Whats going on with my Basil?

**Lemonhead** · 19-04-2010 18:19

I was successfully growing Basil in a pot since January and it was a beautiful, big bushy plant with heaps of big leaves of Basil.

Now, it has grown to about 40cm high and has these weird seed cases on the tops of it and I have hardly any leaves! I had to scrimp and cut the tiny ones for our Cannelloni tonight

I was so proud of my Basil too!!

Does anyone know whats wrong with it? Mum says its gone to seed or something and it will come back later on?

**Nowhere** · 19-04-2010 18:21

Originally Posted by RebekahLeigh

I was successfully growing Basil in a pot since January and it was a beautiful, big bushy plant with heaps of big leaves of Basil.

Now, it has grown to about 40cm high and has these weird seed cases on the tops of it and I have hardly any leaves! I had to scrimp and cut the tiny ones for our Cannelloni tonight

I was so proud of my Basil too!!

Does anyone know whats wrong with it? Mum says its gone to seed or something and it will come back later on?

Its gone to flower you didnt use t quick enough lol, Cut all that of the tops and get back to the leafy bit.

Jamie oliver uses the flowery casey bits in salad but we just put it in the compost and stick to the leafy bit lol

**Lemonhead** · 19-04-2010 18:24

Originally Posted by Mikenzees mum

Its gone to flower you didnt use t quick enough lol, Cut all that of the tops and get back to the leafy bit.

Jamie oliver uses the flowery casey bits in salad but we just put it in the compost and stick to the leafy bit lol

Dammit!

If I cut off the tops and all the seeds then it will just be ths short plant made up of stems lol...is that normal? Will it come back once the seeds are gone?

**Guest1234** · 19-04-2010 18:28

It will come back once the seeds are gone. You gotta prune them when they start flowering otherwise this happens. Same with parsley. The plant uses all its energy and food to produce the flowers so the leaves die, but if you get rid of the flowers as they come up then the leaves wont die

**Lemonhead** · 19-04-2010 18:52

Originally Posted by Memie

It will come back once the seeds are gone. You gotta prune them when they start flowering otherwise this happens. Same with parsley. The plant uses all its energy and food to produce the flowers so the leaves die, but if you get rid of the flowers as they come up then the leaves wont die

Ok cool thanks!

I will prune it tomorrow.

**Mrs Nietzsche** · 19-04-2010 18:59

What kind of basil is it? Yeah you haev to cut off the leaves before it goes to seed, but I think once it goes to seed you won't get very nice basil from it again. Might be worth just getting another.

**Lemonhead** · 19-04-2010 19:01

Originally Posted by Mrs Nietzsche

What kind of basil is it? Yeah you haev to cut off the leaves before it goes to seed, but I think once it goes to seed you won't get very nice basil from it again. Might be worth just getting another.

Thats what my mum just said. Oh well they are pretty cheap plants and I saved so much $$ by growing it!