Not sure if you know, but when you grow basil you have to pinch the little white flowers off. If you don't then the plant will stop producing and die. Same thing with rosemary if you let it go to long without harvesting it becomes extremely woody tasting. I had a basil plant that lasted me two years. But then my yellow lab at the time felt like it was time for a little Italian in her life. And boom she ate the entire plant.