Basil (lat. Ocimum) is a herbaceous plant imported from India; it is classified as a member of the Lamiaceae crops. 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.
Purple basil or Regan (lat. Ocimum basilicum var. purpureum)
The maximum plant height is 0.5 m. The entire surface of the basil is bright purple with iridescent shades and has a very mild aroma. Varieties most famous in the Moscow region: Purple, Mauritanian, Zastolny.
Lemon basil (lat. Ocimum basilicum var. citriodorum)
Low-growing 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 low-growing up to 0.3 m. The leaves are painted in a dark, rich color and have a pronounced burning aroma. Varieties: Ruby Cairo, Bakinsky, Osmin.
How to choose basil seeds
Growing spice on summer cottage for your own consumption, no need for large quantities seeds, but they must be of high quality. It is not recommended to prepare planting material yourself. Since the crop is heat-loving, seeds collected in cold regions will not have high germination rates. It is recommended to purchase seeds produced in India, since India is the birthplace of the crop and is best suited for climatic conditions.
Basil - planting and care in open ground
Basil prefers warm conditions, and does not tolerate cold weather. The full growing season of the plant is 160 days, so if you want to enjoy spicy herbs as early as possible, you will have to grow seedlings.
Basil: growing in seedlings
Growing basil by seedlings 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:
- the grains must be heated to 40 degrees Celsius;
- soak in a growth stimulator for 7-8 hours;
- lightly dry the seeds and place them in prepared soil to a depth of 1 cm;
- cover with film, moisten regularly, but do not overwater.
The approximate period of “black earth” before the seeds sprout is from 7 to 10 days. Ready seedlings for landing in open ground must reach one month of age.
Basil: growing from seeds in open ground
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 film or agrofibre until the plants reach 2 weeks of age.
The culture loves open and sunny terrain, but protected from the cold wind, and light, fertile soil. It is not recommended to sow basil twice in a row in the same place. The crop grows well after: potatoes, tomatoes, legumes, cucumbers.
Basil: growing and care in open ground
Good development of basil is facilitated by regular weeding of plantings to remove weeds. It is necessary to aerate the soil surface by loosening it, and also water it as it dries. Do not forget to feed the plants with nitrogen fertilizers once a month. The first feeding should be done 2 weeks after planting the seedlings. This is what caring for basil in the open ground consists of.
- compliance with crop rotation;
- disinfection planting material potassium permanganate;
- moderate watering;
- dusting the plantings with ash once a week;
- removing diseased plants along with a clod of earth.
Basil harvest time
When assembling greens, it is worth considering that during 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 plucked off along with the leaves, without damaging or pulling out the entire plant.
Growing basil on the windowsill
You can grow basil at home without much effort. To do this, you will 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 low-growing varieties.
How to grow basil at home:
- drainage must be placed at the bottom of the container;
- 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 optimal air temperature for this crop is plus 25-28 degrees Celsius.
When 4-5 pairs of leaves are formed on a young sprout, you can pinch the top - this will limit the growth of the plant in height and stimulate active branching. Caring for homemade basil is similar: regular watering, loosening and fertilizing.
Bottom line
Basil, although a heat-loving crop, is grown without much effort by gardeners even in the northern regions of Russia. With proper care and compliance with preventive measures, you can easily grow aromatic and very healthy greens on your own plot, or at home.
Basil is an annual herbaceous plant, universally known as an aromatic spice. It can be successfully grown in open ground. To do this, you need to choose the right soil, plant the plant correctly and care for it. The result will be a wonderful harvest.
General characteristics of the plant
Basil is an annual plant from the Lamiaceae family and the catnip subfamily. It can reach a height of 0.5-0.7 m. The plant’s stems are straight, tetrahedral, highly branched with abundant foliage.The branching roots are notable for their superficial location. The short-petiolate leaves have an oblong-ovate shape. Foliage color depends on the variety and can be bright, dark or violet green.
Basil has two-lipped flowers that are usually white or pale Pink colour, less often violet shade. They are formed in the axils of the apical leaves and bracts.
The fruit is a dark brown nut, which before ripening is connected in groups of 4.
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 green taste, 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 for the taste and aroma of the herbs. This species is also attractive for another quality - its voluminous leaf mass.
In Thai cuisine, a small-leaved variety of the plant is used, which has an attractive anise aroma and silvery foliage color.
Unusual is black basil, so named because of the rich dark purple hue of the stems and leaves. Among its varieties, Baku and Cairo Ruby are popular.
The soil
Basil needs fertile and well-kept soil. The area for planting this crop should be well warmed up and protected from wind and draft. The annual grows well on sandy loam soil enriched with organic fertilizer.Basil can be effectively planted after growing the following crops:
- potatoes;
- cucumbers;
- tomato;
- legumes
The soil for planting basil needs to be prepared in the fall. The dug up bed must be well fertilized. The soil should be dug to a depth of 25 cm, that is, approximately to the height of the bayonet of a shovel.
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 by seeds
This method is usually used 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 must 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.
- To plant, you need to deepen the holes no more than 1 cm.
- The distance between holes is 3 cm, between rows is 30 cm.
- 2 seeds should be planted in one hole to ensure better germination.
- The sown area is covered with film. It is removed 1-1.5 weeks after seed germination.
Planting seedlings
When growing basil with seedlings, you can quickly grow the crop and get a high-quality harvest. When choosing this method, you must proceed according to the following algorithm:- The best time to plant seeds for seedlings is the end of March or the beginning of April.
- Sowing is carried out to a depth of no more than 10 mm.
- The speed of germination depends on temperature. Within a week and a half, it must be maintained at a level of 25-27 degrees.
- When the shoots appear, they pick. Small pots are used for planting sprouts.
- Young seedlings should be kept in a greenhouse, fertilizing and hardening them.
- A week before planting in open ground, it is important to harden the crop. To do this, limit watering and arrange ventilation in the greenhouse in order to reduce the temperature.
- Planting in open ground can be done in early June if frosts are no longer expected.
- Seedlings are planted in rows. The distance between bushes should be 25 cm, between rows - 30 cm.
- For planting, make small holes 7-8 cm deep.
- Before planting, pour about a liter of water into each hole.
- The seedlings are planted together with pots so that the bud with young leaves are on the surface.
- Until the seedlings take root, they need constant watering. Afterwards it is carried out as necessary.
Care
Planting density is ensured by breaking through the greenery. To do this, the top shoots and flowering are plucked.Caring for the plant involves timely weeding, regular watering and loosening the soil.
Nitrogen fertilizers are used as fertilizing. Usually they use Nitrophoska, which also includes potassium and phosphorus. 5 liters of Nitrophoska solution are required per square meter of planting. Take a tablespoon of dry granules for this volume.
Fertilizing should be done twice:
- The first feeding is carried out one and a half weeks after planting the seedlings in the ground.
- Repeated feeding is carried out after another 2-3 weeks.
Density of plantings is 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 manifests itself as 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. This disease can be caused by high soil moisture, poor water permeability, and acidity.Fusarium
This disease develops against the background of sudden temperature changes and 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
The harvest begins to be harvested when the height of the greenery reaches 10-12 cm. With high-quality and careful harvesting, it can be produced many times. It is better to cut off the leaves. To do this, use a clean, sharp knife. High-quality cutting will only stimulate the growth of new greenery.When harvesting greens for the winter, cutting is usually done in large volumes. In this case, you need to cut off the entire stem, leaving only the 4 lower leaves. Mass cutting is carried out at the beginning of flowering. During this period, the greenery is maximum amount vitamins and essential oil, and the collected raw materials are most fragrant.
Basil should be harvested only in dry weather.
After the first cut, the crop should be fertilized. A mineral multicomponent fertilizer is suitable for this. It is imperative to weed and loosen the rows. If these conditions are met, you can harvest again.
WITH square meter plantings, you can collect a kilogram of fresh herbs. After harvesting, approximately 0.2 kg of dry seasoning will come out of this volume.
Drying basil
To harvest the greens of this crop, natural conditions are required. Shade and active ventilation are required. 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. If 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 your family with healthy greens 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 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 designed for growing in pots and containers:
Basil is chosen depending on taste preferences. Most early dates ripening in the varieties “Gvozdichny”, “Lemon”, “Karlik”.
To grow basil from seeds on a windowsill in an apartment or house, buy low-growing species.
When to Plant Basil Seeds
To obtain good harvest, you need to know when to plant seeds for indoor growing. This plant loves warmth and sunlight, if they are deficient, the leaves will become thin and weak.
The best time to plant seeds in pots is the end of February, beginning of March. The plant will have time to form and period active growth will have to be during long daylight hours. If planting is carried out at a different time, it will not have enough sunlight.
At year-round cultivation basil 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
Let's look at how to grow basil on the windowsill at home. When you have decided on the plant variety, prepare the containers and soil for planting it.
Small pots or plastic cups. A layer of expanded clay drainage is placed on the bottom. The soil will need fertile organic fertilizers. You can buy it ready-made or prepare it yourself.
Sequence of actions when planting basil seeds:
- Seeds are kept for 2 weeks in a warm place.
- Before planting, soak for a day in warm water, then keep in a weak solution of manganese for 2 hours.
- Moisten the soil and plant several seeds in one container to a depth of 10 mm. Excess, 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. The seedlings are covered plastic film, which provides a greenhouse effect. To prevent the soil from becoming moldy, 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 this, remove the film and place the containers in a bright, warm place, protected from drafts. When 3-4 leaves appear on the stem, it needs to be replanted in such a way that there is a liter of soil per stem.
Caring for basil in an apartment
Regular watering and spraying of leaves is required. To saturate the soil with oxygen in pots with mature plants, it is carefully loosened once every 10-14 days.
Feed with minerals or once every 30 days from the moment branches grow on the sides of the stem.
When the bushes grow to a sufficient size, the outer leaves begin to be plucked off, this promotes better growth and delays the flowering time.
Fresh, dried, or frozen leaves are used for cooking.
Flowering should not be allowed. When color appears, the leaves become bitter and unsuitable for consumption.
Growing basil from seeds on a windowsill in an apartment or country house does not cause owners much difficulty. Subject to the rules described in this article, the plant all year round will please the owners.
Growing basil on a windowsill - video
An annual crop of the Lamiaceae family. This is a highly branched plant with tetrahedral stems from 30 to 50 cm in height. 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 tassels, consisting of many small flowers of pink, white or white-violet color. The stems, leaves and flower cups are rough to the touch. They contain glands that accumulate essential oil, which determines the aroma of the plant.
Garden advice. Fresh leaves contain vitamins C, B1, B2, PP, and essential oils. In addition, the plant contains phytoncides.
Moisture
The crop 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. Optimal temperature for plant growth and development is 16-25 °C.
Light
Basil is characterized by increased demands on light. With shading or low light, the growing season increases and foliage decreases.
The soil
The plant prefers light fertile loamy and sandy loam soils with a neutral reaction of about 6-6.5 pH, as well as sunny areas protected from the wind. The best predecessors for basil in the garden are cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, and legumes.
Seed preparation
Before sowing, the seeds do not need to be lured.
When grown without seedlings (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 has warmed to a depth of 5 cm to 10 °C.
Growing seedlings
Seeds for seedlings are sown at the end of March - beginning of April in boxes with a well-moistened soil mixture consisting of 1 part humus and 2 parts 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 cotyledon leaf phase, the seedlings dive. The 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). 8-10 days before planting in open ground, the seedlings are hardened off.
Transplanting
Planting of seedlings in open ground is carried out in the third ten days 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 has established itself and the threat of frost has passed.
GARDEN ADVICE. When growing seedlings, it is necessary to monitor soil moisture and temperature. Don't water basil cold water and allow the soil to become waterlogged, as in this case the seedlings are affected by blackleg.
In the first month after planting, the plants develop slowly, look a little depressed and require careful care. Basil grows and develops well at temperatures above 20 °C. Therefore, it is advisable to cover the plantings with plastic film at first.
Care
To obtain juicy fragrant greens Regular watering is required at the rate of 5-10 liters per 1 m2. During the growing season, basil is fertilized several times. The first feeding is carried out 10-12 days after planting the seedlings in open ground. To do this, you need to dilute 150-200 ml of slurry or bird droppings in 10 liters of water, and also use 15 g of crystallin. Apply 5-6 liters of fertilizer per 1 m2. The second feeding 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 basil occurs in the spring. It is during this period that the leaves contain the most P-active phenolic compounds, and during budding the greatest amount of ascorbic acid.
It is necessary to keep the soil loose and free from weeds. It is advisable to hill up plants and water them 6-10 times during the growing season. If all growing rules are followed, 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 remains for 3 years. Fresh leaves can be stored for a long period in clay pots, sprinkling them with salt and pouring vegetable oil on top.
GARDEN ADVICE. When choosing a site for planting basil, you should remember that it cannot be grown in one place for several years, as this can lead to mass destruction plants with fusarium. Basil can be grown in the same place no earlier than after 10 years.
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Greenhouse or hotbed 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 start already at the beginning of March). Contrary to popular belief, plant care is not that difficult. So how to get excellent harvest basil in the greenhouse? When is planting, watering and fertilizing carried out?
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 greenery early, then you should give preference to durable covering materials - glass or polycarbonate. They protect more reliably from frost, maintaining a constant microclimate without sudden temperature fluctuations. The so-called cushion of soil (a mixture of soil, rotted manure and organic matter) or special racks also protects seedlings well from the cold. By the way, the latter option greatly simplifies caring for basil and allows you to save a significant amount of water for irrigation. For ventilation you will need vents, in addition, when hot summer days arrive, the greenhouse or greenhouse will need to be shaded. If we talk about location, it is preferable to choose a sunny area without plantings on the south side.
The plant is quite demanding on soil characteristics. Basil prefers sandy loam, well-filled with organic matter. The soil should be moderately acidic and 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 using a shovel, 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 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 greens).
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 takes place already at the beginning of March, and in cold regions a month later. Growing basil with seeds usually begins at the end of April or beginning of May, when the greenhouse or greenhouse is sufficiently warmed up.
So, what are the features of each method?
- Basil: growing from seeds.
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 there the distance is increased by another 10 cm. Then the planting is mulched and covered with a double layer of plastic film until germination. They usually appear after 10-12 days (at a temperature of 20-25 degrees). Next, care for the basil is carried out as usual - if necessary, it is thinned out, watered, fed, and the greenhouse is ventilated.
- Basil: growing from seedlings.
Seeds are sown in special containers or racks, several per nest. The depth of the cutting is 0.5 cm, at a distance of approximately 3 cm from each other. For one square meter you will need 6 g of seeds. Immediately after sowing, the containers are covered with glass, transparent plastic or plastic 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, potassium and nitrogen fertilizers (ratio 5: 3: 2). When the plants acquire 2 true leaves, pick them. Basil is planted 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 boarding permanent place(usually 45–60 days) the temperature in the greenhouse or greenhouse is gradually reduced. Then the seedlings are planted according to a 20x35 cm pattern.
Growing basil from seedlings can significantly shorten the growing season.
How to care for basil?
Basil grows quite 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 may even die. However, basil does not tolerate heat, so in the warm season the greenhouse or greenhouse must be regularly ventilated. In addition, plants need the following care.
- Watering. Basil beds should be watered thoroughly every 7 days. The water should be warm (about 25 degrees), standing for at least 24 hours. Very convenient drip automatic system, but you can use watering cans with a wide spray nozzle. Plants do not tolerate high humidity, so when the soil dries out more often in the heat, watering is also carried out once a week, and to retain moisture the soil is mulched with pine needles or sawdust.
- Feeding. Basil is fed for the first time 2 weeks after planting in a permanent place, when it has finally taken root. Nitrogen fertilizers stimulate the growth of greenery. To prepare them, 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 after 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). Next, the plants are fertilized after each cutting of the shoots.
During cold, rainy summers, basil requires additional care in the form of 2–3 fertilizing with potassium sulfate
Harvesting
When the 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 soil between the rows is loosened and fertilizers are applied. After 2-3 weeks, new tender branches with leaves grow from the axils, they are cut off again, and the basil is fed. In total, you can collect 3-4 harvests from each bush of spicy greens. Harvesting is carried out until mass flowering begins, after which the shoots become coarser. If drying is planned, the plants are cut in dry weather.
The best varieties of basil
There are at least 150 varieties of basil. They differ not only in their taste, but also in color and size of the bush. Some require careful care, while others can be easily grown even by an inexperienced gardener.
So, what do you need to know about the varieties of this plant?
- Purple basil is used as a seasoning for Caucasian and Central Asian dishes. green variety has a less pungent odor, more popular in European countries.
- The aroma of basil can have clove, pepper, lemon, anise, pickle, mint, caramel or vanilla notes.
- Basil with an anise scent is used in the preparation of fish and vegetable dishes. The peppery, clove aroma 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 range from 18 to 85 cm. Low-growing plants can be grown at home in a pot.
From early ripening 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 –150-280 g. The “Yerevan” variety has a pepper-clove aroma, its leaves are purple and medium in size. The average weight of one plant is 400 g. The most massive variety is considered to be “Clove Gourmand” (800-900 g), its leaves are medium-sized, green, and have a strong clove aroma. Basil "Thai Queen" - the most decorative variety, its flowers resemble unblown clusters of lilacs, the leaves are purple, the aroma is subtle, anise-clove. Another popular purple basil is “Dark Opal”, it is easy to care for, and the plant has perhaps the richest taste.
Conclusion
Caring for basil indoors is easy; 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 herbs both in summer and in spring, late autumn. The plant tolerates almost any neighborhood; it can be planted together with tomatoes, eggplants, other vegetables, and herbs.
Everything you need for good growth basilica is proper care, then the harvest will delight you with its abundance and taste. Basil is eaten not only to improve taste qualities dishes, but also for various inflammations, viral infections, and digestive problems. In some countries it is believed that it has the ability to repel evil spirits, and our gardeners have noticed that plants are shunned by ticks and other harmful insects. As you can see, there are a lot of advantages to growing basil; all you have to do is choose your favorite variety - and you can start planting it.
