Basil not only gives the dishes a delicate aroma, but also contains useful vitamins and minerals. The basil bush planted on the site makes it more attractive and repels harmful insects. To obtain spices in the early stages, it is necessary to plant basil for seedlings at home.
Opinions differ about the homeland of the basilica: some believe that it is Africa, others that Asia. In the wild, it is found in China, Africa, Iran, Asia and even the Caucasus. Previously, basil was grown for medical use, but now it is widely used as a spice in the preparation of various dishes. For these purposes, it is grown in personal plots and at home.
Basil green and purple
Home Basil Care
To get a full crop at home, you need to know how to plant and care for spices properly. Basil is demanding on lighting, heat and soil moisture.
The key to obtaining a quality plant is compliance with several recommendations:
- Use high quality soil for planting;
- Watering should be regular;
- For seedlings choose a sunny place;
- When planting in short daylight conditions, the plant provides additional highlighting;
- Basil variety is selected depending on taste preferences.
Variety of varieties
Basil has many varieties that differ in taste, appearance and ripening. Some of the most popular are:
- l Violet;
- l Camphor;
- l Lemon;
Lemon basil
- l Mexican;
- l Beam;
- l Small-leaved.
They can be divided in color into violet and green, as well as depending on taste. All of them can be grown through seedlings.
Growing basil seedlings
Basil seed cultivation
If the basil is planted correctly for seedlings, then seedlings will appear in 1-2 weeks. This is best done in mid or early March. Then, by the time of planting, the plant will have time to grow stronger.
Soil for basil
For planting, they use both store land and independently prepared ground. To do this, mix peat, compost and sand in a ratio of 4: 2: 1.
The prepared mixture is disinfected by heating in the oven or spilling boiling water. Shop land is recommended to be treated with a potassium permanganate solution.
Important! Choose the right container. Its depth should be at least 25 cm, because the basil has a powerful root system.
Seed preparation and sowing
Seeds are sown in early spring. To improve germination, they are pre-soaked in a mouth stimulator. Next, the seeds are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate for 2 hours (for disinfection). At the end, the seeds are dried.
Proceed to landing:
- Moisturize the soil;
- Sow seeds, immersing them in the soil by 1 cm;
- Observe the distance between the rows of 7 cm;
- The container is covered with a film or glass;
- They are placed in a warm place, maintaining a temperature of about 23 degrees;
- After 10 days, seedlings will appear;
The appearance of the first shoots
- When their height is 5 cm, soil is added to the container to maintain seedlings.
The appearance of seedlings
High-quality seedlings have a strong stem with healthy leaves and a developed root system. When seedlings appear, the quality of the seedlings is indicated by the saturated color of the leaves corresponding to the variety.
Healthy seedlings
Seedling Care
To get a good harvest, you must follow the rules for caring for the plant:
- The soil should always be moist, while the plant should not be in water.
- A grown plant is watered daily. The best time for this is morning, then during the day the water will have time to evaporate.
Important! As soon as the buds appear, they are immediately cut off. Together with them, two leaves are cut off, located below the buds.
The secrets of growing basil on the windowsill
Basil and mint are becoming more popular when grown in the house. There are several secrets that will allow you to grow basil on the windowsill. First, you need to choose the right variety. Although basil is unpretentious, it is better to take varieties with small and frequent foliage. Great are Yerevan and Baku varieties. Large foliage varieties need more trace elements for successful growth.
Secondly, choose the method by which the plant will be grown. It can be sprouted from seeds, you can buy ready-made seedlings. In the first case, the result is usually better, but from the moment of planting to receiving seedlings more time will pass.
Thirdly, choose the right pot. Its volume should be at least 1.5 liters, since small containers are not suitable for good growth. You can plant basil in a container, but a certain distance is maintained between the plants.
Fourth, the temperature and light conditions should be observed. The optimum temperature is from 20 to 24 degrees. Daylight hours should last about 16 hours, otherwise additional lighting will be required.
Grade selection
When grown at home, preference is given to low-growing varieties.
You can also choose a variety depending on taste preferences. In this case, the most interesting varieties:
- Citric. In taste and smell, it is similar to lemon and lemon balm.
- Lemon miracle. Another lemon flavor.
- Spherical grade Perfume. Spicy aroma with a finish of mulled wine.
- Dark opal. A bush of saturated violet color with clove-pepper aroma.
- Caramel High-yielding variety with a caramel-fruity aroma.
- Clove. An early variety with anise-clove flavor.
Varieties of basil can be listed for a long time, the choice of variety is a matter of taste. The main purpose of the Lemon Basil is cultivation for adding to tea, Perfume varieties as a spice, Caramel is added to drinks.
Harvest time
After 1.5 months after germination, you can cut the first crop. To do this, cut off the upper leaves, be sure to leave 3 sheets. After the formation of the third tier of leaves, pinch the top of the plant, thus causing it to grow.
Important! After the first cut, fertilizing is carried out. This is done for enhanced growth of green mass. With the right crop, you can harvest up to 3 crops per season.
Rules Cut
Fresh green basil indoor can be obtained by tearing a plant from the root or cutting leaves. If the priority is to get several crops per season, it is better to cut the green mass.
When cutting, up to 4 leaves are left on the stem. The rest can be safely cut. It is with this harvest that the basil quickly grows new leaves.
During the first cut, the top is also torn off, thanks to this, the spice begins to grow not in height, but in breadth. There is an intensive build-up of green mass.
Cut off the top
After harvesting, a full watering and top dressing is carried out. You should also loosen the soil.
When re-cutting, the top is not trimmed. When growing basil on the windowsill, harvesting can be carried out continuously, as soon as the green mass grows.
Following the above algorithm, you can provide yourself with fresh basil year-round. Growing from seeds at home will require minimal financial and labor costs.
