However if you have used excessive amounts of fertilizer or applied fertilizer more frequently then once every 6 weeks then the basil can grow leggy and droopy or perhaps have a wilting appearance. Watch this YouTube video for a great visual guide for pruning basil to prevnt it from becoming leggy:įor more information read my article why is my basil flowering? Leggy Basil Plants due to Excessive Fertilizerīasil plants are herbaceous annuals with plenty of delicious leaves when grown in optimal conditions.īecause of their prolific growth in the warmer months of the year, basil requires fertile soil with a good nitrogen content to keep the plant growing healthy. Pruning is very easy and can be done with scissors or pruners. When harvesting basil for the leaves, ensure that you pinch or snip the stems as well as the leaves to keep the plant looking tidy and prevent a leggy appearance which can affect growth.įor optimal results prune basil when the stems are around 8 inches tall and try to keep the plant at around that height to ensure a good supply of leaves and to prevent a leggy appearance.Īt the height of summer you should prune basil as regularly as once every two weeks to keep the plant healthy with as many leaves as possible, aiming for a uniform shape when pruning. The leaves of regularly pruned basil tend to grow more vigorously and larger so there is a greater harvest from each plant.Pruning regularly encourages new growth of tasty leaves. Basil leaves taste bitter after the plant has flowered and the basil does not produce many more leaves.
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