The One Mistake That's Causing Your Basil to Flower Too Early, According to Gardeners

Without a doubt, basil is my favorite herb. In fact, every time summer rolls around, I get excited to buy a new little basil plant to keep on my windowsill.

However, within a few weeks, my basil plant usually starts to flower. And although the little buds look pretty, they’re not what you want. They mean that the water and soil’s nutrients are going to the flowers instead of the basil leaves, which can cause the leaves to grow slowly or improperly (which is not optimal if you’re hoping to eat them!).

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Ideally, you don’t want your basil plant to flower until the end of the growing season, per Celebrated Nest. At that point, you can let it flower and attract pollinators. But until then, it’s best to keep an eye on your plant to prevent flowering.

That said, why do basil plants tend to flower too early? To find out, Parade spoke with two gardening experts: Mark Donofrio, the owner and head farmer of the California-based flower farm The Starter Farm, and Sue Goetz, a horticulturist, owner of garden design company Creative Gardener and the author of gardening books including A Taste for Herbs and The Herb Lover’s Spa Book. Keep reading for their insights!

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This Common Mistake Is Probably Why Your Basil Is Flowering Too Early

According to both Goetz and Donofrio, a common reason your basil plant flowers too early is because you aren’t pruning and harvesting your basil often enough.

“Ongoing harvesting of the leaves and pruning basil will slow down and inhibit flowering,” Goetz explains to Parade. “Harvesting also encourages the plant to branch and have more leafy growth. Never let it flower!”

“Basil follows the rules of most plants in their mission; grow and reproduce. Basil just tries to rush the process,” Donofrio tells Parade.

“Unfortunately, this works against why we grow basil; we want the most leaf production,” he continues. “When basil plants initiate flowering, this tells the plant to put most of its energy into seed production and not that much energy into new growth. By not cutting off these flowers early or not harvesting regularly it will cause the plant to produce smaller leaves and minimize foliage production.”

These Other Mistakes and Environmental Stressors Can Also Cause Basil to Flower Too Early

A few other factors can cause basil to flower early, too.

One is inconsistent watering, which Donofrio explains “can tell the plant that it might be dying, so it tells the plant it’s time to produce seeds for the next generation. By providing consistent moisture the plant can focus on leaf production and will delay flower production.”

Another is a lack of nutrients—an issue that can be remedied by planting your basil in healthy soil with fertilizer.

“Always start with healthy soil to give the plant a good head start for growth,” Donofrio says. “Also, at planting time apply a good, balanced fertilizer and follow fertilizing instructions throughout the season. One mistake gardeners make is to forget to fertilize during the later part of the season, which slows down production.”

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Additionally, even though basil is a warm weather annual plant, hot weather can initiate early flowering. “Too much heat stresses out plants. Providing some afternoon shade and extra watering can combat this problem,” says Donofrio.

“The stress is all about the plant sending its energy into producing seeds and stopping the growth of its leaves,” adds Goetz. “If you live in an area with intense heat, consider moving potted basil to partial shade and protection from the hot afternoon sun.”

Goetz also notes that under or overwatering basil can also cause unwanted flower growth. “Because basil is an annual, water stress will signal it to flower and produce seed,” she explains.

If your basil is in a pot, the reason it isn’t flowering could be that it’s “too root-bound,” which means that it’s outgrowing its container. “If they have a gnarl of roots in the pot, consider moving them to a larger pot with fresh organic potting soil to give them more root space to grow,” says Goetz.

Why Is It Bad If a Basil Plant Flowers Too Early?

If your basil plant is flowering, it can eventually negatively impact the flavor and texture of the leaves.

“When basil is flowering, it also signals the plant to go to seed,” explains Goetz. “When a plant seeds, it invests energy in the seed and shuts down new leaf growth; we love and use those yummy leaves when cooking with basil. The texture of the leaves will also change, becoming more leathery and the flavor intensity will be lost to the flowers. 

How to Prevent Basil From Flowering Too Early

To prevent your basil plant from flowering too early, as soon as you see any buds forming, you should trim them.

“Trim off any buds that are beginning to form,” Goetz says. “When harvesting, use scissors to cut the stems; don’t pull or pluck, as you may risk damaging the plant. During the growing season, as you harvest leaves, don’t cut back too much; leave at least 4 inches of leafy stems to encourage more growth.”

She adds that you should never “let the basil go to seed unless it is the end of the season and you want to collect seed for next year’s planting.”

Donofrio agrees that harvesting often is vital when it comes to basil; that said, he notes that you should never harvest all of the leaves on your plant, as this “would cut off the plant’s ability to add additional growth.”

He also recommends keeping a close eye on your basil plants.

“Check for flower formation and pinch off flowers regularly,” he says. “Pinching of the central basil stem early in its growth cycle forces the plant to produce side shoots and produce a bushier plant with more leaves.”

Additionally, Donofrio notes that keeping your plants happy with regular watering and fertilizing can make a huge difference.

And finally, if you’re just starting on your basil journey, Donofrio recommends choosing basil varieties that are labeled “slow bolting” (which means they are slower to flower) such as Prospera basil and Everleaf basil.

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Sources:

• Mark Donofrio, owner and head farmer of The Starter Farm
• Sue Goetz, horticulturist, owner of Creative Gardener and author of A Taste for Herbs and The Herb Lover’s Spa Book
• Basil Flowers: When to Cut Them and When to Let Them Bloom. Celebrated Nest.