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Tough and bitter basil

WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
in Problem solving
For the 1st time I've grown basil this year and all went well for a good while but my 1st batch went to seed all once, why? and the 2nd batch is very tough and too bitter to eat. I'm growing it again next year but is there an obvious mistake I've made here ?  
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Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've never had bitter basil and I've been growing it for many years.
    The sole purpose for your plants existence is to produce seed for the next generation. So once they have flowered and set seed they die.
    I think they start to go bitter once they have started flowering - does that sound right?

    To prolong their life remove the flower spikes as soon as you see them forming. I've been doing this sine about July and mine are still growing well.
    I grow them alongside my tomatoes in the greenhouse where they seem very happy.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    I have found that a drop in temperature in Autumn will make the leaves go tough, is it cold up there in East Yorks?  
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @Pete.8 I did nip the flowers off the 1st batch which seemed a senseless battle as they just flowered on and on. The 2nd batch didn't make it to flowering and just went straight to the tough bitter stage.

    @floralies it depends where your from as to what you call cold 🤣 we have had a frost but they were in a greenhouse. It's definitely not been sunny and very wet.  
     
    Next year they'll be plant I to the grind in my new greenhouse which will be in a much sunnier location
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    That is certainly cold to me @Wilderbeast if you have had a frost - that's winter weather!  :'(
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    Where I come from it's just early autumn, I'm still in shorts and T shirt for my early morning garden jobs, mind being a Yorkshire lad I'm strong int arm ant thick int ed !!! I where shorts outdoors all year round 🤣🤣
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I'm just digging out my thermals - softie southern lad that I am :)
    and I've put the heating back on!

    It sounds a bit chilly for basil where you are.
    They hail from Thailand, so that's the sort of conditions they like

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    It sounds like you'd be better off to get a pot from the supermarket and keep it on a sunny windowsill. 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If they're outside, it'll be too cold for them @Wilderbeast. Too cold here.
    I keep them outside for a while in summer, but summer ends at the beginning of August here, so they're either inside, or under cover outside by that point. 

    These soft southerners eh?  :D
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,995
    Once mine are showing some flower buds, I cut the entire plant back to about half it's size.  It puts on lots of new fresh growth.  Usually have to cut it back twice a season.. depending on the variety.  The large leaf variety is always the first to bloom.  Some small leave variegated variety I have has never bloomed.
    Also, make sure you are giving it lots of water.  Mine are perpetually damp in ground and mulched.  They still have tons of flavor, it doesn't seem to become 'watered down' like in tomatoes and such.   
    Utah, USA.
  • WilderbeastWilderbeast Posts: 1,415
    @Blue Onion thanks I'll try this another year, they will be planted with the tomatoes next year in the greenhouse so hopefully that will help lots. Thanks for all the replies, clearly as hard as nails northerner I e just been too mean to the softy plants 🤣🤣🤣 I have had a great harvest for my 1st go and will be sowing much earlier next year
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