How to Prune Basil for a Bigger Harvest
- Lisa Myers
- Jul 27
- 3 min read
The secret is ruthless pruning. Pinch the tips every other day to keep your basil from flowering, and you'll have a giant, bushy basil plant to enjoy all summer long. Here's how.
Wondering why your basil isn't this healthy, or your tomatoes are struggling? Let's work together.
What to Do With a Big Basil Harvest
Once you've pruned your way to more basil than you know what to do with, here are three favorites — one for your skin, one for your freezer, and one for the bathtub.
Basil Salt Scrub
Adding basil to an exfoliating salt scrub turns the scrub into something more like a spa ritual. Its aroma is grounding and uplifting outside of the kitchen.
From the garden:
1 cup fresh basil leaves
1 cup coarse sea salt
½ cup carrier oil (olive, sweet almond, jojoba or grapeseed)
Create:
Finely chop or pulse the basil leaves in a food processor.
Mix the basil with the sea salt until evenly combined.
Stir in the oil a little at a time until the mixture holds together but is still coarse.
Store in a jar and use in the shower — massage onto damp skin, then rinse.
Take Care: oils from scrubs can leave the shower floor slippery. I stand on a washcloth or towel to keep from slipping.
Basil Freezer Cubes
A great way to keep basil all year long is with this easy freezing method.
Finely chop the basil or pulse it in a food processor.
Drop the basil into small ice cube trays (I use these — anything small will work), then fill with water or olive oil and freeze.
Once frozen, pop the cubes out and store in freezer-safe bags for easy use.
Drop a cube into soups, pasta sauce, or any cooked recipe that calls for fresh basil during the cooler months.
Herbal Tub Tea
Basil has a folk history as a mild anti-inflammatory, providing muscle relief — warm water plus basil is often used post-workout or after a long day in the garden.
From the garden:
8 fresh basil leaves (large or collection of small)
10 sprigs fresh mint
6 sprigs fresh lemon verbena
Create:
Crush the herbs with your hands to lightly bruise the leaves. This brings out the fragrant oils.
Grab a muslin bag, reusable tea bag, or cheese cloth and place the herbs inside. Tie tightly.
Hang your bag from the faucet while filling the tub, then drop it in the bath while you soak.
Toss when done.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
How often should you prune basil? During the warm sunny months, I recommend checking it every other day if the plant is established. Frequent, light pruning keeps basil bushy and productive all season, rather than one big harvest followed by flowering.
Why is my basil flowering already? Basil flowers naturally as it matures, especially in heat — it's the plant's way of trying to go to seed. Regular pruning delays this, so if your basil is flowering early, more frequent pinching usually solves it.
Can I freeze basil without blanching it? Yes. Unlike some vegetables, basil doesn't need blanching before freezing. Chopping it and freezing it in cubes with a little water or oil works well and preserves flavor for months.
Does basil regrow after cutting? Yes — that's the whole idea behind this method. Pinching just above a leaf set encourages two new stems to grow from that point, which is what creates the bushier, fuller plant over time.
Is basil good for anything besides cooking? Yes! I'm actually not a fan of pesto which is how many people use it. So I've found many other non-culinary uses — basil's aroma makes it a nice addition to bath soaks, skin scrubs, and other simple wellness rituals, beyond its more familiar use in the kitchen.
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