Basil is a favorite herb for many. It is added to meat dishes, soups, salads, desserts, and when pickling vegetables. Due to the compactness of the bush and the various shades of leaves, it is used to decorate the site. Decorated with pink, white, white and purple flowers, basil looks great among garden plantings. Fragrant greenery growing close to berry bushes, repels insect pests. To obtain early greens, they are grown through seedlings. Knowing how to plant it correctly, you can achieve excellent results.
To get early greens, they are grown through seedlings
Sowing time
Basil is sown at the end of March. 35–50 days after the emergence of seedlings, the seedlings are planted on the site.
Selecting soil for planting
The soil used is light, loose, without lumps. You can buy ready-made soil mixture. It is shed with a solution of manganese or Fitosporin. If you prepare the earthen mixture yourself, you should steam it for 1 hour. The soil should consist of peat, compost and sand (4:2:1).
You can prepare the soil for basil seedlings yourself
Basil does not like being over-watered. To avoid stagnation of water, lay expanded clay and crushed polystyrene foam in a 3 cm layer at the bottom of the container.
Drainage is placed at the bottom of the container
Selection of containers
To grow seedlings, use shallow containers (up to 7 cm) with a tray. However, it is preferable to immediately plant the seeds in separate cells, since when grown in a common container with subsequent picking, the seedlings will need an extra week to adapt to new conditions.
Shallow containers with cells are suitable for growing seedlings
Advice! Better to use peat pots. When transplanting into the ground, the plant is planted together with the container, without damaging the young roots.
Seed preparation
For better germination, the seeds are kept in a solution of a growth stimulator - Zircon. Then let them dry a little.
Basil is grown from seeds
The coated seeds are wrapped in gauze and placed in water for an hour or in a hydrogen peroxide solution for 15 minutes.
Before sowing, the seeds are disinfected
How to plant at home: step-by-step process
Pots with sown seeds are placed in a greenhouse
Moisture, warmth and air access are the main conditions for seed germination. The greenhouse is regularly ventilated, condensation is removed, and watering is carried out.
Sprouts will appear in 7–14 days. The shelter is being removed - high temperature no longer needed. To prevent the seedlings from stretching, maintain a temperature of +16...+20°C.
To prevent seedlings from stretching, maintain a temperature of +16–20 degrees
How to sow: video tips
Conditions for growing seedlings
It is not difficult to grow strong seedlings by providing them favorable conditions: choose suitable soil and good seed material, observe light and temperature conditions, regularly water and fertilize.
You can grow healthy seedlings by creating comfortable conditions for them.
Lighting
Small seedlings really need light. In places that receive little sun, basil grows poorly. The seedlings are placed on a southern windowsill and additional lighting is turned on, especially in the first five days. It is best to use Reflex lamps, which are installed above the plants. They have a built-in mirror reflector that allows all the light to be directed towards the plant. It is necessary to provide additional lighting to seedlings until they are planted in the ground.
For additional lighting, lamps are installed on top
Watering
This crop requires moisture, especially during seed germination. But water the basil very carefully, once every 3-4 days. And only warm water. Make sure that the water in the pan does not stagnate. Overmoistening of the soil leads to damping off of the roots, increasing the risk of blackleg disease. After watering, be sure to loosen the soil.
Water the basil very carefully
Feeding
Basil is very responsive to fertilizers: the addition of nitrogen promotes the growth of green mass, phosphorus and potassium - increases the content of essential oil in the leaves.
7 days after the emergence of seedlings, fertilize with an ash solution (10 g\1 l).
A week after picking, add the solution complex fertilizer. After feeding, the seedlings are watered clean water from a watering can to prevent burns.
In the future, the plants are fed after each cutting.
Dive
At the age of 20–25 days, when the first two true leaves grow, the seedlings are planted in pots. The seedlings are not deeply buried; they are watered. It will take time for the plants to get used to their new environment.
When diving, the seedlings do not go deep
When sowing seeds in separate cells, the plants are thinned out as they grow.
After 5–6 pairs of leaves appear, the crown of the seedling can be pinched, which will allow the plant to bush and not form flower stalks for a long time.
Cutting greenery can be done a month after sowing, by which time the plants will have risen 10–12 cm in height.
Basil. Seedlings in a snail - video
Possible problems with basil seedlings
Seedlings are practically not affected by pests, but in unfavorable conditions they can get sick, which will immediately affect them. appearance.
Pull
With a lack of light and heat, or too dense planting, the seedlings wither and stretch out. It is necessary to move the plants to a warmer and brighter place and use additional lighting. Densely planted plants should be thinned out.
In unfavorable conditions, basil seedlings stretch
When pulling out seedlings, a long stem is placed in a small depression next to the plant, sprinkled with earth, and watered. Soon small roots will appear on the buried part.
Blackleg
In case of excessive moisture or watering cold water seedlings may suffer from blackleg. The root collar becomes thin, turns black, and the plant disappears.
The soil must be watered moderately with warm water and monitored temperature conditions.
To prevent such problems from arising, plants are not planted too densely. Then they do not interfere with each other’s development and receive the necessary nutrition and light. To prevent blackleg, the soil is sprinkled with ash before watering, which not only disinfects the soil, but also nourishes it due to its potassium and phosphorus content.
Yellowing of leaves
Yellowing and drying of seedlings can be caused by a lack of microelements. In nutritious soil the plant has bright green leaves. The situation can be corrected by adding Fitosporin.
Yellowed leaves are a signal that the plant needs to be fed.
Spots on leaves
Spots may appear on the leaves - this is sunburn, obtained by the plant when exposed to too bright spring sun. It is necessary to shade young seedlings on a hot afternoon using blinds or curtains.
Healthy seedlings Basil is stocky, with 4–6 true leaves and the rich color characteristic of this species.
Strong basil seedlings ready for planting in the ground
2 weeks before planting, they begin to harden it in the fresh air at a temperature not lower than +5–10°C.
Seedlings are planted on the site in late May - early June, when the soil warms up to +15°C. Choose a place protected from the wind, illuminated most of the day. Plant at a distance of 30 cm from each other - for tall varieties, and 15 cm - for compact specimens.
At the end of May, seedlings are planted in the ground
After planting, watering is carried out. Basil will quickly grow green mass.
This is a unique quote
Just a note. The ancient Romans considered basil a symbol of success: for prosperity and longevity, you need to consume it as much as possible.
Basil quickly grows after planting in the ground
Growing basil seedlings requires attention, accuracy and patience. Only upon creation necessary conditions and conducting preventive measures protection from diseases, you can grow strong, resilient, healthy seedlings.
Let's look at what basil is like. Growing from seeds and caring for it will not add any special difficulties to the gardener. Many people like basil for its special taste, aroma, beneficial properties. It is a lush medium-sized bush, approximately 60-80 cm tall, often used not only for cooking, but also as decorative decoration plot.
Many people like aromatic spices such as fennel, rosemary, thyme, tarragon, cilantro, and basil, which is why they have been successfully grown in our gardens for a long time.
Green and purple basil in the garden
What kind of plant is basil?
This plant, originally from Asia, has several varieties, the varieties differ in color and leaf shape. The culinary arts of European countries widely use green basil for preparing dishes.
Green basil
In our country, on the contrary, its purple counterpart is more common, which has a bright, pronounced aroma.
Purple basil The leaves of the Baku variety are purple in color, their smell is somewhat reminiscent of a mixture of the aromas of mint and cloves (seasoning). Basil with a bluish color (Yerevan) smells like tea, allspice. Green basil(Spoon-shaped) - the smell is a bit like laurel with a hint of cloves.
In addition to its culinary purpose, this aromatic crop has quite a wide application, since its leaves and stems contain many vitamins, essential components, camphor, carotene, and potassium. Purple basil has bactericidal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its use has a positive effect on the nervous and genitourinary systems. An interesting fact is that mosquitoes, midges, and flies do not like the smell of basil, so it would be advisable to sow it near gazebos, benches or other recreational areas at your dacha.
Dry or fresh leaf Basil is used to prepare a wide variety of dishes, sauces, and soups. It should be added very carefully, as it can completely change, even interrupt, the taste of the main ingredients.
Growing basil from seedlings
This grass prefers light, fertile soil, begins to bloom in mid-summer, and continues until the first days of autumn. Basil loves warm, well-lit places and does not react well to temperature changes. How to grow basil from seeds at home? Experienced gardeners recommend pre-soaking the seeds (2 times) hot water- no more than +30°C, for about 15 minutes. If you have potassium permanganate, you can add a little powder to the water.
Basil shoots Shallow containers (5-7 cm) with a substrate are prepared in advance, which is thoroughly moistened before sowing the seeds (early to mid-April). Also for planting you can use a soil mixture consisting of humus, peat, sand (proportions - 2: 4: 1).
The seeds are buried about 1 cm, carefully watered, after which the box is placed in a sunlit place where the temperature is not lower than +23°C. After 7-10 days, the first shoots appear, by this time the temperature should be lowered to +17..20°C so that the seedlings do not stretch.
At all stages of growing basil, watering should be done only with warm water. You should also not allow the soil to dry out or become waterlogged (to avoid the appearance of blackleg).
How to plant basil in separate pots? When the seedlings have two true leaves, it is time to pick. To do this, you can use special cassettes or other small containers. At the bottom you can put small crushed stone or pebbles, which will serve as drainage. Picking is done carefully, without fear of damaging root system. Plants are planted in small depressions, followed by regular watering.
Basil - planting and care in open ground
Somewhere 7-10 days before transferring plants to open ground you need to start hardening - reduce the amount of water when watering, ventilate, gradually reduce the temperature (not lower than +7..10°C). By the end of May/beginning of June, when the ground warms up to about +15°C, you can remove the seedlings from the pots and replant them in the ground.
Next, we plant and plant basil in the beds. in open ground growing this crop is practically no different from any other seedling. The bushes are located at a distance of 25-30 cm from each other, the depression in the soil should be approximately 7-10 cm. The distance between the beds should be approximately 30 cm. The hole should be well watered before planting the plant. The bush itself should be planted in such a way that its main bud and leaves are located above the soil. As is the case with other seedlings, it is better to choose a cloudy day for planting bushes so that the sun has minimal contact with the young basil.
In order for the bushes to develop well and delight you with their splendor, the tops of the plants can be pinched off at the stage of the appearance of the fifth or sixth full leaf. This maneuver helps the basil grow in width and density. Subsequently, in order for the plant to also produce lush leaves, the inflorescences must be removed in a timely manner - pinch off or cut off. The soil, naturally, requires regular watering and loosening, and weeds should be destroyed.
Planting basil seeds directly in open ground
You can also plant this aromatic spice directly into the ground, bypassing the process of preliminary cultivation in boxes or pots. If you live in the south of the country, then this process should be completed by the middle or end of April. If you are in middle lane, then it is better to sow basil by the middle/end of May, when you are absolutely sure that no more cold snaps are expected.
Similarly, seeds are first soaked in hot water. Shallow beds are formed in the garden, and the specifics of sowing seeds repeat the above-described method of sowing seedlings. Burying the seed - no more than 1 cm, subsequent watering, fluffing up the soil, removing weeds. When the plants reach 20 cm, the tops are pinched. The more leaves you remove from the bush, the more actively they will grow again.
Basil is a plant whose best time for harvesting for autumn, winter is the period before flowering. By this time, it reaches the maximum concentration of useful components, vitamins, essential oils. As soon as you see buds that have not yet blossomed, immediately tear off the sheet for the workpiece. When the seeds ripen, you can collect them and use them for their intended purpose with the onset of spring.
Basil feels comfortable in the garden until the first serious cold snap occurs. Before frost approaches, you can dig up a bush and plant it in indoor pot, this way you will always have aromatic spice and at the same time beautiful plant Houses.
You should know that it is not recommended to plant basil in the same place for several years - this increases the risk of the plant contracting fusarium.
Now you know when to plant basil seedlings, plant them, how to care for seedlings and grown bushes. It grows well at usual care but if you decide to feed it organic fertilizers, then it won't get any worse. Using the method described above, you can grow basic varieties of basil or hybrid ones, such as “Balconstar”, “Anise”, “Fantaser”, “Lemon Aroma”.
We hope that the fragrant, spicy ornamental annual basil, grown from seeds, and the subsequent care for which were described in this article, will now settle on your summer cottage.
Basil is a spice loved by many, but not everyone can grow it. There are several reasons. The plant is afraid of frost, and when sown in late spring - early summer, the greens are ready for harvest only in the fall. You need to choose early varieties or allocate space for seedlings on your windows. In addition, basil seeds without special training they germinate poorly. But you can also conquer this crop if you master at least one of several technologies for sowing it.
Where to start planting basil
Start sowing by selecting seeds. Pay attention not only to what aroma the variety has, but also to the timing of its ripening. In basil they are equal to the period from germination to flowering. Moreover, the words on the bags “early”, “mid-early”, “early ripening” should not worry you, since this is what they write about varieties that ripen in 30 days and 70. Really early varieties (30–45 days) can be sown immediately into the ground with pre-treatment, mid-season and late (90 days) are best grown through seedlings.
As an option: sow one part of the seeds for seedlings, the second - in a greenhouse, and the third - in open ground when the weather gets warm. So in one season you will gain experience in growing basil in several ways.
Basil seeds are small, there are a lot of them in the package, enough for sowing in different ways
The main purpose of basil is as a spice for pickling and pickling cucumbers and tomatoes for the winter. Therefore, they are trying to grow it for the mass harvest of these vegetables. In addition, basil is added to meat dishes, snacks, and salads. In large doses, as an independent dish, it is contraindicated for diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
When to sow
Sowing dates depend on where you plan to grow your basil.
- Sow in open ground when the ground warms up to +15⁰C and the threat of frost has passed. At the same time, plant the seedlings.
- IN summer greenhouse or in a greenhouse - 2 weeks earlier than in open ground.
- For seedlings - 14–30 days for early and 45–60 for mid- and late-ripening varieties before planting permanent place(in a greenhouse or open ground).
Count down from the planned planting date and add 7-10 days for soaking and germination. For example, you need to sow American lemon basil (55–60 days). In the middle zone, frosts stop at the beginning of June, which means:
- we sow in the ground at the end of May, seedlings will appear just by the beginning of June;
- to the greenhouse - May 15;
- for seedlings for planting in the ground - we count from the beginning of June: 45 days (seedling age) plus a week for seedlings, we get April 7–8;
- for seedlings to be planted in a greenhouse, respectively, 2 weeks earlier than in the ground - in the second ten days of March.
The calculation is given for mid-season variety, early basils are sown 2 weeks later, late basils are sown 2 weeks earlier. In addition, this crop is grown on windowsills from March to October. During this period, plants have enough natural light on a window or balcony. At home, under phytolamps, basil is sown and grown all year round.
Basil is not only edible, but also beautiful, which is why it is grown as a potted crop, especially low-growing varieties.
Soil for basil
The soil for this aromatic herb needs loose and nutritious soil. On the plot or in the greenhouse, add a bucket of well-rotted compost or humus for each square meter beds. If the soil is clayey or heavy, add a bucket of old sawdust. Last year's fallen leaves, grass dust and other plant debris are suitable as a leavening agent.
Video: green manure for looseness and fertility of beds
For seedlings, buy ready-made universal primer in the store. Ask the seller for a mixture for sowing small seeds. If the soil on your site has thawed by the time of planting, then pick it up and mix it with peat and humus (compost) in equal proportions 1:1:1. Before sowing, the soil must be poured with boiling water or heated in the oven, microwave, oven, or grill until it begins to steam. This is necessary to destroy pests (aphids, whiteflies, spider mites), whose eggs overwinter under lumps of earth and in plant debris.
By warming the soil to 100⁰C, you will get rid of pests and pathogens that can harm basil seedlings
Seed preparation
The seeds of heat-loving basil are protected from drying out and cold by a shell of essential oils, which dissolves only in an environment favorable for growth, which is why as a result of sowing in the usual way The germination rate of basil is low. The garden bed needs to be at least watered, covered with film and then removed in time. But better seeds first germinate or at least soak.
- Take cotton pads or a cloth and wrap the seeds in them.
- Pour hot water (+50–60⁰C), lightly squeeze out excess water.
- Wrap everything in a plastic bag and place in a warm place (+25⁰C).
If you unwrap them after half an hour or an hour, you will see that the seeds are covered with a cloudy, slippery coating - this is the oils dissolving. Now you can sow in the ground or wait another 3-4 days for germination.
After soaking basil seeds, the shell softens and no longer interferes with their germination
Several ways to sow basil
Resourceful gardeners have mastered many technologies to get an early and rich harvest. Among them are sowing on gauze, toilet paper, in a snail and even in a rolled-up cigarette without soil. But you can start from the very simple ways: classic for seedlings and direct sowing in the ground early varieties.
In all methods, when planting in water for watering and soaking seeds, you can add Epin - 3 drops per 0.5 liter of water.
Sowing in open ground
With this method, the main thing is to choose the right variety. It should ripen in 30–40 days.
The varieties Aramis (35–40 days), Gvozdichny (30–40 days), Caramel (35–45 days), Limonchik (45 days), Robin Bobin (42 days) and others are suitable for sowing in open ground.
Planting stages:
- Soak or sprout the seeds.
- Make grooves at a distance of 20–30 cm from one another.
- Run the grooves with warm water.
- Spread the seeds and cover with soil. The embedment depth is no more than 1 cm.
- Cover with film or agrofibre.
Place the seeds in the furrows every 1–2 cm in case of poor germination. If the plants sprout densely, then in the phase of the first pair of true leaves they can be picked according to the scheme indicated on the seed package.
Video: agronomist's advice on how to sow, grow and use basil (after the 9th minute)
Sowing seedlings in the classic way
Take boxes or cups 7–10 cm deep. If you plan to grow on the windowsill for more than a month with picking, then the first container can be shallow - 3–5 cm. Picking during the seedling period slows down development for a week - which means add more to the estimated sowing time 7 days.
Mid-season (Sorcerer, Moskvoretsky, Karamelny, Orion) and late-season (Zastolny, Sharm, Marquis, Fantaser) varieties are grown through seedlings.
If you take a larger and deeper container, one for the entire seedling period, then lay a 2–3 cm layer of drainage on the bottom. You can use perlite, small river pebbles, and pieces of polystyrene foam. Any container must have drainage holes.
The usual way to grow basil is in a container, box or seedling tray.
- Fill the boxes, cassettes, pots or cups with soil, but not to the top, so that you can add soil as they grow.
- Water the soil well.
- Place the soaked or germinated seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other.
- Cover them up thin layer soil - 0.5–1 cm. Can be sown superficially and covered as it grows. Do not water from above; the seeds may go deep with the water or, conversely, float to the surface.
- Cover the crops with film and place in a warm place.
- At a temperature of +25–30⁰C, seedlings will appear in 5–7 days. Dry seeds germinate in 1.5–2 weeks.
Video: simple sowing of basil
On gauze
The method works when planting immediately in a permanent place with subsequent thinning, or if the seedlings are grown in a container for more than a month without picking.
- Spread a plastic bag, and on top of it - gauze or a wide bandage in 2-3 layers.
- Wet the gauze with water from a spray bottle.
- Place the seeds evenly at a distance of 2-3 cm from one another.
- Cover the top with another bag and put it in a warm place for germination. If you need a lot of basil, make several layers like this: film - gauze with seeds - film - gauze with seeds again, etc. The hatched seeds will germinate into the gauze and attach to it.
- Spread these strips with seeds in a container with soil or on a garden bed, carefully straighten the fabric, cover with soil on top and water.
Gauze with seeds sprouted on it is spread on the surface of the soil and covered with earth.
The method must be approached thoughtfully. If the seedling period lasts 1.5–2 months, then the gauze may crumble, then you can easily transplant the basil into the garden bed. Before this period, in the phase of the first two true leaves, it will not be possible to pick, because the roots are entwined with gauze, which is still intact. You can only thin out by pinching off the excess ones above the ground, or spread out the seeds less frequently before sowing.
Video: sowing basil on cheesecloth
In the snail
They write and show a lot about sowing into a snail, but the method was daunting due to its complexity. It was suggested: spread a strip of film or backing for the laminate, pour a layer of earth on top, then spread the seeds, stepping back 1-2 cm from the edge. Wrap everything up, secure it and place it so that the earth and seeds do not scatter. It was this last stage that forced many to abandon the method. Without experience and sleight of hand, soil and carefully placed seeds will certainly end up on the table, floor and surrounding area.
Not everyone can roll up a snail the first time without scattering the soil and seeds.
But as soon as you make just one change to the usual scheme, planting in a snail turns into a simple agricultural technique.
- Take a strip of film 10–12 cm wide, any length. Having made one snail, you yourself decide on their number and the length of the ribbon.
- Pour soil onto the film and spread it evenly over the entire area of the tape in a layer of about 2 cm.
- Moisten the soil well.
- Roll the film with soil into a roll (no seeds!), secure with rubber bands or tape.
- Press a cardboard or saucer to one edge (it will be the bottom) and lift the snail by the second (future top) edge so that it stands vertically. Place the snail on a tray, which can be a saucer or a plastic container.
- And only now start sowing. Distribute the prepared seeds 1 cm apart from each other in a snail spiral.
- Sprinkle soil on top, cover with film and place in a warm place until shoots appear.
Video: sowing into a ready-made snail
In a rolled-up cigarette without land
The method is good for early varieties that will grow on the windowsill for no more than two weeks, as well as for growing before the first picking.
- Take a strip of film the same width as toilet paper. Spread it on the table. You can fold a regular plastic bag in half.
- Place toilet paper on top in 3-4 layers.
- Wet the paper from the spray bottle.
- Along one (it will be the top) edge, retreating about 2 mm, place basil seeds every 2 mm.
- Roll the film with paper and seeds into a rolled-up tube.
- Place in a glass filled with 0.5 mm water.
- Place in a warm, dark place, and after germination (after 3-4 days) transfer to light.
To water, pour water into a glass. It is important that the bottom edge of the paper is in the water.
Rolled seedlings cannot live long without soil; at the age of 1–2 weeks, the seedlings need to be transplanted into the ground
There is no food in this design, but the seedlings will have enough reserves available in the seeds. In rolling papers without soil, basil grows well for 1–2 weeks. Then you need to unroll the roll, add soil, like in a snail, or transplant the plants into pots and beds. From wet paper the roots separate very well without being damaged.
To spread small basil seeds on paper, it is convenient to use a wooden toothpick moistened with water.
Video: sowing in rolled toilet paper
Early varieties of basil can be sown in open ground, middle and late varieties are grown through seedlings or in a greenhouse. There is only one caveat - the seeds do not germinate well, since they are covered with a natural coating of essential oil. Before planting, it is necessary to dissolve it by placing the seeds in a warm and humid environment.
The herb gets its name from the Greek word meaning “king.” It has a bitter taste and a minty-pepper aroma. It is a popular seasoning in Mediterranean cuisine. The famous Italian pesto sauce is prepared using basil. In France, its combination with tomatoes is a culinary canon. Later in this article we will talk about proper cultivation this wonderful herb in the country house or garden. Let's find out how and when to plant seeds in open ground. How to pick, transplant or plant the first shoots.
People have been using basil for 5,000 years. Both in cooking and in medicine. Basil tea calms the nerves and tones the body. It is drunk to relieve stomach colic. It improves the functioning of the liver and gall bladder.
The homeland of the grass is Africa. It appeared in Russia in the 18th century. Back then, popular tonics and cosmetic masks were made on its basis, which are still popular today.
Basil in a pot closeup
Description of the bush
Basil – annual plant, with oblong, short-petioled leaves. The stem reaches an average length of 60 cm. The root is branching and located close to the surface. The leaves, like the stem, are covered with hairs. The flowers are white, pale pink. The fruits are dark, nut-like, ripen in groups of 4 and remain viable for 5 years.
How many varieties can you plant in your dacha?
There are many varieties of grass, more than a hundred. Sweet basil is the most popular of them. In Africa, basil grows with blue leaves, called camphor. In Mexico it is cinnamon, and in southeast Asia it is lemon. There is a species with purple leaves. Its aroma is weak compared to green, but rich color it is often used in decorating dishes.
Preparing seedlings at home in spring
Seeds are planted into seedlings at the end of March. They are soaked briefly before planting. Two hours in warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate is enough. For seedlings, containers with a depth of 10 cm or more, pots or flower boxes are suitable. Drainage is laid at the bottom, sprinkle it on top with a soil mixture (proportions 4:2:1) from:
- peat
- humus
- sand
Furrows 1 cm deep are made in the ground, into which the seeds are placed.. Sprinkle with earth and irrigate with a sprayer, and then cover with film or glass.
Containers with seeds are placed in a warm place. At this stage, it is important to properly care for the seedlings:
- Once a day, remove the film or glass and ventilate it briefly (15 minutes is enough)
- remove condensation from the inside
- easily moisten the soil
In a week the first shoots will appear. This is a sign that it is time to open the seedlings. When the sprouts have their first full leaf, they are planted at a distance of 5 cm from each other. When the fifth leaf appears, the top of the sprouts is pinched. This will give the plant more foliage.
At the end of May, sprouts sprouted at home are planted in open ground. It is important that the plants have 5 formed leaves. Until they appear, you can wait to plant.
Before planting, the seedlings are taken out of the room and left in the open air so that they harden. Start with 15 minutes and gradually increase the time spent outside to several hours. Hardening begins a week before transplantation.
How to plant seeds or seedlings in open ground
Basil is dying from low temperatures . Therefore, seedlings are planted in a permanent place when there are no morning frosts. The best time to plant vegetable seeds in the spring is mid-May. You can choose any scheme for sowing.
The soil for grass needs to be fertile, air- and moisture-permeable. The soil is fertilized before planting. 2 kg of humus, peat and compost are added per 1 m2.
The sprouts are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, in holes 10 cm deep. Before planting, the holes are watered abundantly.
You cannot plant basil in the same place two years in a row. This will lead to the appearance of brown spots on the leaves and the death of the plantings. The reason for this is the disease fusarium. It is caused by fungi that live in the soil for a long time. Between planting herbs, the soil “rests” for 5 years.
Growing and caring for green basil shoots in the garden
Basil grown in a barrel Basil needs to be watered with warm, settled water. Experienced gardeners They build a large plastic barrel for this. During the day, the water in the barrel will heat up and settle. By evening it is suitable for watering.
It is important not to overwater the sprouts. The soil should be slightly moist. If there is excess moisture, the plant will be affected by blackleg.
Grass grows well when fed nitrogen fertilizers . The first feeding occurs two weeks after planting.
To increase green mass sprouts, in addition to pinching the tops, flowers are cut off on them.
The soil around the plants is loosened and weeded to remove weeds. During the summer season, 6-7 times are enough. After weeding and loosening, the sprouts are watered abundantly.
Harvesting crops in the garden
Basil leaves are collected before flowering. Then the concentration of essential oils and vitamins in them is peak. An unripe bud is a sign for collecting leaves.
The grass blooms until the first autumn days. Do not forget that this is a heat-loving plant. Before the first frost occurs, it is transplanted into a greenhouse or into a house. Grass grows without problems in a pot for indoor flowers. It decorates the house and fills the rooms with a spicy aroma.
Proper drying
After harvesting, the crop is dried:
- Outdoors. The leaves are washed, debris removed and laid out on a towel. When the water has drained, place them on a baking sheet. It is better to tie a large harvest in bunches and hang it on a rope in a warm room without straight lines. sun rays.
- In the oven. Place the washed and dried leaves on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400˚C. Drying will take 2 hours.
- In the microwave. On full power Drying will take 3 minutes.
Readiness is determined manually. Dried herbs crumble easily in your hands. It is stored in dry glass jars or paper bags.
Basil plant care Freezing whole leaves
They are washed and dipped in boiling water for 3 seconds. Then cool in cold water. Dry a little on a towel and put into bags in small portions. Then put in freezer.
Quick freezing of chopped leaves
They are washed, finely chopped and filled with water. Water is poured into molds and placed in the freezer. If you use olive oil instead of water, you will get an excellent preparation for frying in a frying pan.
Basil has long been known to man. It takes pride of place in the cuisine of many countries: Greece, France, Italy and Thailand. In Transcaucasia, it even received its own name - regan.
It contains vitamins:
- C (reduces blood cholesterol levels)
- B (riboflavin, good for eyes)
- PP (nicotinic acid for healthy skin and gastric mucosa)
Due to the presence of mercury compounds in basil, it is dangerous to consume in large quantities. During pregnancy, diabetes and heart disease, the herb can be harmful to health. Everything is good in moderation, including basil.
Growing red basil in your garden is easy. The plant is unpretentious and requires little care and attention. You can sow it almost half of May. The plant does not always need picking. In addition, the plant germinates quickly and grows quickly. The harvest is easy to harvest and prepare. To diversify the table and treat yourself to the “king” among herbs it won't take a lot of effort and time.
Basil - one of the favorite seasonings - until recently was little known in the middle zone, but in recent years gained popularity. Every gardener tries to plant it on his plot. And although basil is a heat-loving crop, there is nothing difficult in planting and caring for it. Most often it is necessary to plant it in open ground as seedlings.
Choosing a place and soil for basil on the site
Basil came to us from India, a very warm country, so this herb is not adapted to cold weather and does not tolerate frost at all. However, basil has nevertheless gained popularity in our country due to its unpretentiousness and easy care: it grows wherever it is warm. It is planted not only in the garden, but also in greenhouses or open ground. You can successfully grow it in a city apartment, even in winter: in pots on a sunny windowsill, and on insulated balconies. With sufficient moisture, heat and light, the harvest will be no less high-quality, beautiful and aromatic than in the open ground or in its homeland.
To receive good harvest The soil for planting basil must be nutritious, and it especially loves organic fertilizers. Therefore, the best predecessors for basil are vegetable plants, under which a lot of manure, humus or peat is always added:
- cucumbers,
- eggplants,
- peppers.
Basil also grows well after peas, beans, and tomatoes. The garden bed must be arranged on sunny place, closed from strong winds. Best soils- light and breathable, with neutral acidity. If the situation is different on the site, the soil is heavy and clayey, then sand should be added to the basil bed, and if it is strongly acidic, lime should be added.
Basil grows best in light but fertile soils.
It is advisable to prepare the bed in the fall, digging the soil well onto the bayonet of a shovel and removing perennial weeds and application of fertilizers. Do basil need mineral fertilizers? In principle, he will not refuse superphosphate with potassium nitrate. But do you need it? After all, we eat young, fragrant leaves for food. And even if they don’t swallow “any chemicals,” they will still think that we are not eating a completely environmentally friendly product. Therefore, if you have enough rotted manure or compost at your disposal, you can limit yourself to this. You can add half a bucket of organic matter per square meter, or even more. Of course, if a very high yield is of interest, mineral fertilizers are also applied. But it is better to do this in the spring, shortly before planting. In this case, nitrogen and potassium fertilizers are taken at 10–20 g per 1 m2, and superphosphate - twice as much. And don’t forget about the usual ash from burning wood residues. This is both fertilizer and protection from many pests. There is almost never too much ash in the garden. You can bury at least a liter jar of it per square meter.
Basil is useful not only for people, but also for most neighbors in the garden: its odorous substances repel many pests, especially aphids and spider mites. Therefore, where there are no problems with cultivating basil, several bushes of this herb are planted in each bed. Even mosquitoes don’t like the smell of basil, which is another reason to definitely plant it in your summer cottage. And many people prepare basil in dried form, because it copes with similar tasks quite well.
Basil is often planted at the edge of beds with other vegetables to help repel pests.
When and how to plant basil in the garden
When growing basil in the garden open area They use both sowing its seeds directly in the ground and planting pre-prepared seedlings in holes. First of all, the choice of method is determined by the climate in the region, and also depends on how early we want to get the spicy harvest. useful plant. Certainly, seedling method cultivation for any heat-loving crops in most regions of our country is more preferable.
Anyway, if you don't buy ready seedlings, the process begins with the procurement of seeds and their processing. It is recommended to keep purchased seeds for about two weeks in a warm place, for example, near a radiator, before sowing. This will increase germination. Before planting, it is worth disinfecting the seeds in a dark solution of potassium permanganate. To grow seedlings in early spring, seeds are sown in boxes to a depth of 5–8 mm. IN ordinary apartment Basil shoots can be expected within ten days. Caring for seedlings - as in the case of most heat-loving plants. As a rule, the strongest specimens, after the appearance of a pair of true leaves, are dived into separate cups. If you don't do this, nothing bad will happen. Basil is not pepper or eggplant; you will still grow a fragrant herb. You just shouldn’t let the box get too thick: there’s no time to dive - you need to at least thin it out. The optimal basil seedlings for planting in open ground should have 4–6 true strong leaves. This usually happens towards the end of spring or beginning of summer.
Planting basil seedlings in open ground
The timing of planting basil seedlings in open ground is determined by its condition and the current weather. The estimated date in most regions is the end of May. Although it doesn’t happen from year to year. Even in the Saratov region in 2008, frosts killed everything in the gardens on June 9–10. But this, of course, is a cataclysm, without which life cannot do. It is important that by the time the seedlings are planted, the soil has warmed up to 14–16 degrees. It is advisable to choose a cloudy day for planting. If this does not work, after planting the bushes should be hidden from the sun's rays, covered with newspapers, grass or, better, light spunbond.
Good basil seedlings should have at least four well-formed leaves
The planting technique is simple, especially if each basil bush has grown in a separate container. It is more convenient to plant in moist soil, so if there has been no rain for a long time, the bed should be watered from a watering can with water at normal temperature. It's better if she warmed up in the sun. Maintain a distance of 20–30 cm between plants (depending on the variety and availability of space in the garden bed). The planting depth is approximately the same as that at which the plant is accustomed to living in a glass, maybe a little deeper. You should not bury the leaves in the ground, as we often do with tomato seedlings. Immediately after planting, carefully water each bush with about one liter. warm water from a ladle. It is advisable to immediately mulch with a small layer of humus or at least dry soil.
Video: picking seedlings into the garden bed
June sowing of seeds in open ground
In most regions of the country, sowing basil seeds directly into open ground is quite possible. True, it will be possible to count on a serious harvest only by the end of summer. Only in the south can you sow without fear already at the beginning of May, and in the middle zone - only closer to the beginning of June. The guideline is approximately the same as for planting seedlings: the end of the season of possible frosts and warming up the soil to 15 degrees. Of course, subject to the use of covering material (spunbond, lutrasil, at worst - well-deserved polyethylene film) you can move the sowing date back two weeks. But if we don’t want to deal with covering, we look at the weather and the condition of the soil: after all, the polyethylene will have to be removed immediately after the first shoots appear, and nonwovens- a week after them.
Basil seeds (germination up to five years) are black and very small. Sowing individually, as some gardeners advise, is a hassle. There is little point in this. You can, like carrot seeds, mix them with sand so that they are not too thick, but you still have to sow them in an ordinary way. Do I need to soak the seeds before sowing? You can, of course, even in a solution of a growth stimulator, for 5–8 hours. But after this they must be dried until they flow, otherwise it will be very difficult to sow. And we must take into account that soaked seeds will sprout several days faster.
Basil seeds are beautiful, but small, and you have to sow them not one by one, but in a row
Sowing is carried out in shallow trenches made with a hoe. A distance of 30–35 cm is maintained between the trenches. If it is dry, the trenches should be well watered from a watering can without a strainer. After sowing, immediately sprinkle with soil and trample down. Depth - as in the case of sowing seedlings: a centimeter or less. Watering after sowing is not advisable for most soil types: a crust will form and it will become dry at a depth of 1 cm. If the trenches are well drained, there should be enough moisture for the seeds to germinate.
In two weeks, there should already be friendly shoots on the beds, and as soon as you can grab them by the top, you should do the first thinning. First, we leave a distance of about 10 cm between the plants. When the time comes for the second thinning, up to 20–30 cm, some bushes may die. In addition, by thinning the second time, we will be able to enjoy a little of the delicious leaves. And there’s no need to pull it out ahead of time: these are the vitamins we wanted to get! Further care both in the case of sowing seeds and planting seedlings, is the same.
Caring for Basil
Caring for basil plantings is simple: regular watering, weeding, loosening. Watering should be regular, but without waterlogging, preferably in the evening. Still, basil is a bit of a capricious herb: it does not tolerate drying out of the soil or stagnation of water in the garden. Many gardeners add urea to irrigation water from time to time (1 tablespoon per bucket). Perhaps this is the only fertilizer that can be safely recommended for feeding basil. It stimulates leaf growth well and, in a highly diluted form, is completely harmless to environment. Using saltpeter for fertilizing green plants less desirable. But if the bed has been well-filled with organic fertilizers, you can usually do without fertilizing.
To increase the splendor of the bush, after the appearance of 5-7 strong leaves, you can pinch the top, that is, bite it off with your fingernail. Then new shoots will appear above each of the remaining leaves, and the fragrant harvest will be much higher: the bush can produce up to 15 side shoots, each of which, in turn, also branches. If you do not want to receive seeds for sowing next year, then when the inflorescences appear, they should be cut off immediately. Basil usually blooms in the second half of summer, and it blooms long and profusely.
On a flowering bush, the leaves are especially fragrant, but coarse, and there are few of them: the plant’s energy goes into flowering
Basil in case proper care and good weather produces a fragrant harvest until the onset of autumn frosts. Each time you cut off the leaves for consumption, you must also monitor the emerging flowers: if they are not cut off, the yield is sharply reduced. If we are talking about a harvest “for yourself, for barbecue,” then several leaves can be plucked almost every day. If the goal is to obtain large yields, then it is actually harvested twice per season: before flowering and at the end of summer. In this case, almost all the leaves are cut off, leaving only a little at the bottom of the shoots. When autumn comes, the bushes, if they are still in good condition, can even be carefully dug up, transplanted into a pot and placed in an apartment for the winter. The harvest will continue to arrive.
Features of planting in open ground in the Moscow region
The Moscow region, like the entire central zone of Russia, is characterized by weather instability. However, her summer whims are not an obstacle to growing basil. The warmth in the summer months is quite sufficient, and there is usually even more rain. Therefore, the only question can be how to plant. The answer is also simple: exclusively seedlings. Sowing seeds, of course, is possible, but the harvest from the seeds will only be obtained closer to autumn, and the period of consumption of aromatic green and purple leaves will be small. If a gardener does not have time to grow seedlings in the spring, they can easily be purchased at finished form, and even in a pot, which is very easy to bury in the ground on the site.
The best varieties of basil for planting in central Russia, including the Moscow region, are Yerevansky and Small-leaved. The first produces beautiful blue-violet bushes 40–60 cm tall. The second has small green leaves, the bush is slightly lower.
The Yerevan variety does not produce the most luxurious bush, but is very suitable for growing in the middle zone
Seeds are sown in boxes two months before seedlings are planted in the ground; for the Moscow region this is the beginning of April. Seedlings are grown as usual. The warmest, well-fertilized beds are reserved for planting basil in the garden. Seedlings with 4–6 leaves are planted in open ground after the end of the threat of frost. The most reliable thing is not earlier than June 10. If there are greenhouses or greenhouses on the site, you can do this earlier, but we must remember that basil requires a lot of sunny color, and it feels much worse in shelters. But in the Moscow region, cloudy days are already quite common!
Peduncles should be cut off as soon as they begin to appear. Moreover, in climatic conditions In the Moscow region, basil seeds still practically do not ripen.
Basil is one of the healthiest herbs; it has a unique aroma and improves the taste of both salads and many first and second courses. Growing basil is not as easy as, for example, dill or sorrel, but it is quite possible. And if you haven’t had this interesting spice on your site yet, you should definitely try adding it there.
