I have a thriving basil plant and I'm planning to make some delicious pesto this weekend. Is it okay if I pick off about half of the leaves? Will my basil plant regrow after that?
3 Answers
I usually repot a new supermarket basil every year and treat it like an annual. This time, I'm going to try taking cuttings! When you harvest, try to just pinch off the leaves; that actually helps it grow more.
You can definitely take some leaves, but it grows back slowly. Just remember that supermarket basil is often over-crowded in pots, which can choke the roots after a while. A good trick is to take a few cuttings and root them in water. If you're aiming for a steady supply, consider a bigger planter. It's more of a backup plan if you ask me.
If you snip right above a leaf node that’s starting to sprout, you’ll get two branches growing out instead! Taking about half the leaves should be fine, but just be sure to leave enough so the plant can keep getting sunlight. I once kept a pot of supermarket basil alive for about 4 years this way—it does have a tendency to drop leaves if it gets unhappy, though.