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Yes, you can grow endless amounts of basil from just one plant! Here’s the secret to having an amazing, abundant basil harvest.
“Endless basil?” you say. “Endless? You mean I can grow all the basil I need from one plant? You keep saying this ‘endless’ word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
On the contrary, my friend. You really can grow an endless supply of basil from just one plant! In fact, that single plant could supply you with enough basil to make a years’ worth of:
- Easy Homemade Pesto
- Baked Italian Meatballs
- 10-Minute Spaghetti Sauce
- and so many more recipes…but I digress.
Here’s an example of our basil harvest (with Neighbor Kitty inspecting it) from a few years back. This technique really works! There’s no trickery involved, and you won’t believe how easy it is.
Here’s how to grow endless amounts of basil from just one plant. Buy a potted basil plant–our grocery store sells them in the produce department. This single plant is going to be the start of your Endless Basil Empire.
Cut off all the stems in the middle, above the bottom set of leaves (as shown). Plant the rooted stubs in your garden and set the stems aside. Each one of these stems will grow into a full basil plant, and the stubs will too! Here’s how:
Remove the bottom leaves (circled) from each stem. Use these leaves in a recipe, or dry them for future use.
Next, place your stems into a jar or glass full of water. You can use just about any kind of container–I like to use a quilted canning jar because it’s pretty to look at, and the clear glass lets me see how the roots are growing. Set your jar in a sunny windowsill.
In a few days, you’ll see tiny little roots emerging from each stem. Add more water to the jar if it gets low.
After 7-10 days, each stem will have multiple, long roots. That’s how you know that your basil is ready to plant. You can plant them outside in your garden or grow basil indoors in a pot.
Be sure to give your newly planted basil a little boost of nutrition. I like to use a bit of diluted fish emulsion with kelp to help them get off to a good start.
Pretty awesome, right? And yes, once those plants are established you can start the process all over again…endlessly!
I love herbs basil being one of them, I am going to start straight away. Thank you very much for the idea, I pray it works. I will give feedback in 7-10 days.
I have been successfully planting my cut offs rooted in water but thereafter seem to struggle a little with the growing in the house. Thanks Cathrine
Mine keeps wilting within a couple of days. What am I doing wrong?
If you’re using tap water, there might be a lot of chlorine in it. Try setting the jar full of water out overnight before you put the basil stem in it. That will give the chlorine time to evaporate out.
Why can’t you pinch it off it off above the small leaves and then that plant can continue to grow?
I can never find those for little leaves. I did get one cutting to sprout roots and planted it in a pot for my daughter. It is up to her now.
I grow basil year round in my window sill. When the plant gets out of hand and woody, I just cut it off, root in water and replant!
Awesome!! Thanks I’m going to do this too
Yaaaassss !!!! Thx for the tip!
I want to pet that cat.
Awesome! And I liked the Princess Bride quote too
You’re the first person who recognized it! :o)
Ha! I loved the reference to Princess Bride too! Nice idea with the basil.. have you tried other herbs?
Glad you caught that! (Anybody want a peanut?) I’ve propagated thyme by rooting it in seed starting mix: https://brownthumbmama.com/propagate-thyme/
Thank you for sharing this with that super cute kitty
Thanks for this. Will try immediately. Pam
Works good if it’s on a windowsill getting like. Works great with some flowers too. Really good with Coleus!
It’s far better to put your cutting straight into soil. Point is, water is not a natural growing medium for plants like basil, and the risk of the cut end rotting is very high.
I have tried this, but it doesn’t work for me. No roots grow in the water.
This technique works for mint, too!
I agree with Laura. I have grown basil from seed for a few years. I’ll definitely give this a try. Thanks for the tip!
How fun. I have grown from seed but never thought about rooting cuttings. Gotta give it a try.