Basil plants are annual herbs that flower in the summer and early fall. They produce small white or purple flowers that are quite fragrant. The flowers attract a variety of pollinators, including honey bees, bumble bees and butterflies. After flowering, the plants produce small, aromatic, edible seeds. It’s very easy to harvest basil seeds and store them for future use.
Different varieties of basil
Basil is a short-lived perennial in warm climates and can be easily grown from seed or cuttings. When planted in the garden, basil should be harvested regularly to keep the plant from flowering and going to seed. Some popular varieties of basil include:
- Sweet Basil: Sweet basil is a bushy annual herb with bright green leaves and a sweet, pungent aroma. The leaves are used in Italian, Greek and Thai cooking.
- Thai Basil: Thai basil has a strong anise flavor and is used in many Southeast Asian dishes. It has purple stems and flowers, and is also known as ‘licorice-basil’.
- Purple Basil: Purple basil has deep purple leaves and stems, and a mild flavor. It is often used in salads and ornamental dishes.
- Cinnamon Basil: Cinnamon basil has a mild cinnamon flavor and is often used in teas and soups. It has a light green color and a pleasant aroma.
- Lemon Basil: Lemon basil has a strong lemon scent and flavor, and is used in many Mediterranean dishes. It has light green leaves and white flowers.
How to harvest basil seeds
Harvesting basil seeds from your garden is a simple and satisfying process. All you need to do is wait for the flowers of your basil plant to dry out and turn brown. The seeds can then be stored in a cool, dry place and used for planting the next season. Here’s how to do it:
- Allow the flowers on your basil plant to turn brown.
- Once the flowers are brown, cut off the flower heads and place them in a paper bag.
- Keep the bag in a cool, dry place until the flower heads are completely dry.
- Once the flower heads are dry, rub the flower heads to release the seeds.
- Carefully separate the seeds from the dried flower petals and store in an airtight container.
If you want basil to grow back in the same spot, you can simply let the plants drop their seeds. Basil will gladly volunteer to grow back again, especially if you live in a warmer climate.
Storing basil seeds
The best way to store basil seeds for planting next year is to keep the seeds in a cool and dry place, stored in an airtight container. The best type of container to store seeds is an airtight container. This will help keep the seeds dry and prevent any moisture or pests from getting in. Basil seeds are typically viable for up to 5 years when stored properly.
