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Post by belugaleuca on Jan 16, 2021 16:43:43 GMT -5
It's my first time with the Aerogarden Harvest! I followed this youtube video for tips on basil pruning, and wanted to share the result. The method was to wait until 3 sets of true leaves (not including cotyledons) are produced, then cut carefully above the 1st set of true leaves. You may notice the first set of true leaves of the basils looks kind of shrivelled. I think it's because I waited until the seedlings touched the humidity covers before removing them - next time I would remove the humidity covers before the leaves touch the covers. Method:  Here are the results 3 days after pruning. Genovese basil: Thai Basil:
 Thyme:
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Sher
AGA Farmer
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Post by Sher on Jan 16, 2021 17:15:04 GMT -5
What a difference! They are so much bushier now. They look great!  |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jan 16, 2021 17:35:34 GMT -5
Good info however for me, On my basil, I prefer to wait until there are 4/5 sets. Then I cut between the 3rd and 4th. I rather a taller plant then a shorter one. But that is just me. JMO
There are different methods out there and I have done most.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jan 16, 2021 17:38:39 GMT -5
As a side you can get the same results but with more shoots. Also the more you keep trimming you may find that the tops of the basil will start to thin and get smaller in leaf size. These were my findings.
But that is what makes this hobby great. there are many way and we all learn from each other
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Post by belugaleuca on Jan 16, 2021 18:05:06 GMT -5
Thanks Shawn! I'm by no means an expert on pruning. I was thinking that for the next prune whether I should cut the branches above 2+ leaf sets instead of 1 so it doesn't get too dense.
My thinking is that at the start, I will try to keep the lights at the lowest setting for now so the other plants can catch up (growing with the basic starter set, basils, thyme, parsley, dill and mint). Guess we'll see how it goes!
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jan 16, 2021 18:08:27 GMT -5
For me when I did cut that low the plant stayed short and was very dense. I prefer having it a little taller and letting it branch out. You can also take a look at the member Garden Patches to see how others prune and harvest theirs.
Keep us posted on what you decide and how they do. Remember if you happen to fail on one plant you can always start a new one  |
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jan 16, 2021 18:12:29 GMT -5
One more thing, I grow a lot of thyme. I do not thin mine nor so I top them. I let them grow and just harvest as I go.
Here is one that I gve my thyme a haircut straight across the top. You can see how full it is.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Jan 16, 2021 18:39:48 GMT -5
Good info however for me, On my basil, I prefer to wait until there are 4/5 sets. Then I cut between the 3rd and 4th. I rather a taller plant then a shorter one. But that is just me. JMO There are different methods out there and I have done most. I am the same way, Shawn. I also wait until it has 5 of so sets so I can take the cutting and plant it for a second plant. I usually do this method late spring so I know I can put in pots and outside not too long later. |
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Post by clumsythumbs on Jan 16, 2021 18:41:28 GMT -5
One more thing, I grow a lot of thyme. I do not thin mine nor so I top them. I let them grow and just harvest as I go.
Here is one that I gve my thyme a haircut straight across the top. You can see how full it is.
My thyme always grows in a tangled bush, never up like that lol. |
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Post by belugaleuca on Jan 16, 2021 19:18:57 GMT -5
Fantastic photos Shawn! I like the look of that thyme. I wasn't aware of the Garden Patches section of the forum, thanks for letting me know. It's wonderful to see all the interesting plants others are growing. So inspiring.
Now I see what you mean about letting the basil grow taller if you cut a bit later, cool.
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jan 17, 2021 5:37:44 GMT -5
Fantastic photos Shawn! I like the look of that thyme. I wasn't aware of the Garden Patches section of the forum, thanks for letting me know. It's wonderful to see all the interesting plants others are growing. So inspiring. Now I see what you mean about letting the basil grow taller if you cut a bit later, cool.
Get those gardens growing and read the rules  Once you meet the requirements you too can have your own. |
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Post by belugaleuca on Jan 23, 2021 0:35:11 GMT -5
Here's the Day 25 update on how the plants are looking. I pinched just the tips off the thyme again 2 days ago. I like how the thyme and Thai basil are branching out. However, the Genovese basil is growing in a dense ball shape - since it's so dense, I had to nudge the branches around to help all the leaves be exposed to the light. I could thin it out and pick some of the lower leaves, but I'd like to see how it looks after another couple days or week of growth. Next time I would consider waiting a little longer to prune the Genovese basil higher up on the stem so it doesn't get quite this compact.    |
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jan 23, 2021 1:20:02 GMT -5
It is turning out to be a gorgeous plant!
You might want to remove a couple of strategic leaves to allow, not only light, but also moving air, to penetrate.
Air circulation will help the moist respiration to evaporate and prevent fungus and disease problems.
It is a very attractive, healthy looking herb garden!
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Shawn
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Post by Shawn on Jan 23, 2021 3:00:11 GMT -5
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Post by belugaleuca on Jan 27, 2021 3:13:08 GMT -5
It is turning out to be a gorgeous plant!
You might want to remove a couple of strategic leaves to allow, not only light, but also moving air, to penetrate.
Air circulation will help the moist respiration to evaporate and prevent fungus and disease problems.
It is a very attractive, healthy looking herb garden!
Thanks for the suggestion! I removed 4 of the big leaves at the bottom of the Genovese Basil (one from each branch). I was also noticing some condensation on leaves that were covered by other leaves, so hopefully the air circulation is better now. It's starting to look a bit more like I hoped it would look with the branches getting longer, but yeah like Shawn said a lot of this comes down to preference.  |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2021 6:57:45 GMT -5
It's looking good!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jan 27, 2021 7:32:28 GMT -5
It is a nice looking plant!
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jan 27, 2021 8:45:56 GMT -5
Looking great! It looks like it can breathe better now.
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Post by clumsythumbs on Jan 27, 2021 11:19:08 GMT -5
It all looks great to me!
The Thai Basil gets very "branchy". Every time you cut it it, a few new "branches" will grow off the site which is why I find with Thai Basil harvesting the whole segment works best (as opposed to just leaves; then again AG recommends this method of all herbs).
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Post by cman88 on Feb 22, 2022 7:24:46 GMT -5
Newbie needing some help. Have Basil growing well but several stems coming up from each pod. In many of the posted forum photos, it appears people may have pruned to keep only only stem per pod. Am I seeing that correctly and if so, any suggestions on when and how to do this? Thanks in advance Aerohive mind!
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Once you meet the requirements you too can have your own.
