Many people today strive to create a herb garden on the windowsill. It is both a hobby and decorative element kitchens, and a constant source of fresh greens for nutrition. Basil is great for this purpose, but you need to know that this overseas guest can be quite picky.
Basil varieties for growing on a windowsill
In general, to organize a basil garden on a windowsill, any varieties are suitable, but it is preferable to choose low-growing and bunch-shaped ones.
Did you know? Ukrainian folk names for fragrant basil: fragrant cornflower, fragrant cornflowers, cornflower, cornflower, church cornflowers. “Cornflower” in Russian is a plant from the genus Asteraceae, in Ukrainian it is “voloshka”.
Soil selection
Basil loves light, fertile, well-drained soil. To grow basil in a pot, it is easier to buy ready-made soil in a specialized store, but ordinary garden soil is also suitable if you enrich it mineral fertilizers. Before planting, store-bought or garden soil should be calcined in the oven at a temperature of 100-120° for an hour to prevent the appearance of pests. You can prepare your own substrate from one part humus and two parts peat or coconut fiber; it must also be watered with liquid mineral fertilizers. 
Important! Basil is a southern crop that needs appropriate conditions. The soil in which the seeds are sown should not be cold.
Container for growing basil
To grow basil at home, a pot with a depth of at least 20-30 cm or an oblong flower box is suitable. It is necessary to take into account that in the future the sprout will turn into a bush, and it must have enough space. The seeds are planted either in the main pot or in small containers (cups), from where the sprouts are transplanted when 2-3 leaves appear.
At the bottom of the pot or box, be sure to lay out a drainage layer of expanded clay, pebbles or broken bricks 2 cm thick.
Did you know? Green basil is more common in Europe and is a popular ingredient in Mediterranean cuisine. Purple basil is more common in Asia, and its pungent scent is prized in oriental cooking.
The optimal time for sowing seeds is early March. To speed up the emergence of seedlings, before growing, it is recommended to soak basil seeds for a day in gauze moistened with a growth stimulant or simply in warm water. The water needs to be changed every 12 hours or earlier. Seed disinfection is carried out by soaking for two hours in a manganese solution. Dry the seeds using a paper towel.
Sowing Basil Seeds
The soil must first be well moistened. Basil is sowed to a depth of 1 cm. It is recommended to leave a distance of about 7 cm between the seeds. Cover the container with film and leave in a warm place until the first shoots appear.
Conditions for seed germination
The optimal temperature for seed germination is 20-25 °C. The film should be periodically opened for ventilation and light spraying. Seedlings do not need watering. Under such conditions, seedlings appear in about 10 days. When the seedlings grow to 5-7 cm, you can add another 2-3 cm of soil to the pot to strengthen the young shoots.
Did you know? In some central regions of Mexico, basil is placed in a store window. It is believed that such an action reflects the state of the business: if the owner takes care of the basilica, it means that he is diligent and takes good care of his business.
Rules for caring for basil at home
Temperature. Basil feels good at a temperature of +16-25 ° C, does not tolerate drafts and low temperatures. On cold days, containers with basil can be wrapped in film.
Light. During the warm season, natural light is sufficient for basil, but in autumn and winter it will need artificial supplementary lighting.
Watering. Basil likes moderate humidity. You need to water the plant with settled water every day, it is better to do it in the morning. In the summer heat, watering is also done in the evening; spraying with water also does not hurt. room temperature from a spray bottle. Loosening the soil. It’s time to start this process when the basil sprouts have strengthened and grown by about 5 cm. Every few days you need to loosen the soil around the plants so that it can be enriched with oxygen. For plants grown indoors, this is an important factor.
Feeding. Universal fertilizers with humus, which are used for indoor plants, are suitable for feeding basil. Once a month you can add 1 tsp. Agrolife fertilizers onto the soil surface.
Important! When the plant has flower stalks, they must be cut off immediately. The greens will be more fragrant and abundant, and the plant itself will grow longer.
Harvesting
The first basil greens can be cut after a month and a half. The top leaves are carefully cut off, leaving at least three. When the basil has three tiers of leaves, pinch the top by cutting off the upper part of the stem. This manipulation limits growth, the plant begins to bush abundantly, forming lush foliage. But some recommend not doing this so as not to harm the plant.
Basil is a wonderful universal seasoning for meat, fish, soups and fresh salads- well known to all lovers of Caucasian and Italian cuisine. However, upon closer inspection, basil turns out to be a surprisingly versatile plant. For several seasons now, our family has been happily drinking aromatic basil tea. In a flowerbed with perennials and in flowerpots with annual flowers, bright spice plant a worthy place was also found.
Thuja or juniper - which is better? This question can sometimes be heard in garden centers and markets where these plants are sold. It is, of course, not entirely correct and correct. Well, it’s the same as asking what is better - night or day? Coffee or tea? Woman or man? Surely, everyone will have their own answer and opinion. And yet... What if you approach with an open mind and try to compare juniper and thuja according to certain objective parameters? Let's try.
Brown Cream of Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Smoked Bacon is a delicious, smooth and creamy soup that both adults and children will love. If you are preparing a dish for the whole family, including kids, then do not add a lot of spices, although many modern children are not at all against spicy flavors. Bacon for serving can be prepared in different ways - fry in a frying pan, as in this recipe, or bake in the oven on parchment for about 20 minutes at 180 degrees.
For some, the time of sowing seeds for seedlings is a long-awaited and pleasant chore, for others it is a difficult necessity, while others wonder whether it would be easier to buy ready seedlings at the market or with friends? Be that as it may, even if you gave up growing vegetable crops, for sure, you will still have to sow something. These are flowers and perennials, conifers and much more. A seedling is still a seedling, no matter what you sow.
A lover of moist air and one of the most compact and rare orchids, pafinia is a real star for most orchid growers. Its flowering rarely lasts longer than a week, but it can be an unforgettable sight. You want to look at the unusual striped patterns on the huge flowers of the modest orchid endlessly. In indoor culture, pafinia is rightly ranked among the difficult-to-grow species. It became fashionable only with the spread of interior terrariums.
Pumpkin ginger marmalade is a warming sweet that can be prepared almost all year round. Pumpkin keeps for a long time - sometimes I manage to save a few vegetables until summer, fresh ginger and lemons are always available these days. Lemon can be replaced with lime or orange to get different tastes- variety in sweets is always nice. The finished marmalade is placed in dry jars; it can be stored at room temperature, but it is always healthier to prepare fresh products.
In 2014, the Japanese company Takii seed introduced petunia with a striking petal color - salmon-orange. By association with bright colors southern sunset sky, the unique hybrid is called African Sunset. Needless to say, this petunia instantly won the hearts of gardeners and was in great demand. But in the last two years, the curiosity has suddenly disappeared from store windows. Where did the orange petunia go?
In our family Bell pepper they love it, that’s why we plant it every year. Most of the varieties that I grow have been tested by me for more than one season; I cultivate them constantly. I also try to try something new every year. Pepper is a heat-loving plant and quite whimsical. Varietal and hybrid varieties of tasty and productive sweet peppers, which grow well for me, will be discussed further. I live in middle lane Russia.
Meat cutlets with broccoli in béchamel sauce - great idea for a quick lunch or dinner. Start by preparing the mince and at the same time heat 2 liters of water to a boil to blanch the broccoli. By the time the cutlets are fried, the cabbage will be ready. All that remains is to collect the ingredients in a frying pan, season with sauce and bring to readiness. Broccoli needs to be cooked quickly to retain its vibrant color. green color, which, when cooked for a long time, either fades or the cabbage turns brown.
Home floriculture - not only exciting process, but also a very troublesome hobby. And, as a rule, the more experience a grower has, the healthier his plants look. What should those who have no experience but want to have a home do? houseplants- not elongated, stunted specimens, but beautiful and healthy ones, not causing a feeling of guilt with their fading? For beginners and flower growers who do not have much experience, I will tell you about the main mistakes that are easy to avoid.
Lush cheesecakes in a frying pan with banana-apple confiture - another recipe for everyone’s favorite dish. To prevent cheesecakes from falling off after cooking, remember a few simple rules. Firstly, only fresh and dry cottage cheese, secondly, no baking powder or soda, thirdly, the thickness of the dough - you can sculpt from it, it is not tight, but pliable. A good dough with a small amount of flour can only be obtained from good cottage cheese, and here again see the “firstly” point.
It is no secret that many drugs from pharmacies have migrated to summer cottages. Their use, at first glance, seems so exotic that some summer residents are perceived with hostility. At the same time, potassium permanganate is a long-known antiseptic that is used in both medicine and veterinary medicine. In plant growing, a solution of potassium permanganate is used both as an antiseptic and as a fertilizer. In this article we will tell you how to properly use potassium permanganate in the garden.
Pork meat salad with mushrooms is a rural dish that can often be found on festive table in the village. This recipe is with champignons, but if you have the opportunity to use wild mushrooms, be sure to cook it this way, it will be even tastier. You don’t need to spend a lot of time preparing this salad - put the meat in a pan for 5 minutes and another 5 minutes for slicing. Everything else happens practically without the participation of the cook - the meat and mushrooms are boiled, cooled, and marinated.
Cucumbers grow well not only in a greenhouse or conservatory, but also in open ground. Typically, cucumbers are sown from mid-April to mid-May. Harvesting in this case is possible from mid-July to the end of summer. Cucumbers cannot tolerate frost. That's why we don't sow them too early. However, there is a way to bring their harvest closer and taste the juicy beauties from your garden at the beginning of summer or even in May. It is only necessary to take into account some of the features of this plant.
There are many aromatic herbs that are easy to grow at home. Basil is one such plant. It has an incredible aroma, which gives a unique taste to many culinary products.
Basil is an annual herb that grows in many countries around the world. Exists a large number of varieties of this plant. Accordingly, its leaves can be of different colors - light and dark green, purple. I wonder what it tastes like different varieties The basilica is also different. One may have notes of lemon, another cinnamon or clove.
About a hundred types of basil are grown in Asia, Crimea, North Africa, and also in the Mediterranean countries. But the plant is also found in the wild. This way it can be found in Iran, China, and the Caucasus. Basil is not only aromatic, it has many beneficial properties.
The variety of basil varieties is simply amazing. Their number is in the dozens. Varieties differ in size, color, aroma and plant shape. But there are several most common types of basil:
Growing basil on a windowsill at home
At good care Basil is easy enough to grow on a windowsill at almost any time of the year. In summer, you can simply transplant it into a pot from the garden, along with the soil. If you don’t have such a plant at home, it doesn’t matter.
You can buy greens and tear off the tops, and then put them in water for a couple of weeks. They will be easy to plant once they produce roots. The first greens of your own will appear in 2 weeks. And the bush can live up to 4 months.
Basil can also be sown in flowerpots on the windowsill. In this case, formed bushes will appear in about 5-6 weeks. And plants will be able to delight with their greenery longer than those grown from cuttings.
Basil in pots needs warmth and light. Therefore, in winter you need to take good care of it.
How to grow basil at home. Fresh herbs on the windowsill: video
Basil can be sown not only in pots, but also directly in the garden bed. The best site for this will be the one on which tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers or something from the legume family previously grew. The seeds are laid out in rows, the distance is quite large - up to 30 cm. You need to sow shallowly.
When the first shoots appear, it is necessary to thin out. The plants should remain approximately 10 cm apart. In this case, you can expect that some of them will die, and the rest will feel just fine. When the bushes grow, you can do a second thinning. The top growing point of basil needs to be pinched. This will allow the bushes to grow wider rather than upward. After all, it is not the stems that are most valued, but the leaves.
Although basil can be sown directly into the ground, it is best to prepare seedlings in pots. In this case, you can take care of the seedlings and prevent them from freezing. After all, small seedlings are very tender and delicate.
Interestingly, basil seeds do not need stratification, that is, exposure to moisture and cold.
For better harvest seedlings can be disinfected with soil using a bright pink solution of potassium permanganate. You can also dip the seeds into it before sowing, literally for a few hours.
Seedlings need to be watered moderately, otherwise they will die. Basil does not tolerate dry soil, nor does it tolerate waterlogged soil. Seedlings can be expected approximately 1-1.5 weeks after sowing. To retain heat and moisture in the soil, the seedlings need to be covered with film or glass.
You can start sowing basil in pots in April. In this case, the plant will grow and become stronger by the end of May - beginning of June, when it is time to plant it in the ground. The fact is that basil seedlings absolutely do not tolerate frost. Therefore, it will not be possible to plant it earlier if you want to reap a good harvest. Warmth, sun, moderate moisture - these are the keys to beautiful and healthy basil.
Basil should be planted in open ground in places where there is a lot of sun and warmth. Every year the plot for the bed with this plant needs to be changed; it does not like to grow in the same place.
The soil must be fertile, with good breathability and moisture. As a fertilizer, it is best to mix peat, compost and humus (2 kg per 1 m2). We make rows for planting every 30 cm. We leave approximately 15-20 cm between plants.
Do not plant in hot sun. The most best time- evening in cloudy weather. Watering can be done immediately after planting. Most suitable warm water, well defended.
Basil in a snail. Sprouts quickly, grows well: video
Basil is not a demanding plant; it is not difficult to care for.
- Firstly, you need to water the soil in a timely manner. To do this, you just need to monitor it and moisturize it as it dries.
- Secondly, do not forget about fertilizers. The growth of green leaves is stimulated by nitrogen substances, so it is best to use them.
- The first feeding can be done 12 days after planting in the ground. The water temperature for irrigation should be at least 25 degrees.
- Basil flowers are not needed, so it is best to remove the flower stalks as soon as they appear. This will increase the branching of the plant, the bushes will be lush.
- Under planted basil bushes, you need to periodically loosen the soil.
- Also, don’t forget about weeding. These two procedures need to be performed quite often.
- To prevent the seedlings from dying, immediately after planting they can be covered with film for about 1-2 weeks. If the days are hot, then you can cover the plants only in the evening, for the whole night.
Basil is quite easy to grow in greenhouses. It's very easy to save there temperature regime and humidity. Ready-made plants, previously sown in pots, are usually planted in a greenhouse. Next, you need to comply with all the same conditions as described above. Good harvest basil in the greenhouse depends on the availability of:
- Heat;
- Sveta;
- Moderate watering;
- Feeding.
A greenhouse is different from open bed only by its closedness. For a good basil harvest, it needs to be well ventilated.
Basil is very widely used in medicine due to the fact that it is a mint herb. The essential oil of this plant has bactericidal properties. It is often used to heal various wounds.
Basil oils help relieve cramps, which is why they are used for bloating. Also, such oils, when inhaled through an inhaler, help fight viral and bacterial diseases throat and nose.
Using the juice from the fresh leaves of this wonderful herb, fungi on the skin are treated. Aqueous extracts of basil are used for gastritis, food poisoning and colic. Dried basil can be used to make tea, which helps relieve headache. Dried leaves are also used to treat eye inflammation, eczema, and hypotension.
Basil infused with alcohol is used in the treatment of whooping cough, gastritis, colitis, pyelitis, and neuroses. In the same form, this plant helps to heal bronchial asthma, low blood pressure, inflammation of the bladder and kidneys, flatulence and simple colds.
But it is necessary to remember that basil can bring not only benefits, but also harm.
- It should not be used by people with diseases of the cardiovascular system, vein thrombosis, or poor blood clotting.
- And if its dose is exaggerated, food poisoning will occur.
- Pregnant women should avoid taking medicines containing basil.
- But for nursing mothers it is very useful as a lactogenic agent.
But most of all, basil is known for its culinary qualities. It can be consumed fresh or dried. In some countries, not only leaves, but also basil seeds are used to season pates, drinks, salads and soups.
The aroma of this seasoning is not revealed immediately. At first it may seem a little bitter, but then a pleasant sweetish taste appears. The main thing is not to overdo it with basil.
It is added to dishes at the very end of cooking, otherwise some of the flavor will be lost. It is best to chop the grass with your hands, without using a knife. It is recommended to store dried basil in a glass or porcelain container with an airtight lid.
IN different countries world basil is used as a seasoning for dishes made from tomatoes, beans, vegetables, sauerkraut, as well as fish and meat.
This is such a wonderful plant, rich in beneficial properties and delicate aroma. Don't be afraid to grow it at home - it's very easy!
As you know, a plant can be planted in several ways. In this case, planting with seeds and seedlings is practiced. The second method is the simplest and most correct, especially if you are growing basil in open ground. But if you need speed, practicality, and spend a minimum of effort on this process, then seeds are exactly what you need. But you are mistaken if you think that simply placing them in the ground and watering will be enough.
In fact, basil is a tropical herb that needs special care. If you just sow it, the germination rate will be no more than 30%. Humidity, temperature, planting depth, pre-soaking, germination - all these are not only desirable stages before sowing. These are mandatory measures, which we will now consider in more detail in step-by-step instructions.
- Warming up the grains. The homeland of these spices is central India, where the temperature during the growing season of the plant is not lower than +28 degrees. The cells are activated only when the seed is exposed to the sun, when they are heated to +35-40 degrees. If the temperature is below this, they may lie in the ground for 1, 2 or even 3 weeks, which will not satisfy the requirements of many gardeners. What should be done? Just put it in the sun and let the grains warm up to +40 degrees. If it's cold outside, you can do this using a boiler or any item that can maintain +40C.
- Soak. This is the most important step that should not be skipped.. After you warm up the seed a little, it needs to be properly saturated with moisture. Soak for at least 20 hours, and the water should be relatively warm, preferably +40 degrees. There is no need for this step if basil is planted before winter - there the seeds need a little rest, and there is no need to stimulate intensive growth of the vegetative mass. The length of the day will not meet the needs of the plant, even if the temperature is high.
- Sowing into the soil. If you want to grow productive, healthy basil, planting should be done at a temperature of at least 20 degrees. That is, it should get into open ground in the third ten days of May, not earlier. Seeds can germinate and sprout even at +10 degrees during the day, but do not forget that even +5 at night can destroy all your crops - this crop is very fastidious and does not tolerate cold.
Let’s now figure out how to plant basil and what is needed for this. Loosening the soil and adding sand to it is the key to getting good seedlings. Do not forget to mulch the soil with humus so that it does not crack - 2 centimeters of mulch will be enough to cover the moisture, make optimal conditions for sprouts. The soil must be pre-fertilized with manure 3-4 months in advance so that it has time to decompose and separate all the microelements and acids necessary for the plant.
There are several ways to sow. The most popular is to scatter the grains over the entire area and rake the area. Of course, there is a risk that a lot of seeds will be on top and will disappear over time, but if you can afford the cost, then it would be better to do just that. The effort required will be minimal. Many gardeners practice digging small furrows - grooves of 3-4 centimeters with row spacing of 30 centimeters. This kind of laughter is very effective, saves your time, and has little loss of material compared to the first method.
There is also a checkerboard sowing method. Each grain goes deeper (can be done with a finger, a match or garden tool for loosening the soil) by 1.5-2 centimeters at a distance of 15 centimeters in diameter from each “neighbor”. The advantage of the method is significant space savings, high productivity due to equal distance between plants. There is, perhaps, only one drawback - a lot of labor and time will be spent on this process.
After you have done everything and leveled the ground from above (it is advisable to compact it with something), you can wait for seedlings, which can realistically be obtained within 12 days, if the air temperature does not fall below +15C. To speed up this process and help the seedlings make their way to the top, you can cover the entire bed with polyethylene or any other material to create a greenhouse effect. In such an “incubator” the plants will feel great, the main thing is not to forget to remove the film.
Propagation using seedlings
It is very difficult to achieve friendly shoots and big harvest from a small seed, but a healthy plant grown on a windowsill gives a much better chance. This is why seedlings are so popular when cultivating crops in open ground. Let's say you already have it, purchased it or obtained it from growing your own seeds. Let's look at what to do next in more detail.
- Loosen the soil in the garden bed. The fraction should be the same as at . It is advisable to use rollers so that the soil is compacted and the roots easily absorb water from the soil and the basil develops fully.
- We dig holes 10x10x20 centimeters, where the last indicator is depth. Pour 5 grams of saltpeter onto the bottom, a little soil on top, place the plant and fill it with water so that everything dissolves well and the root system immediately receives a large amount of fertilizer.
- We mulch the earth on top with humus so that it does not crack. This is desirable for beds that are simply in the shade and mandatory for areas in the open sun. It is best to avoid direct rays - the plant may burn and growth may slow down; spices grow best under 30% shade.
Subsequent care of seedlings is very simple. 1 foliar application with urea or diluted saltpeter every 2 weeks. Pinching is necessary after the fifth pair of leaves is formed on the plant. You can mow the seedlings after 3 weeks - at the discretion of the gardeners.
Propagation by cuttings - advantages and features
While sowing basil is extremely beneficial in terms of saving time and effort, propagation from cuttings provides many other benefits to the gardener. It is especially important to grow rare and valuable varieties of spices using this method, because from one mother bush you can get dozens of new plants, and each of them will be relatively large and with good resistance to environment. Let's take a closer look at this process.
- We take the usual one flower pot, pour boiling water over it to kill the infection, and install drainage. Large crushed stone, sand, and fertile soil are suitable for this. Pre-moisten the resulting soil and let it sit for a couple of days.
- WITH mother plant you need to take branches no more than 8 centimeters, as in all other plants you need to make an oblique cut to increase the absorption area. It is best to pluck off the first few pairs of leaves to keep macronutrient and water intake to a minimum. They will grow back quickly if herb will take root.
- Place in a container with water for 5 days (use plastic liter bottle, having previously cut off the top). If you're lucky, within 5 days the basil will take root and be ready to be transplanted into the soil. Under unfavorable conditions (cold, lack of minerals, lack of light) this can happen much later, for example, after 20 days.
- Drop off. It is advisable to do this under film, similarly
Basil– a favorite spicy herb that gives a piquant taste and aroma various dishes, and healthy.
High concentration essential oils allows you to use basil for cosmetic purposes and in folk medicine.
In the summer it grows in vegetable gardens, personal plots, and to serve fresh herbs to the table all year round, you can grow basil in a pot inside the walls of your home, it's quite simple.
Basil varieties for growing at home
Small-leaved basil grows best at home, preferably plants that reach V height no more than half a meter.
Here are some of them:
- Marquis– mid-early variety, low-growing plant up to 25 cm, spherical or pyramidal in shape, green leaves, have a pronounced clove-pepper aroma;
- Dwarf– compact bushes 10-18 cm in height, grown as an aromatic herb and as ornamental plant, comes in green and purple;
- Basilisk– compact bushes 20-25 cm high, leaves with a peppery-clove spicy taste and smell, early ripening;
- Troll– reaches 35-40 cm in height, leaves are green-violet, small;
- Clove– medium-sized basil 35-45 cm high with a pungent clove-anise smell;
- Philosopher– low-growing bushes (25-30 cm) with leaves purple, clove aroma;
- Spicy Globe– bushy basil with small leaves, forms spreading but compact bushes, has a lively spicy aroma;
- Bush Minette– miniature bushes, ideal for growing in containers, tiny leaves;
- Cinnamon– small bushes, leaves with a cinnamon aroma; Small-leaved basil (piccolo) – leaves are small and narrow, the taste is sweet, almost without astringency, the smell is reminiscent of allspice.
What conditions are required to grow basil?
Basil has a developed root system, so to grow it you need fairly deep and voluminous boxes, containers or flowerpots. Basilica needs regular watering, good soil permeability is important, so you need to use light structural soil.
The soil must contain peat, humus or compost; clay will promote optimal water circulation, and to prevent it from stagnating, you need a drainage layer, for which you can use fine gravel or expanded clay.
Basil is a heat-loving and light-loving crop.
The best place for growing it is a window sill; in winter, the necessary heat will be provided thanks to the heating radiator, and if sunlight not enough, it is necessary to organize lighting. Important provide protection seedlings from drafts.
The best temperature for basil growth is 25⁰
. You can keep boxes of basil on a glazed and insulated balcony or loggia, especially if their heating and lighting are organized.
If unheated balcony, and it gets cold outside, you need to cover the basil with film, protecting it from wind and hypothermia.
Optimal time for sowing or planting cuttings Basilica is considered to be spring, March-April, then in the period active growth plants will receive enough heat and light.
If the owners have sufficient experience, containers with basil are kept in a warm place, for example, on a kitchen windowsill, the heating radiator is running and artificial lighting is provided, the planting season is not of fundamental importance.
Basil cuttings
You can grow basil at home two ways:
- from seeds;
- from cuttings.
If you already have basil growing in your house or friends, you can take cuttings from it, using the upper and middle part of the stem. You can also purchase a small container of growing basil at the store; if it is fresh, it can serve just fine. source of cuttings.
The cuttings are placed in water, roots usually appear within a week, after two weeks they can be planted in the ground. It's also possible rooting cuttings immediately in the ground, they need to be covered on top with cans or cut-off PET bottles; to increase the likelihood of successful rooting, add a rooting stimulator when watering.
Basil takes root quite well when vegetative propagation, and when cuttings or seedlings are planted, they will quickly reach sizes that allow harvest.
But barely rooted cuttings are quite fragile, but sprouts grown from seeds are not so delicate, so sowing basil is considered more practical option , although it requires more time to wait for the harvest.
Sowing and preparation for it
Both the soil and the seeds need to be prepared. Self-harvested soil must be disinfected Preheat in the oven for up to an hour, soil purchased in specialized stores is processed.
Directly soil before sowing heated to room temperature and enriched with mineral fertilizers or humic concentrate.
Deep grooves are made in the prepared soil 0.5-1 cm with row spacing of 10 cm, prepared seeds are sown in them, the distance between the seeds should also be not less than 7 cm.
The grooves are sprinkled with earth, the soil is moistened and covered with a transparent film or glass to preserve moisture. The boxes need to be kept in a warm place, for seeds to germinate usually need 5-7 days.
The emerging shoots need good lighting, they should be illuminated at least 16 hours a day.
When seedlings will reach 5 cm in height, they can be transplanted into another box, more spacious and deep, or into pots, bush from bush at a distance 15 cm and more.
Caring for Rooted Basil
Bye sprouts less than 5 cm, enough watering without loosening. After rooting of the strengthened seedlings once every 2-3 days the soil must be loosened and watered if the soil dries out. Watering should not be excessive, otherwise the aboveground part of the plants may be affected by mold and fungus.
Water the basil in the morning with water at room temperature. If it's worth hot dry weather, watering is possible twice a day, in the morning and at lunch. Fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out from the moment one or two leaves appear on the seedlings and then at intervals about a month.
For feeding the following composition is used: per liter of water take 10 g of a mixture of fertilizers: nitrogen (2 g), potassium (3 g) and phosphorus (5 g). It is not necessary to thin out the planting if sufficient distance is maintained between plants when transplanting young seedlings.
In order for the leaves to grow more actively, the plant to grow in breadth, you need to pinch off the top shoots, pinching the tops begins after 4-6 leaves appear.
During the flowering period The flower ovary is left only if the basil is grown for seeds; in plants grown for leaves, the buds are broken off; there is no need to allow flowering. Then the leaves will be more fragrant, and the plant will not wither longer.
More detailed instructions How to grow basil at home you will find in the video:
Basil harvest
Basil grows rather slowly indoors, and the leaves should not be cut until the bushes reach at least 10 cm in height. To replenish the supply of fresh herbs for the table, it is enough to periodically break off or cut off the tops of shoots from different bushes, a few leaves at a time.
As a result, basil it will be better to bush, provide lush greenery that can be used as needed without tearing down the main plant. If you need to store a lot of greens for future use, the stem is cut closer to the base, so that only 4 lower leaves. New leaves will grow from their axils.
So this is annual plant will produce a harvest greens for a long time.
Possible problems when growing basil
Basil is a plant that is resistant to diseases and pests, but it also there are weak points. Pests such as slugs and snails, as a rule, do not threaten basil growing at home on a windowsill. Weeds also rarely appear in the treated soil.
And here gray mold And fusarium Plants grown at home can also be affected, usually due to overwatering of the soil. In this case, the affected leaves are torn off; if the disease has affected the stem, the plant must be uprooted, so that neighbors don't get infected. The soil is sprinkled with ash and loosened so that the ash penetrates deeper.
