John M

You should add fresh basil to pasta sauce at the very end of cooking, right before you serve it.   That’s the simple answer, but there’s a little more nuance to it.   If you’ve ever wondered when to add fresh basil to pasta sauce without losing its bright, peppery flavor, you’re in the right … Read more

Basil blooms in mid to late summer, typically around 60 to 75 days after you plant it, once the weather warms up.   That’s when your basil plant shifts from just growing leaves to producing those little flower spikes at the top.   Knowing when basil blooms matters a lot because it changes the taste … Read more

You should add basil to tomato sauce at two distinct moments: at the very beginning while the sauce simmers, and again right at the end just before serving.   Adding basil early infuses the oil and sauce with a deep, mellow flavor, while adding it fresh at the end gives you that bright, aromatic pop … Read more

You should transplant basil seedlings when they have developed at least two sets of true leaves, which typically happens about three to four weeks after germination.   This is the sweet spot because your little basil plants have built enough root structure to handle the move without going into shock.   Transplanting basil seedlings too … Read more

You should pick sweet basil when the plant has at least three to four sets of true leaves, usually around six to eight weeks after planting.   That’s the sweet spot where the leaves are big enough to harvest without stunting the plant’s growth.   When do you pick sweet basil also depends on what … Read more

You put fresh basil on a pizza after it comes out of the oven.   That’s the golden rule when you’re deciding when do you put fresh basil on a pizza, because heat destroys the delicate leaves.   If you’re wondering when to put fresh basil on a pizza, think of it as a finishing … Read more