Basil (lat. Ocimum) is a herbaceous plant imported from India, it belongs to the Lamiaceae (lat. Lamiaceae) cultures. Depending on the variety, it is an annual or perennial herbaceous shrub. The plant is very useful for the human body, it is used as a spice and flavor additives in dried and fresh form.
Basil: varieties, photos
Basil has more than 70 varieties and hundreds of varieties, differing in bush size and leaf shape, color and aroma.
Sweet basil (lat. Ocimum basilcum)
Bushes grow up to 0.7 m. The plant is abundantly covered with foliage, which is used for food, has a delicate peppery aroma. The stem is covered with fine fluff. Varieties preferred by Russian gardeners: Mammoth, Magical Michael, Ararat.
Basil purple or Regan (lat. Ocimum basilicum var. purpureum)
The maximum height of plants is 0.5 m. The entire surface of the basil is bright purple in color with iridescent hues, has a very mild aroma. Varieties, the most famous in the Moscow region: Purple, Mauritanian, Table.
Lemon basil (lat. Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorum)
Undersized basil, up to 0.35 m. The leaves have a subtle smell of lemon and camphor. Proven varieties: New, Lemon, Moscow Bogatyr.
black basil
The bushes are undersized up to 0.3 m. The leaves are painted in a dark saturated color, and have a pronounced burning aroma. Varieties: Ruby of Cairo, Baku, Osmin.
How to choose basil seeds
Growing the spice suburban area for own consumption, no need for in large numbers seeds, but they must be of high quality. It is not recommended to harvest planting material yourself. Since the culture is thermophilic, seeds collected in cold regions will not have high germination. It is recommended to purchase Indian-made seeds, as India is the birthplace of the crop and is best suited for climatic conditions.
Basil - planting and care in the open field
Basil prefers warm conditions and does not tolerate cold weather. The full vegetation period of a plant is 160 days, so if you want to enjoy spicy greens as early as possible, you will have to grow seedlings.
Basil: seedling cultivation
Growing basil seedling method begins in mid-April. You can sow seeds - both in seedling boxes and in heated greenhouses.
Growing basil in open ground consists of the following procedures:
- grains must be heated to 40 degrees Celsius;
- soak in a growth stimulator for 7-8 hours;
- slightly dry the seeds, and place in the prepared soil, to a depth of 1 cm;
- cover with foil, moisten regularly, but do not pour.
The approximate period of the "black earth", before the emergence of seedlings, is from 7 to 10 days. Ready seedling for landing in open ground must be one month old.
Basil: growing from seed outdoors
If the seedless method is used, the seeds are sown in the soil after May 15, when they will no longer be afraid of night frosts. The bed must be covered with a film or agrofibre until the plants reach 2 weeks of age.
Culture loves open and sunny, but protected from the cold wind terrain, and light fertile soil. Sowing basil twice in a row in the same place is not recommended. The culture grows well after: potatoes, tomatoes, legumes, cucumbers.
Basil: cultivation and care in the open field
Regular weeding of plantings from weeds contributes to the good development of basil. It is necessary to aerate the surface of the soil, loosening it, and also water it as it dries. Do not forget to feed the plants with nitrogen fertilizers once a month. The first top dressing should be carried out 2 weeks after planting seedlings. This is the care of basil in the open field.
- compliance with crop rotation;
- disinfection planting material potassium permanganate;
- moderate watering;
- dusting plantings with ash once a week;
- removal of diseased plants along with an earthy clod.
Basil Harvest Timing
When assembling greens, it should be borne in mind that in different periods of the growing season it contains different amounts of essential oils. It is recommended to carry out the first harvest of basil before flowering in July, and the second - in September. The tops of the shoots are carefully pinched off along with the leaves, without damaging or pulling out the entire plant.
Growing basil on a windowsill
Without much effort, you can grow basil at home. To do this, you need a container with a depth of at least 30 cm. Seeds are sown at the end of March in boxes or pots. Better choose undersized varieties.
How to grow basil at home:
- drainage must be placed at the bottom of the tank;
- you can use garden soil, or purchase soil marked "for vegetable crops and herbs";
- before sowing, the seeds are soaked in growth stimulants;
- the soil for sowing should be warm;
- young plantings must be covered with a film;
- the optimum air temperature for this crop is plus 25-28 degrees Celsius.
When 4-5 pairs of leaves are formed on a young sprout, it will be possible to pinch the top - this will limit the growth of the plant in height, and will stimulate active branching. Home basil care is similar: regular watering, loosening and top dressing.
Outcome
Basil, although it is a heat-loving crop, is grown by gardeners without much effort even in the northern regions of Russia. With proper care and compliance with preventive measures, you can easily grow fragrant and very healthy greens on your own site, or at home.
Basil is an annual herbaceous plant, universally known as a fragrant spice. It can be successfully grown outdoors. To do this, you need to choose the right soil, correctly plant the plant and care for it. The result will be a great harvest.
General characteristics of the plant
Basil is an annual from the Lamiaceae family and the Kotovnikov subfamily. It can reach a height of 0.5-0.7 m. The stems of the plant are straight, tetrahedral, strongly branched with abundant foliage.Branching roots are notable for their superficial location. The short-leaved leaves are oblong-ovate in shape. The color of the foliage depends on the variety and can be bright, dark or purple-green.
Basil has two-lipped flowers, usually white or pale Pink colour, less often purple hue. They are formed in the axils of the apical leaves and bracts.
The fruit is dark brown nuts, which are connected in 4 pieces before ripening.
Types and varieties of basil
There are more than 150 varieties of basil. The most common type is fragrant basil. It is also called ordinary, garden, camphor. This species is distinguished by a tart taste of greens, reminiscent of cloves. The most popular varieties of fragrant basil are:- Genovese Gigante;
- Magical Michael;
- Mammoth.
- Osmin Purple;
- Purpurascens;
- Red ruby.
Lemon basil is also quite common, getting its name from the taste and aroma of greenery. This type is also attractive with another quality - volumetric sheet mass.
In Thai cuisine, a small-leaved variety of the plant is used, which is attractive with an aniseed aroma and silver-colored foliage.
Unusual is black basil, so named because of the rich dark purple hue of the stems and leaves. Among its varieties, Baku and Rubin of Cairo are popular.
The soil
Basil needs fertile and well-groomed soil. The site for planting this crop should warm up well and be protected from wind and draft. The annual feels good on sandy soil enriched with organic fertilizer.Basil is effectively planted after growing the following crops:
- potatoes;
- cucumbers;
- tomato;
- legumes.
The soil for planting basil should be prepared in the fall. The dug-up bed should be well fertilized. Dig up the earth to a depth of up to 25 cm, that is, approximately to the height of a shovel bayonet.
The following fertilizers are needed per square meter of soil:
- humus or compost 3-5 kg;
- potassium salt 15 grams;
- superphosphate 25 grams.
Planting basil in open ground
You can plant basil from seeds or seedlings. In each case, there are certain rules.Planting seeds
This method is usually resorted to in the southern regions. The optimal time for planting seeds is the end of May. The soil should warm up to 15 degrees, night frosts are unacceptable. You need to act according to the following algorithm:- Disinfect seeds. To do this, use a solution of potassium permanganate.
- The soil must be well loosened and moistened.
- For planting, it is necessary to deepen the holes no more than 1 cm.
- Distance between holes - 3 cm, between rows - 30 cm.
- 2 seeds should be planted in one hole to ensure better germination.
- The sown area is covered with foil. It is harvested 1-1.5 weeks after seed germination.
Planting seedlings
When growing basil seedlings, you can quickly raise the culture and get a quality crop. When choosing this method, you must act according to the following algorithm:- The best time for planting seeds for seedlings is the end of March or the beginning of April.
- Sowing is carried out to a depth of not more than 10 mm.
- Germination speed depends on temperature. Within a week and a half, it must be maintained at a level of 25-27 degrees.
- When the seedlings appear, then carry out a pick. For planting sprouts use small pots.
- Young seedlings should be kept in a greenhouse, fertilizing and hardening it.
- A week before planting in open ground, it is important to harden the culture. To do this, limit watering and arrange ventilation in the greenhouse in order to reduce the temperature.
- Landing in open ground can be done in early June, if frost is no longer expected.
- Seedlings are planted in rows. The distance between the bushes should be 25 cm, between the rows - 30 cm.
- For planting, small holes are made 7-8 cm deep.
- Before planting, pour about a liter of water into each hole.
- Seedlings are planted together with pots so that the bud with young leaves is on the surface.
- Until the seedlings take root, they need constant watering. After it is carried out as needed.
Care
Planting density is provided by breaking through the greenery. To do this, tear off the upper shoots and flowering.Plant care involves timely weeding, regular watering and loosening the soil.
Nitrogen fertilizers are used as top dressing. Nitrophoska is usually used, which also includes potassium and phosphorus. Per square meter of plantings, 5 liters of Nitrofoska solution are required. For this volume, take a tablespoon of dry granules.
Top dressing should be carried out twice:
- The first feeding is carried out one and a half weeks after planting seedlings in the ground.
- Re-feeding is carried out after another 2-3 weeks.
Congested landings are unacceptable. The plant also does not feel well if the soil moisture is increased.
Diseases and pests
Basil is attractive for its resistance to many diseases and pests. If you do not provide culture favorable conditions, that is, the risk of damage to it by a fungus:Gray rot
This disease is manifested by brown dry spots on the leaves of the plant, spreading to the stems. After the spots become watery and covered with a grayish fluff.Blackleg
This disease affects the seedlings of the culture. The fungus affects the root neck of seedlings. It becomes softer and thinner, causing the death of seedlings. Such a disease can be caused by high soil moisture, poor water permeability, acidity.Fusarium
Such a disease develops against the background of sharp temperature changes, heavy clay soil. Young stems become thinner and weaker, covered with brown spots. The disease affects the entire plant, causing the death of plantings. From the affected bushes need to get rid of.Harvesting
Harvest begins to be harvested when the height of greenery reaches 10-12 cm. With high-quality and accurate harvesting, it can be produced repeatedly. Leaves are best cut. To do this, use a clean sharp knife. A quality cut will only stimulate the growth of new greenery.When harvesting greenery for harvesting for the winter, cutting is usually performed in large volumes. In this case, you need to cut off the entire stem, leaving only 4 lower leaves. Mass cutting is carried out at the beginning of flowering. During this period, in the green is maximum amount vitamins and essential oil, and the harvested raw materials are the most fragrant.
Basil should only be harvested in dry weather.
After the first cut, fertilize the crop. For this, a mineral multicomponent fertilizer is suitable. Be sure to carry out weeding and loosening of row spacings. If these conditions are met, then you can harvest again.
WITH square meter landings you can collect a kilogram of fresh greens. After harvesting, approximately 0.2 kg of dry seasoning will come out of this volume.
Drying basil
For harvesting the greenery of this crop, natural conditions are required. Obligatory shade and active ventilation. The temperature should not be higher than 35 degrees.For high-quality drying, it is necessary to spread the collected raw materials in a thin layer. When all conditions are met, the natural color of the plant is preserved, its stems are fragile and easily broken. Properly dried leaves with flowers are easy to grind into powder. It is in this form that raw materials are stored for use as a seasoning.
The crushed raw materials must be placed in an opaque container that can be tightly closed. The storage area must be dark. Store seasoning no more than 3 years.
Greens can be prepared fresh. To do this, it must be folded into earthenware, sprinkled with salt and bay olive oil(cold pressed).
Basil is great for growing outdoors. It can be planted with seeds and seedlings. With proper care and proper harvesting, you can get greens twice. Raw materials can be harvested in a variety of ways.
Basil has an amazing aroma and is used as a seasoning. Growing basil from seeds in a city apartment will provide the family with healthy herbs for the whole year. The value of the leaves lies in the content of essential oils and vitamins PP, B1, B2, C.
This annual plant with a straight branched stem, densely dotted with leaves and a superficially located root. The leaves of different ones differ in color (light green to purple), corrugated, carved, flat in structure. Flowering occurs at the end of July - beginning of August, when a sufficient amount of essential oils with a pleasant aroma accumulate in the leaves. Read about:! 
Basil varieties
There are varieties of basil seeds intended for growing in pots and containers:
Basil is chosen depending on taste preferences. Most early dates maturation in varieties "Carnation", "Lemon", "Karlik".
To grow basil from seeds on a windowsill in an apartment or house, undersized species are acquired.
When to plant basil seeds
To obtain good harvest, you need to know when to plant seeds for growing in an apartment. This plant loves warmth and sunlight, with their lack of leaves will be thinned and weak.
The best time for planting seeds in pots is the end of February, the beginning of March. The plant will have time to form and the period active growth will have a long daylight hours. If the landing is carried out at another time, he will not have enough sunlight.
At year-round cultivation basilica on the windowsill, you need to install fluorescent lamps and turn them on for 4-5 hours in the evening, and on a rainy day, the light should be on for 10-12 hours.
Growing basil from seeds
Consider how to grow basil on the windowsill at home. When you have decided on a plant variety, prepare containers and soil for planting it.
For planting seeds, small pots are suitable or plastic cups. A layer of expanded clay drainage is laid at the bottom. The soil will need fertile organic fertilizers. You can buy it ready-made or prepare it yourself.
The sequence of actions when planting basil seeds:
- Seeds are kept for 2 weeks in a warm place.
- Before planting, they are soaked for a day in warm water, then kept in a weak solution of manganese for 2 hours.
- Moisten the ground and plant several seeds in one container to a depth of 10 mm. Extra, weaker sprouts are removed after germination.
- If planting is carried out in large containers, the distance between the seeds should be more than 5 cm. Seedlings are covered plastic wrap, which provides a greenhouse effect. So that the soil does not mold, lift it every day for 10 minutes.
while maintaining temperature regime within 22-28 degrees, the first shoots will appear in 1-2 weeks. After that, the film is removed and the containers are placed in a bright, warm place, protected from drafts. When 3-4 leaves appear on the stem, it must be transplanted in such a way that a liter of soil falls on one stem.
Basil care in the apartment
Need regular watering and spraying the leaves. To saturate the soil with oxygen in pots with mature plants, it is carefully loosened every 10-14 days.
They are fed with mineral or once every 30 days from the moment branches grow on the sides of the stem.
When the bushes grow of sufficient size, they begin to cut off the outer leaves, this contributes to better growth and delays the flowering time.
Fresh, dried, frozen leaves are used for cooking.
Flowering is not allowed. When the color appears, the leaves become bitter and unfit for consumption.
Growing basil from seeds on a windowsill in an apartment or country house does not give the owners much difficulty. Subject to the rules described in this article, the plant all year round will delight the owners.
Growing basil on a windowsill - video
An annual culture of the Lamiaceae family. This is a strongly branched plant with tetrahedral stems from 30 to 50 cm high. The leaves are oblong-ovate, sparsely toothed, green or purple, up to 5.5 cm long. At the ends of the stems there are inflorescences in the form of brushes, consisting of many small flowers of pink, white or white-purple. Stems, leaves and flower calyx are rough to the touch. They contain glands that accumulate essential oil, which determines the aroma of the plant.
Garden Council. Fresh leaves contain vitamins C, B 1 , B 2 , PP, essential oils. In addition, the plant contains phytoncides.
Moisture
The culture does not tolerate excessive soil moisture. Soil moisture is especially necessary during seed germination and in the first period of life before flowering.
Warm
Basil is a heat-loving plant; at an air temperature of 10-12 ° C, it stops growing. Seedlings and adult plants do not tolerate frost. Optimum temperature for the growth and development of plants is 16-25 ° C.
Light
The basil differs in the increased exactingness to light. With shading or low light, the growing season increases and foliage decreases.
The soil
The plant prefers light fertile loamy and sandy soils with a neutral reaction of about 6-6.5 pH, as well as sunny, wind-protected areas. The best predecessors for basil in the garden are cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, legumes.
Seed preparation
Seeds may not be lured before sowing.
When grown in a seedless way (mainly in the southern regions of Russia), basil seeds are sown in open ground under a film cover in late April - early May, after the soil warms up to a depth of 5 cm to 10 ° C.
cultivation seedlings
Seeds for seedlings are sown in late March - early April in boxes with a well-moistened soil mixture, consisting of 1 part of humus and 2 parts of peat, to a depth of 0.5-1 cm in rows, the distance between which should be 5 cm.
seedling care
Seedlings are grown at a temperature of 20-28 ° C. watered her warm water 2 times per week. In the phase of cotyledon leaves, the seedlings dive. Seedlings are fed with a solution of mineral fertilizers (1 teaspoon of urea, superphosphate, potassium chloride or potassium sulfate is dissolved in 10 liters of water). Seedlings are hardened 8-10 days before planting in open ground.
Transplanting
Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out in the third decade of May. Seedlings should be planted in rows, the distance between which should be 40 cm, and between plants - 25-30 cm. Basil can be planted in open ground only after warm weather is established and the threat of frost has passed.
GARDEN ADVICE. When growing seedlings, it is necessary to monitor soil moisture and temperature. Do not water basil cold water and allow waterlogging of the soil, since in this case the seedlings are affected by the black leg.
In the first month after planting, the plants develop slowly, look a little oppressed and require careful care. Basil grows and develops well at temperatures above 20 ° C. Therefore, it is desirable at first to cover the plantings with plastic wrap.
Care
To get juicy fragrant greens regular watering is required at the rate of 5-10 liters per 1 m 2. During the growing season, basil is fertilized several times. The first top dressing is carried out 10-12 days after planting seedlings in open ground. To do this, 150-200 ml of slurry or bird droppings must be diluted in 10 liters of water, and 15 g of crystallin are also used. 5-6 liters of fertilizer are applied per 1 m 2. The second top dressing is carried out 15-20 days after the first, diluting 2 tablespoons of nitrophoska in 10 liters of water and spending 5 liters per 1 m 2. During the flowering period of basil, it is fertilized wood ash at the rate of 100 g per 1 m 2.
GARDEN ADVICE. The main accumulation of essential oil in the basil occurs in the spring. It is during this period that the leaves contain the most P-active phenolic compounds, and during budding - the largest amount of ascorbic acid.
It is necessary to keep the soil loose and free of weeds. It is advisable to carry out hilling plants and watering 6-10 times during the growing season. Subject to all the rules of cultivation, the growth of green mass increases.
Harvesting
It is recommended to start cutting greenery from young plants before flowering, collecting leaves and cutting off branches 10-12 cm long. Mass cutting is carried out at the beginning of flowering, when the leaves and young shoots are most fragrant. They can be used not only fresh, but also dried for future use. The greens are dried in the shade, the dry mass is ground and stored in a tightly closed container in a dark place. At the same time, the aroma of basil is preserved for 3 years. Fresh leaves can be stored for a long period in clay pots, sprinkled with salt and poured with vegetable oil on top.
GARDEN ADVICE. When choosing a site for planting basil, remember that it should not be grown in one place for several years, as this can lead to mass destruction fusarium plants. Basil can be grown in the same place no earlier than 10 years later.
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Greenhouse or greenhouse garden plot allow you to have any greens on the table out of season. If desired, you can even plant basil (growing from seeds in closed ground starting at the beginning of March). Contrary to popular belief, caring for a plant is not that difficult. So how do you get excellent harvest basil in a greenhouse When is planting, watering and feeding?
Greenhouse and soil requirements
Before planting basil, it is important to make sure that the greenhouse or greenhouse meets all the requirements. If you plan to plant early greenery, then you should give preference to durable covering materials - glass or polycarbonate. They protect against frost more reliably, maintaining a constant microclimate without sharp temperature fluctuations. The so-called soil cushion (a mixture of earth, rotted manure and organic matter) or special racks also protects seedlings well from the cold. By the way, the latter option greatly facilitates the care of basil and saves a significant amount of water for irrigation. Ventilation windows will be needed for ventilation, in addition, when hot summer days come, the greenhouse or greenhouse will need to be shaded. If we talk about the location, it is preferable to choose a sunny site without plantings on the south side.
The plant is quite demanding on the characteristics of the soil. Basil prefers sandy loam well seasoned with organic matter. The earth should be moderately acidic, loose. It's best to take it off in the fall upper layer soil (20-25 cm) and fill the beds with a mixture of garden soil, sand and peat. You can simply dig up the ground on a shovel bayonet, and then add 3-5 kg of compost or humus, 25 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium salt per square meter. You can also prepare the soil in the spring, if for some reason the land was not fertilized in the fall (this must be done 2 weeks before planting the greenery).
Growing from seeds and seedlings
There are two ways to grow basil in a greenhouse - seeds and seedlings. Planting in a seedling box or rack in the south is carried out already in early March, and in cold regions a month later. They start growing basil with seeds, as a rule, in late April or early May, when the greenhouse or greenhouse is warm enough.
So what are the features of each method?
- Basil: growing from seed.
Plants are planted in well-moistened soil to a depth of 1 cm. Seeds are placed at a distance of 15-20 cm from each other, row spacing is 30-35 cm. In the southern regions, plants develop more strongly, so the distance is increased there by another 10 cm. Then planting is mulched and covered with a double layer of polyethylene film until sprouts appear. Usually they appear in 10-12 days (at a temperature of 20-25 degrees). Further care for the basil is carried out as usual - if necessary, it is thinned out, watered, fed, and the greenhouse is ventilated.
- Basil: growing seedlings.
Seeds are sown in special containers or racks, several pieces per nest. Depth touched - 0.5 cm, at a distance of about 3 cm from each other. One square meter will need 6 g of seeds. Immediately after sowing, the containers are covered with glass, transparent plastic or polyethylene film and the air temperature is maintained at 20-25 degrees. After about 1.5-2 weeks, the first shoots appear. If the seedlings develop poorly, then during the period when the first true leaf appears, it is watered with a solution of phosphorus, potash and nitrogen fertilizers (ratio 5:3:2). When the plants acquire 2 true leaves, they pick. Basil is seated at a distance of 5 cm from each other, this will allow it to develop normally. Care is carried out as needed, the plants are periodically watered and ventilated. Before landing on permanent place(usually 45-60th day) in a greenhouse or greenhouse, the temperature is gradually reduced. Then the seedlings are planted according to the scheme 20x35 cm.
Growing basil seedlings can significantly reduce the growing season.
How to care for basil?
Basil grows rather slowly at first. It is optimal if the temperature is maintained at 22–28 degrees Celsius. If it drops to 15 degrees, then the plants slow down their growth, and at a temperature of +3 they can die altogether. However, basil does not tolerate heat either, so in the warm season, a greenhouse or greenhouse should be regularly ventilated. In addition, plants need the following care.
- Watering. Every 7 days, basil beds should be watered abundantly. Water should be warm (about 25 degrees), settled for at least a day. Very convenient drip automatic system, but you can use watering cans with a wide spray. Plants do not tolerate high humidity, so when the earth dries out more often in the heat, watering is also carried out once a week, and to preserve moisture, the soil is mulched with needles or sawdust.
- Top dressing. Basil is fed for the first time 2 weeks after landing in a permanent place, when it finally takes root. Nitrogen fertilizers activate the growth of greenery. For their preparation, 10 g of urea is diluted in 10 liters of settled water and watering is replaced (consumption - 3 liters per square meter). The second time the basil is fed in another 2-3 weeks. Can be used complex fertilizers(25 g per 10 liters of water) or dilute manure, compost, bird droppings(ratio 10 to 1). Further, the plants are fertilized after each regular cutting of the shoots.
In cold rainy summers, basil needs additional care in the form of 2-3 top dressings with potassium sulfate.
Harvesting
When basil shoots reach 10-12 cm, they are cut above the 2nd or 3rd pair of true leaves at a height of 7-8 cm above the soil level. Then the earth between the rows is loosened and fertilizers are applied. After 2-3 weeks, new tender branches with leaves grow from the sinuses, they are cut off again, and the basil is fed. In total, from each bush of spicy greens it turns out to collect 3-4 crops. Harvesting is carried out until the beginning of mass flowering, after which the shoots become coarser. If drying is planned, the plants are cut in dry weather.
The best varieties of basil
In total, there are at least 150 varieties of basil. They differ not only in their taste, but also in color, size of the bush. Some require careful care, while others can easily be grown even by an inexperienced gardener.
So, what you need to know about the varieties of this plant?
- Purple basil is used as a seasoning for Caucasian and Central Asian cuisines. green variety has a less pungent odor, more popular in European countries.
- The aroma of basil can have clove, pepper, lemon, anise, marinade, mint, caramel, or vanilla notes.
- Basil with an anise scent is used in the preparation of fish and vegetable dishes. Peppery, clove flavor is more suitable for meat, and drinks and desserts are prepared with vanilla, lemon and caramel basil.
- There are also early, middle and late varieties of basil.
- The height of the bush, depending on the variety, can vary from 18 to 85 cm. Low-growing plants can be grown at home in a pot.
From early ripe varieties I would like to note "Gvozdichny" (25-40 days) and "Yerevan" (45-60 days). The first has a rich clove-anise aroma, a green large leaf. Plant height is 35-45 cm, weight is 150-280 g. The Yerevan variety has a peppery-clove aroma, its leaf is purple, medium in size. The average weight of one plant is 400 g. The most massive variety is considered "Gourmet Clove" (800-900 g), its leaves are medium, green, have a strong clove aroma. Basil "Thai Queen" - the most ornamental variety, its flowers resemble unblown lilac clusters, purple leaves, delicate, anise-clove aroma. Another popular purple basil is 'Dark Opal', which is easy to care for, and the plant's taste is perhaps the most intense.
Conclusion
Indoors, basil is easy to care for, it grows quickly and practically does not get sick. In addition, planting and growing basil in a greenhouse or greenhouse allows you to collect spicy greens both in summer and in spring, late autumn. The plant perfectly tolerates almost any neighborhood, it can be planted along with tomatoes, eggplants, other vegetables, herbs.
Everything you need for good growth basilica is proper care, then the harvest will please with its abundance and taste. Basil is eaten not only to improve palatability dishes, but also with various inflammations, viral infections, digestive problems. In some countries, it is believed that it has the ability to scare away evil spirits, and our gardeners have noticed that mites and other harmful insects shun the plants. As you can see, there are a lot of advantages of growing basil, it remains only to choose your favorite variety - and you can start planting it.
