Basil plants are bright and cheerful. However, they are instructing you with a vital sign. As days grow shorter and temperatures fall, these bright herbs are preparing for a hibernation phase. They are entering their winter survival mode, and with a little improvisation, you can make this change from summer mode to winter survival mode the most productive time of the season for your herb garden. You just have to “read” the signals your basil plants send.
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Check PriceMost gardeners panic and think the growing season is over when they see the first blooms on their basil. Don't worry! Those flowers actually provide an opportunity to extend your harvest and will produce new flavors to change the way you cook this fall!
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Why Basils Flowers in Fall Are An Asset To The Garden
Basil plants put a lot of energy into making essential oil when they start to develop flowers. The flowers have up to 40% more flavonoids than the leaves. Flavonoids are the same compounds that provide basil with the amazing health benefits and complex taste.
The flowers have a strong, sweet taste that is different from the flavor of the leaves. After 3 months, it’s like a grand finale performance for basil with the tiny flowers being the stars.
The Strategic Harvest Method
Instead of removing all the flowers at once, use this two stage method.
Stage One: Selective Harvesting Choose blooms that have only recently begun to open. At this stage, they have the most oils and will not have directed the plants energy into leaf production just yet.
If you want to prolong your leaf harvest by a couple of weeks, you can encourage side shoot production on the plant by snipping off the flower spike with your fingers, where it flowers, and about an inch of the stem.
Stage Two: Full Bloom Collection
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Once consistent nighttime temperatures dip below 50°F, leave any remaining blooms to develop fully. These mature blooms will have the strongest flavor profile for preservation.
Culinary Game-Changers
Fresh basil blossoms elevate autumn recipes. They have a unique flavor which includes a bit of spice and whispers of anise. Their taste is predominately in the floral family. These blossoms are excellent in:
Try adding whole flowers to your pasta dishes for some extra color and a great addition to your meal. They are lovely in creamy winter squash risotto or mixed in with roasted root vegetables.
Basil flower vinegar is super easy to make! Simply make sure the flowers are completely submerged in white wine vinegar and let them sit for two weeks. After two weeks, you’ll have a delicious and unique vinegar to add to all your fall salads and roasted cheese dishes!
Easy and enjoyable to do with kids. All that is needed is an ice cube tray along with some olive oil. Pour some olive oil into each section and then put a few flowers in each section. You can use fresh or dried basil, rosemary, and any other edible flowers you can find. Keep in mind that basil will give a strong flavor to anything you add it to, so it will add good flavor to the homemade soups and stews you will make in the winter!
The Seed Strategy
Make sure you have seeds to gather for next year’s garden by finding the healthiest plants and letting some flower spikes fully form seeds. Seeds typically begin to drop off on their own around 4 to 6 weeks after the flowers bloom. As the seeds darken, they will begin to drop.
Choose a dry morning to gather seeds by tapping the heads of the flowers into paper bags. Keep them in labeled envelopes and place them in a cool, dry place. If basil seeds are stored correctly, they can last 5-7 years.
Extending the Season
By using this method of centralizing production of basil flowers, you can grow for an additional 3-4 weeks. In addition, you can harvest the more intense flavors that the flowers provide while still keeping the leaf production.
For zones 6-7, this method lets basil stay productive through October. In warmer zones, it can be picked for flowers right up to November.
Basil flowering events mean that instead of cutting basil leaves, another type of harvest is around the corner. This type of harvest will involve cutting basil flowers which creates a different culinary experience.
Basil's autumn flowers can alter your cooking, reduce food waste, and teach you a different method to harmonize with the garden. Rather than fighting against your plants, appreciate nature's beauty each season.
