Thinning basil?

[cjsbabygirl313]

I know that AG said son’t thin the herbs, but should I thin my basil from 2 plants down to 1?

[Shawn]

I do.  I have in the past had two in a pd but they were getting in each others way especially when they grow wider.  That is just my preference.

[MaryL]

I usually do, too. They just get so big eventually.  I don’t even put more than 3-4 pods in a full size machine.  The exception I would make is if I knew I was going to be terminating the garden earlier than normal, before they got full size.  Then you could double the seeds and get more out of your pods during the shorter grow.  

[clumsythumbs]

When is it appropriate to thin the basil?  I feel like I have read somewhere (on this board or elsewhere) info on the timing, but for the life of me now I cannot seem to find it 

[Shawn]

I trim out all but one when they are about 1.5" tall.  It can be done anytime I guess. I have done it when they were 6" tall 

[clumsythumbs]

Haha...ok.  I guess I will see how they do over the next few days.  I am still worried after removing the domes they are gonna die off over night   

But two days post-dome they seem to be doing fine!  

[Shawn]

I remember as a newbie how nervous I was.  Just sit back and enjoy the growing ride.  But know we have all had fails along the way as well. 

I am sure these will do fine.

[joes]

I think you can thin them when necessary, rather than when they are mere spouts. It definitely will eventually become necessary, but by waiting I think you get more herbs for cooking in the earlier stage. Day 97 and all my basil has long up to the maximum height in my Bounty Elite.

The Thai Basil is one plant and the stem is like a little Bonsai tree bigger than the hole in the label with brown bark. I have to cut it back almost everyday to keep it from flowering and from hitting the lights. I removed the smallest plants over time. There was one clear winner. There is no room for another plant in the pod.

My Genovese Basil are down to two plants in one pod and three in the other. I have removed some plants but for the remaining plants, their was no clear winner. They are all doing OK. I have to cut them every four days or so to keep them out of the lights. The base of the stems combine to almost fill the pods. None of the Genovese are as full and as productive as the Thai Basil. Maybe I should have thinned the smaller Genovese a while back, but I'm not sure it would have been better. Maybe they are just different from the Thai basil. Anyone know? Opinions?

[Sher]

joes, in my limited experience, the Thai basil is much denser and branches a lot more than the Genovese. My Thai basil was like a little tree.

[joes]

Thanks sher01. I suspected that.

[belugaleuca]

Just to add some info, I looked into this on the Aerogarden website and one of the staff Tina Edwards (www.aerogarden.com/blog/tips-for-beginner-aerogardeners/) said in one of her replies to her article's comments that they do recommend thinning the herbs:

"Kirsty, you can mix lettuce and herbs. It's just important to keep all your plants pruned well so they don't block any light from their neighbors. Typically we recommend using the setting for whatever variety is more abundant in your garden. In your case, that would be the herbs. You should be able to change your garden settings in your control panel. Check out your user manual for your garden for more instructions. Depending on the herbs and lettuces, you should be able to start harvesting from them in a matter of weeks. We recommend thinning your pods as soon as you see multiple plants growing (if there are multiple plants sprouting) and letting your plants get several inches tll before you begin pruning the growth. Just remember not to prune more than 1/3 of the plant at a time."

Based on other people's experiences in the forum it sounds like thinning is a good idea in general

[campingcorgis]

My notes keep growing, with regard to thinning & pruning.  I'm getting to the point I may need to start a spreadsheet!  So, I totally am right there with all the other newbies, while the AG makes things easy...or should that be easier?...there's still a great deal to remember and learn, in order to have the very best harvests!