My basil plants are thriving too much.

This is my thai basil:

And in the same pot lemon basil:

I’ve topped them quite a lot, as you can see in the bushy growth pattern.

They already started flowering months ago, even before I put them into the big pot. I read online that you just have to snip them off, and done.

But there are basically only flowers coming, and I don’t want them to waste all their power into developing seeds.

Is this normal and just a part of their lives when they reach a certain size?

  • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.worldEnglish
    2·
    29 days ago

    I generally don’t as they are perennial not annual. Yeas I suppose you can too them but you aren’t getting much for this. I guess top if you please but I’ve found letting them go with flowers gets me overall.move leaves and its one less chore.

      • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        28 days ago

        You dont?

        I’ve got some basils that have been around for 6+ years.

        There are so many basil seeds in my yard at this point its one of my main weeds.

          • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.worldEnglish
            3·
            28 days ago

            I’m aware. But even when I lived in places it got below freezing I kept basil perennially. I’d move it into pots in the winter and put it in a sunny window. After drenching it in neem/ citrus oil to kill of the bugs.

            • Madzielle@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
              1·
              28 days ago

              Im near certain Ive seen people cultivate basil into little trees. Ive no luck growing it, but you can keep annuals alive through winters doing like you suggest.