How to prune lemon basil

Once plants reach 6 inches tall; continue throughout the growing season, removing flower buds as soon as they appear. Pinch stems just above a pair of leaves using your fingers or clean scissors, taking no more than one-third of the plant at a time. Remove any flower spikes immediately as they form to redirect energy into leaf production.

Weekly during active growth. Lemon basil needs regular pruning to stay productive and delay bolting. Pinch out the growing tips and any flower buds weekly once plants reach 6 inches tall. This keeps leaves large and flavourful and extends the harvest by weeks. Left unpruned, it flowers quickly and the foliage turns bitter and sparse.

Pinch stems just above a pair of leaves using your fingers or clean scissors, taking no more than one-third of the plant at a time. Remove any flower spikes immediately as they form to redirect energy into leaf production.