Lemon basil is one of the herbs with nice leaves and the scent that is exotic. Many planters have fallen in love with this plant. It has unique characteristics as well but to use this plant at its best you have to have the right knowledge in harvesting it properly. Its a good plant to add to your citrus herbs.
This plant belongs to the family of basils. It has specific needs so you can harvest well. The rich taste usually comes from the essential oil you can extract from it which you usually get in the early morning. This is the same reason why the herb garden will smell great in the hours before the sun rises. This is a good point to remember when you want to harvest it and have the best kind. The rich fragrance that you can extract from the essential oils is at its peak in the early hours of the morning.
Cutting the top part of the lemon basil leaving it growing back faster and better. Trimming the plant from time to time will make the stem stronger and it will grow bigger. The taste will also become more intense. Trimming is also necessary because the tip tends to wither and if it’s not cut the plant may die. You can use sharp scissors for doing this. After a few days you can cut the middle stems and the plant will become healthy again. This is important because it is ideal to harvest the plant just six inches down the cuttings which will help it retain the same good quality.
In harvesting the leaves you can either use the scissors to cut or use your hands to lightly pinch them but you have to get the ones on top. The right time is when it is already producing flowers. Pinch or cut the ones that are already out so you will let it have more leaves the next time it blossoms. Cutting after you harvest is also a good tip so the plant can absorb more nutrients.
The fresh type has the best flavor. You can dry it by putting a string on the stems and tie them up in a bunch and hang it to dry. The best place is in a warm place of the house. You can later crumble it to provide smaller particles and you can put them in a clean jar and seal it to retain the scent and flavor.
Related topics:
How to Harvest Asian Basil in Better Ways
Herb hobbyists discovering the wonders of basil should know how to harvest Asian basil in particular. Asian basil is among herb secrets that spice up superb Thai and other Oriental dishes. To benefit more from it, one should know how...
More on How to Store Lemon Basil After it is Harvested
The flavorful quality of lemon basil makes it seem complicated to grow and manage. The good news is, there are easy ways on how to store lemon basil after it is harvested. If planting and growing the herb is easy,...
Cooking with Lemon Basil: The Different Ways of Using This Herb in Cooking Delectable Dishes
Cooking with lemon basil can help people create scrumptious dishes that are rich in taste and aroma. Some of the highly impressive seafood delicacies that contain the special herb are Shrimp in Lemon Basil Sauce, Basil Baked Cod Fillets, and...
Simple Ways to Grow Lemon Basil
Lemon basils just like other perennial plants can be easily grown. You can plant them in containers with soggy soil.This plant require a lot of sunlight and constant moisture....
Gratify Yourself with the Tasty and Savory Lemon Basil Dishes
Lemon basil is one of the herbs that are commonly used to enhance the flavor of a dish. Three lemon basil recipes that people can try to prepare are Lemon Basil Pesto Flat Iron Steak, Lemon Basil Grilled Chicken, Shrimp...
Useful Ideas on How to Harvest Sage
The steps to follow in any how to harvest sage guide will definitely include how to pick your leaves and how to store them. Some people like fresh sage but dried sage leaves are definitely a lot better. Knowing how...
Vital Reminders on How to Harvest Sweet Basil Leaves
Sweet basil lovers should also have a garden of the herb and know how to harvest sweet basil leaves, among other things. They're easy to grow with the right care, and especially if the grower knows how to harvest sweet...
Learning to Harvest Parsley
Parsley is one of the most widely used herbs in cooking and therefore harvesting is important. Get the facts about harvesting parsley and turn your recipes into tasty meals. ...
Harvesting Basil the Easy Way
Being able to pick herbs at the right time is critical for both gardeners and cooks. Add flavor to your recipes by understanding how to harvest basil. ...
How to Harvest Dill for a Tasty Meal
Dill is a timeless herb that has been enjoyed by many as seasons come and go. You can enjoy its wonderful flavors dried, frozen fresh, or just get a kick out of its seeds. Dill is easy to harvest and...