Are white flowers normal for a Basil? (growing, leaves, plants)

[katwalk]

I have a window box with basil and white flowers have appeared on it. I noticed this last year too. Should I pinch them off? They seemed to get seed like. Is this normal?

[txdemo]

Yes. Pinching off the flowers is recommended or basil leaves will start to taste bitter. You can eat the flowers too!

[Debsi]

I have two large outdoor basil plants. It's hard to keep up with the flowering sometimes!!

I find I need to cut a lot of stems off every 3 days or so, even if I don't end up using all the basil, my plants stay healthier and produce more tasty tender leaves.

[katwalk]

Originally Posted by txdemo

Yes. Pinching off the flowers is recommended or basil leaves will start to taste bitter. You can eat the flowers too!

Thanks for the information. I didn't know about the flowers being edible either.

[katwalk]

Originally Posted by Debsi

I have two large outdoor basil plants. It's hard to keep up with the flowering sometimes!!

I find I need to cut a lot of stems off every 3 days or so, even if I don't end up using all the basil, my plants stay healthier and produce more tasty tender leaves.

It's growing so fast, I didn't think they'd take off like this. I'll be pruning it this evening.

[noihoforus]

I replanted my basil seeds from last years plants and they are growing nicely.....

[Ohiogirl81]

I find the flowers a tad more stringent than the leaves, but they look pretty in a salad.

[katwalk]

There is more basil growing than we'll use. I've heard that it can be dried and even frozen but I've never done either.

I'd like to save the seeds for next year.

[txtoal]

Make some pesto! It is pretty easy.

I have about 5 varieties of basil and I snip the flowers off daily because it does get a bitter taste and the plant grows better/fuller. Once the plants start to get too big, I cut them back and make pesto then let the plants regrow till about mid October and make another whole batch.

[noihoforus]

Does any one have a good pesto recipe to go with all this great basil we are growing?