How to Harvest Basil Seeds

Step by step instructions for harvesting basil seeds from your herb garden.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• harvest basil seeds
• basil seed
• herb garden
• garden

[kingstreet13]

Do Basil Seeds Cure Acne?

Thanks

[juliemcmurchie]

@kingstreet13 Sorry, I have no idea if basil seeds are an effective treatment for acne.

[juliemcmurchie]

@Shokara2 Keep the plant that tastes good now. Still, there is no guarantee that the seeds will grow something tasty. You might try all new stock for the next growing season. Even though your balcony is small-keep different varieties as far apart as possible, with plenty of different plants in between to keep the bees busy. You could save some space with companion planting. Basil and tomatoes do well together. You can also plant basil with peppers and marigolds. Good luck.

[Shokara2]

@juliemcmurchie yes... good point. I have one plant that I just removed because the pesto I made from it tasted.... odd. twice. So I took one leaf off it and one off another plant which is next to it, same long pot actually... and wow. The one plant was VERY bitter the other tasted fine. They look to be identical to me by appearance though. Any ideas? I removed the bad tasting one just to be safe.

[juliemcmurchie]

@Shokara2 It sounds like your balcony is amazing. I don't know for sure if the seeds will be sterile. The research I've done indicates that there are over 60 varieties of basil, most of them the result of cross-pollination. The seeds may grow, they just may not produce plants with the same flavor you are expecting. You never know, you might end up with something fabulous, and you might not. Sorry I couldn't be more help. Thanks.

[Shokara2]

@juliemcmurchie thats impossible for me to do. My garden (which is completely packed every available inch with a HUGE variety of veggies and herbs) is a roughly 5 foot by 4 foot balcony at my apartment which is ground floor and sun nearly all day. My garden has become the talk of the complex! Hmm. I think I will likely have hybrid strains though. But will the hybrid seeds be sterile?

[juliemcmurchie]

@Shokara2 According to Purdue University, the basil will cross-pollinate, which means the seeds you have may not grow plants true to the variety. To avoid cross-pollination and hybridization, plant different types of basil at different ends of the garden.

[juliemcmurchie]

@chrnb Yes, you can cut the flowers and dry them before harvesting the seeds. They will probably dry quicker after being cut then while they are still on the plant. Hang them to dry in a cool, dry location. They should be ready to harvest in a couple of weeks.

[Shokara2]

I have three types of basil in my garden (thai, spicy globe, and common basil) will the three types hybridize? Bees go back and forth between them.

[pokenei]

great... time to make some basil seed drink....yum.