Growing Basil from Cuttings for Beginners

Have you thought about growing basil from cuttings? Do you want to grow more basil from your current stash? We have you covered!

Basil is one of those plants that have a very earthy smell to them! And if you are a beginner gardener, basil builds that confidence in you that will cultivate that green thumb!

Basil can be found at just about any garden center or grocery store. It is easy to grow and propagate from cuttings.

This post is all about growing basil from cuttings to create your own endless supply.

A Little About Basil

Basil is an annual herb and one of the first herbs you will see when the growing season starts. It is green and has a strong smell with a peppery taste. Most people use it to add flavor to meals or for medicinal purposes. In some cases, gardeners just like to grow it because of its beautiful appearance and leaves.

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How to Cut Basil

Before cutting your basil, make sure you have clean snips or shears. You also want to make sure you have at least about 6 inches of stem growth. Select the stem and cut near the node at a 45° angle.

Remove all the leaves except the first 1-2 sets of leaves at the top of the plants. You can harvest the leaves you removed for use in meal prep later. Removing the leaves allows the plant to focus on growing roots rather than producing leaves.

Once the leaves have been removed, place the stems in water. This technique is also known as propagation. Propagation can take place in any mason jar or container that you choose to grow your basil. Your stem needs to be submerged in at least .5 – 1 inch of water. Set your propagated stem in a window sill or well-lit area to promote root growth. Roots will naturally form in 2 weeks. There are root hormones that are sold at your local home improvement store and nursery. You will get roots a lot faster with a rooting hormone. If you choose this method, follow the directions on the package.

Once the roots have developed, you can plant them in the ground or in your preferred container. You only need to dig a small hole to cover the base of the plant and roots and cover it up.

Pruning Basil

It is important to prune basil to keep the plant productive and flavorful. Once basil starts flowering, the taste becomes bitter and milder than the original flavor.

Prune the basil once you have at least 2-3 sets of leaves. You can prune them every 1-2 weeks with shears or by simply punching the leaves off by hand. Remember, bushy plants are pretty but it is also a sign that pruning may be needed!

Basil Use

Basil is typically used to enhance meals. It does have a unique taste so if you’ve never had it before, you might want to play with it in small doses. Other uses include:

• Basil infused oil
• Use in soups or stews
• Add to pasta
• Homemade spaghetti sauce
• Chutney
• Pesto

Now that you know how to create an endless supply of basil, you can impress your friends with your new stash of herbs!

This post was all about growing basil from cuttings to get an endless supply of basil from your garden.