Basil shading lower tomatoes?

[frdnicholas]

I planted basil in the center of 4 tomato plants in a 4x4 garden bag. The basil is doing so well it's shading some of the lower fruit. Could this hold up the fruit from ripening? Also, the basil is going to seed and I'm wondering if I should cut it back?

 

[Ruderunner]

You need to constantly pick basil to prevent bolting. I'd give it a heavy trimming. Note, basil will grow to the size of it's container.

Tomato fruit doesn't need sun to ripen. The plant does. Too much sun can burn the fruit, called scalding.