How to Grow Basil That Doesn't Bolt in a Month

Eight steps to a bushy basil plant, and the pinching habit that keeps it producing instead of running to seed.

The steps

1. Wait for Warmth. Basil hates cold soil. Plant well after last frost.
2. Full Sun. Six to eight hours daily. Leggy growth means too little.
3. Free-Draining Soil. Basil rots in soggy ground. Pots need drainage holes.
4. Water the Soil. Water when the top feels dry. Keep the leaves dry.
5. Pinch the Tips. Cut above a pair of leaves. One stem becomes two.
6. Remove Flower Buds. Flowering turns leaves bitter. Pinch buds the day you see them.
7. Feed Lightly. Too much feed thins the flavour. A little compost is plenty.
8. Harvest from the Top. Take the top, not the base. Never strip more than a third.

Pro tip. Pinch the growing tip once the plant has two or three sets of true leaves, and keep pinching every couple of weeks. Each cut turns one stem into two, and a pinched plant stays productive far longer.