basil without killing the plant

To ensure that it continues to thrive, there are a few steps you should take when harvesting your homegrown basil to avoid damaging the plant. This means using the right technique, getting the timing right, and not harvesting too much in one go.

When to harvest basil (timing and frequency)

Basil is a versatile herb that can be harvested at any point in its growth cycle. However, it is best to wait until it reaches maturity before starting to harvest it for the best flavor basil, and to ensure the plant is strong enough to survive

For sweet basil, the most common variety, it is best to wait until the plant has developed at least 6-8 leaves per stem. This usually occurs when the plant is 6-8 inches tall.

The leaves should be plump and dark green, and the plant should have a strong aroma.

Once your basil plant has reached maturity, you can harvest the leaves as often as you like if you just need a few for cooking. In fact, harvesting the leaves regularly will encourage the plant to produce more leaves and keep it from going to seed too quickly.

How much can you harvest?

When harvesting basil, it is important to avoid harvesting more than a third of the plant at once, and allow it to regrow before taking a significant harvest again.

Basil grows as an annual plant in most regions, and so the whole plant can be harvested at the end of the growing season (as soon as you see flower buds start to appear). Cut the basil back, harvesting the entire stem.

Technique – pruning vs. picking

There are two main approaches for harvesting basil: pruning and picking (or pinching). Pruning involves cutting back the stem of the plant, while picking involves just removing the leaves from the plant.

Picking basil

Pinching is best if you just want to harvest a few basil leaves for your recipe. It is fine to pinch what you need off from the top of the plant as and when you need it.

This technique is also best for younger plants that are still growing and developing. It will encourage the plant to produce more leaves and prevent it from becoming too tall and leggy.

Pruning basil

Pruning basil means cutting the stems. This approach is best for older plants that are becoming woody or overgrown, or if you want to harvest more than a few leaves.

If you want to harvest a larger amount, then the approach you take is important for the long-term health of the plant to ensure it grows back.

If basil isn’t cut regularly or correctly, it can start to grow tall and ‘leggy.’ You will notice the space between the leaves on the branches increasing, and the plant gets too tall to support itself.

If this happens, then pruning the basil by trimming the stems will encourage it to grow more densely.

How to harvest basil so it keeps growing

When pruning basil, cutting it the right way will promote new growth, and encourage the plant to grow with a more compact form. To do this:

1. Harvest the stems from the top down. This means removing the top part of the stem, always leaving at least one leaf pair at the bottom of the stem.
2. You should make a cut right above a leaf pair (i.e. growth node), do not leave a bare section of stem at the top. This encourages the stem to branch at the point it was cut, resulting in a bushier plant.

As a bonus, regular harvesting of the tips of the stems discourages the basil plant from flowering. Once flower buds appear, regrowth will stop, and the plant will begin to lose its flavor. So regular trimming also prolongs its growing season.

>> Related post: What to do with basil flowers

Tips for storing basil

Before storing your basil, it is important to clean it thoroughly. Rinse the leaves under cool running water and pat them dry with a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel. Be gentle so as not to bruise the leaves.

Alternatively, you can use a salad spinner to remove excess water from the leaves.

• Store basil fresh. Store fresh basil leaves in the refrigerator for up to a month, either standing in water, or between two damp paper towels. Refresh the water as needed.
• Dry basil. To dry basil, give the leaves a quick wash to remove any dust, then pat them dry. Spread them out between two sheets of parchment and leave them in a warm dry place until they are bone dry. Store in an air-tight container in a cool place.
  >> See How to dry basil for more details
• Store basil in the freezer. If you want to store your basil for a longer period, freezing is a great option. To freeze basil, chop the leaves and place them in an ice cube tray. Cover the leaves with water and freeze.

Some other ideas

• Make fresh basil leaf pesto
• Use basil to make herb butter
• Try making basil infused olive oil or vinegar

>> For more details, see our article on how to store basil.

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