Basil benefits from pruning. If you see flowers or flower buds on your basil, remove them. Cut back or pinch the flowering/budding just above a set of leaves no more than halfway down the plant stem. This may seem drastic, but pruning your plants will actually stimulate more growth and help the basil to maintain excellent flavor. You can use these clipping, minus the flowers or buds in your favorite basil recipes, as all of these clipping are edible. This also goes for all the other flowering herbs you may be growing in your yard or container planter.
Happy Gardening.
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