Guide on Expeditiously Collecting and Preserving Basil Seeds
Growing Your Own Basil: A Cost-Effective Solution
Hey there, gardening enthusiast! Got that pesky basil bill giving you a headache? Growing your own basil, much like other herbs, can be an affordable solution. Even if you buy basil starts from the garden store and grow it in your garden, you're saving cash. But let's not stop there; harvesting and saving basil seeds is a breeze!
Step One: Let the Flowers Bloom
Look out for a small flower beginning to grow in the center of your basil leaves' cluster. If you're hankering for fresh basil leaves, pluck that cluster promptly. However, if you want to let your basil set seeds for the next season, let it be. Green flower stalks will emerge, and you'll soon see white blossoms. Enjoy watching those busy bees sip that yummy basil nectar while waiting for the green flower stalks to turn brown. Once they do, you're ready for step two.
Step Two: Pinch the Blossoms Off
While not essential, this step will make separating the seeds from the dried flower petals smoother in the next step.
Step Three: Separate the Seeds from the Dried Flowers
With basil seeds being teeny tiny, this step is the most laborious. I've found that rubbing the brown flowers between my thumb and index finger until the seeds break free works best.
Here's a quick video that shows me harvesting just 5 basil seeds – simple, right?!
It takes a little foresight. Each summer, I pick one basil plant to harvest and one to let flower stalks develop and produce seeds. In the video, I explain how to clip back the flower stalks to ensure a continuous supply of fresh basil all season.
So, What's Next?
Once harvested, you have two options:
- Plant the seeds directly in the ground after the last spring frost has passed. Basil grows swiftly in the warmed spring soil, and the seeds sprout a few weeks later. I always plant basil around my tomatoes and wherever bees are needed for pollination.
- Start the seeds indoors about four weeks before the last spring frost. These seeds take longer to sprout, and in my experience, I have less luck with them. A seedling heat mat can help; basil prefers warm soil.[1] Once your little basil seedling has a couple of real leaves and the spring weather has warmed up a bit (a couple of weeks past the last spring frost), it can be transplanted to the garden.
Are You Lazy? No Problem!
If life in the garden gets hectic, and you may forget to harvest basil seeds, don't fret! Forget harvesting and toss the whole brown stem into your garden instead. Basil volunteers will sprout next season, saving your elbow grease! If you know where your tomatoes will be, that's an ideal spot.
By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to never buying basil again!
Share on Facebook • Share on Twitter • Share on Pinterest • Share on Email • Share on WhatsApp
Free Resources
Garden newbie to green thumb – I've been there, and I want to help you grow yours too!
Access the FREE guides now
References
[1] The Spruce. (2022). How to Save, Store & Plant Basil Seeds from Your Garden. [online] Available at: https://www.thespruce.com/growing-basil-from-seed-2140282[3] The Kitchn. (2021). How to Save Basil Seeds for Next Year. [online] Available at: https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-save-basil-seeds-for-next-year-186891[5] Southern Living. (2021). How to Save Basil Seeds. [online] Available at: https://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/how-to-save-basil-seeds
- To continue growing your own basil and other herbs, you might find these garden printables useful for your home-and-garden lifestyle, providing useful tips and layouts for herb gardening.
- As your herb gardening skills grow, you might also be interested in learning about other cost-effective solutions for improving your lifestyle, such as saving water or using home-made fertilizers for your plants.
- Once you have a thriving herb garden from your gardening efforts, you can incorporate the fresh basil into various recipes, adding flavor and enhancing your home-cooked meals as part of your overall lifestyle.
