How to Harvest Leeks & Basil

How to Harvest Leeks

• 1

  Keep an eye on your leeks as they grow. Most varieties are considered "done" when a stem diameter exceeds one inch. Smaller varieties mature at half that size, and some cooks -- and recipes -- call for very tender baby leeks. When mature, the leeks should be dark blue green on their tops.

• 2

  Harvest individual leeks by grasping them gently but firmly then twisting and pulling them up -- usually fairly easy to do in loose, rich soil. Dig under leeks and pop them up if they don't pull easily. A good-quality leek will have a firm, white shaft 3 to 5 inches long.

• 3

  Clean leeks thoroughly before cooking, because garden soil is often trapped between leaves. To thoroughly clean leeks, slice them lengthwise, separate the layers -- peel back the leaves -- and rinse carefully to remove any dirt.

• 4

  Delay harvesting some leeks -- keeping them fresh, still growing in the garden -- because they are reasonably frost-tolerant. Mound mulch around growing leeks to provide some cold protection.

How to Harvest Basil

• 5

  Begin harvesting basil before it flowers, when aromatic oils responsible for good flavor and scent are highest. Plan to pick basil early in the morning, after morning dew is gone and before the day heats up.

• 6

  Harvest basil by cutting harvested stems back to one or two pairs of leaves near the base of the stem. Plants will recover quickly during summer, rapidly producing new foliage.

• 7

  Prevent basil from flowering during the season -- to keep herb quality high -- by pinching back flower buds as they develop and lightly pruning foliage. Keep tender new leaves coming with regular harvests.

• 8

  Continue harvesting basil until the first frost, when in-ground outdoor plants will die back. Harvested basil can be frozen or dried all summer long, to use through the winter.

• 9

  Basil grown outdoors in containers can be brought indoors and grown in a sunny window --or under grow lights -- to extend the growing season indefinitely.