I have container grown basil plant. It is now starting to flower.
Are those edible? Will picking them encourage the basil to grow?? Like it really needs encouragement. It's growing like a weed.

I have never read that the basil flower is edible and I have grown basil for many years. You need to prune back the flowers. Once an herb starts flowering they produce less leaves and some say that it changes the flavor of the herb as well.

We add basil flowers to salads and sprinkled on top of pasta dishes. They have a wonderful flavor. However, if your basil flowers, it changes the flavor of the leaves, they seem just a little bitter...still good and fresh tasting, though!