Yes, you have to wash basil before using it, and it’s a step you should never skip in the kitchen. Whether you plucked it fresh from your garden or grabbed a bunch from the grocery store, washing basil is essential for removing dirt, grit, and any tiny critters hiding in the leaves. You … Read more
You don’t have to soak basil seeds before planting, but doing so can definitely give you a head start. Honestly, soaking basil seeds isn’t a strict requirement for germination, yet many gardeners swear by it. If you’ve been wondering whether you have to soak basil seeds before planting, the short answer is that … Read more
You don’t have to replant basil every year if you’re willing to take a few extra steps to keep it alive indoors. But for most gardeners, basil is grown as an annual, meaning you replant basil every year because frost kills it quickly. If you’ve been wondering, do you have to replant basil … Read more
You do not have to blanch basil for pesto, and in fact, skipping this step is often the best way to preserve that fresh, vibrant flavor you love. Blanching basil is an extra kitchen step that involves quickly dunking the leaves in boiling water and then shocking them in an ice bath. While … Read more
You do not have to blanch basil before freezing, but doing so is the best way to keep your frozen basil looking vibrant and tasting fresh for months. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can just toss fresh basil leaves straight into a freezer bag, the answer is yes, but you might end up … Read more
You should fertilize basil, but the key is knowing when and how to do it the right way. Basil is a hungry plant that thrives with regular feeding, but over-fertilizing can actually ruin the flavor of your leaves. If you’ve wondered whether to fertilize basil at all, the answer is yes—especially if you’re … Read more
Yes, you should cut off basil flowers, and I’m going to explain exactly why that’s the best move for your herb garden. When you cut off basil flowers, you’re telling the plant to focus on growing those lush, flavorful leaves instead of wasting energy on seed production. If you’ve ever noticed your basil … Read more
Yes, you should cut the flowers off basil plants to keep the leaves flavorful and productive. Cutting the flowers off basil plants is one of the simplest and most effective ways to extend your harvest. If you’ve been letting your basil bolt and wondered why the leaves turn bitter, this is the reason. … Read more
You should cut basil flowers to keep your basil plant healthy, productive, and flavorful. Those pretty little blooms signal that your basil is shifting energy from leaf production to seed production, which means fewer leaves and a bitter taste. If you’ve been wondering whether to cut basil flowers or let them be, the short answer … Read more
You do not cook fresh basil on pizza, but you absolutely add it after the pizza comes out of the oven. This is the golden rule for anyone who loves that burst of aromatic, peppery flavor that fresh basil brings. If you’ve been wondering whether you should cook fresh basil on pizza, the … Read more