Basil
Genovese

Stage 1Germination in nursery

Two little round leaves should pop up and grow above the plant pod.

Stage 2 Initial growth

Your plant should have two sets of leaves by now and is big enough to absorb nutrients.

Move into garden

Once your plant has grown its second set of leaves, carefully move it from your Nursery into an empty place in your Garden.

Thin out

In order to give your plant enough space, carefully pinch off the plants their base. Leave only one plant.

 

Stage 3 Mid growth

Your plant is now halfway through its life! It should look bigger and have several sets of leaves. You may be able to pick a few leaves off here and there as long as you leave 75% of the plant still growing.

Prune

Basil: Prune the very top leaf-set of your plant. Doing so will cause your plant to bush out as it grows and will help your plant avoid running into the lights.

Other herbs: Do not need to be pruned this way.

 

Stage 4 Flower

Stage 5 Fruit

Stage 6Harvest

Your plant should have several sets of leaves and should be much bigger. You are now able to harvest much more from this plant now that it is bigger.

Harvest plant

This plant can be harvested multiple times before it should be removed. To harvest, take older branches, cutting at the base of the branch so as to not leave extra stem.

Stage 7 Remove plant

Basil should be removed from your Garden when it starts producing small white flowers.

Remove plant

When the plant produces these flowers, it releases chemicals that change the flavor and make your plant taste ‘soapy.’