Will a Basil plant die once it has made flowers?
Question:My basil plant is about to make flowers and I am wondering if I should pick of the flowers so the plant won't die
Answers:
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) of the Family Lamiaceae is also known as Sweet Basil. It is a tender low-growing herb that is grown as a perennial in warm, tropical climates. Basil is originally native to India and other tropical regions of Asia, having been cultivated there for more than 5,000 years. It is prominently featured in varied cuisines throughout the world including Italian, Thai, Vietnamese and Laotian. It grows to between 20–60 cm tall, with opposite, light green, silky leaves 1.5–5 cm long and 1–3 cm broad. The flowers are quite big, white in color and arranged in a terminal spike. Unusual among Lamiaceae, the four stamens and the pistil are not pushed under the upper lip of the corolla, but lay over the inferior. After entomophilous pollination, the corolla falls off and four round achenes develop inside the bilabiate calyx. The plant tastes somewhat like anise, with a strong, pungent, sweet smell. Basil is very sensitive to cold, with best growth in hot, dry conditions. While most common varieties are treated as annuals, some are perennial, including African Blue and Holy Thai basil.
yes, pick off the flowers buds as the form to extend the life of the plant. When the plant bolts it generally will not live much longer.
yes... you need to pick the flowers off and your plant will be fine.
I don't think it will die... I haven't heard of that before.
Why. will you stop watering it?
Yes pick the flowers off and that will encourage growth. Your plant should go on for a long time as long as you take care of it and feed it once a month. If you are in a frost area then take it inside and dry or freeze the stems when they get too big. YUM!
Basil, my favorite plant for years. I planted it from very small, and it has multiply beyond belief. Just clip or take your thumb and index finger and gently pull the flower off. It encourages it to grow. I leave mine outside, back east here, in the summer months, full sun, and water it regularly. As I clip for use in cooking, it continues to thrive. In the winter months, I bring the large pot in and place it near a sunny window. The fragrance is always pleasant, and needless to say, the leaf is wonderful in so many dishes. Make sure you clip back the dying leaves, and it will continue to flourish.
If a stem successfully produces mature flowers, leaf production slows or stops on any stem which flowers, the stem becomes woody, and essential oil production declines.To prevent this, a basil-grower may pinch off any flower stems before they are fully mature. Because only the blooming stem is so affected, some can be pinched for leaf production, while others are left to bloom for decoration or seeds.Once the plant is allowed to flower, it may produce seed pods containing small black seeds which can be saved and planted the following year. Picking the leaves off the plant helps "promote growth", largely because the plant responds by converting pairs of leaflets next to the topmost leaves into new stems.
In my experience it doesn't die after flowering but does become woody and stalky. Yes, you should keep it pinched back before it flowers to push the plants energy into the leaves, the part you enjoy most in your pesto recipes!
More Related Questions & Answers...