How to grow basil properly at home?

Basil is an unpretentious crop that can be grown at home throughout the year. But since this plant is of tropical origin, in order to get a harvest, it is necessary to create certain conditions for it. Therefore, before you start planting, you should figure out how to grow basil on a windowsill. For this purpose, it is advisable to use undersized varieties: Clove, Marquis, Dwarf, Yerevan, Lemon or Violet.

Unique properties of basil

Basil is widely used in medicine and cooking. It has many positive properties. The plant has an analgesic, antiseptic, bactericidal, diaphoretic, antispasmodic and expectorant effect on the body.

Basil is a versatile home remedy that relieves many symptoms

Basil is used to treat:

• bronchitis;
• asthma;
• tuberculosis;
• urolithiasis;
• hyperemia (an increase in the amount of blood supplied to any part of the body);
• cardiovascular and skin diseases;
• conjunctivitis;
• gastroenteritis;
• rheumatism;
• measles;
• headaches;
• caries;
• tartar and plaque;
• pathologies resulting from radiation damage.

In addition, basil strengthens the immune system well.

Not surprisingly, many growers choose to grow basil in their home. Indeed, the plant contains a large amount of potassium, due to which its use helps to reduce blood pressure.

Basil is a healthy and tasty spice

There is a positive effect of basil on the emotional state of a person. The plant helps to reduce stress, reduce feelings of nervousness and anxiety. Vitamin A, C, essential mass and phytonutrients that make up it, rid the body of free radicals and help prolong youth.

However, basil also has negative characteristics. Its overdose can provoke poisoning. When it comes into contact with mucous membranes, the plant causes irritation. Its use is contraindicated during pregnancy, with vein thrombosis and blood clotting disorders. Thus, despite the wide list of positive properties of this plant, it is categorically not recommended to use it without consulting a doctor.

Basil should be used correctly so as not to harm yourself

In cooking, basil is used in the preparation of ketchups, sauces, dressings, gravy, sandwich butter. It is added to products during the smoking and canning process. It improves the taste characteristics of sausages, pates, omelets, salads.

This plant goes well with parsley, tarragon, mint, coriander and marjoram. But it should be borne in mind that basil has a fairly rich aroma that can overpower the smells of other spices. Therefore, use it sparingly.

How to grow basil from cuttings in an apartment or house?

There are several methods you can use to plant basil at home. Cutting is perhaps the fastest of them, because it allows you to get greens in two weeks.

Cutting is a simple and reliable method of growing basil

Cuttings are cut from the basil bush. When buying a plant, you need to make sure that it is not wilted. Basil is not required to have roots. You will also need a knife or scissors, water (+ 25 ° C) and a glass jar.

Landing is done as follows:

1. First, 5 cm side shoots are cut under the leaf nodes.First, we cut off the sprout for grafting
2. Then they are placed in jars filled with water and placed on a windowsill. We put the cuttings in water and wait for the roots to appear
3. The water in the tank is changed daily. After a week, small roots will appear on the cuttings.
4. When they reach a length of 4 cm, the basil is transplanted into a pot. 3 plants are placed in one container.

Rooting cuttings in a pot

For culinary purposes, leaves are used, which are cut when the plant reaches 15 cm in height. The life span of such a bush is 3-4 months.

Important! Cuttings must be protected from sunlight, as exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause plants to burn and die.

Soil and pot requirements

Basil requires fertile and light soil. You can find ready-made soil mix in a specialized store. In this case, preliminary preparation is not necessary. But if the soil mixture is prepared at home, it must be poured with a solution of 1 liter of water and 1/8 tsp. potassium sulfate, urea or superphosphate.

Ensure proper soil composition and pot drainage

Basil soil can be composed of the following components:

• humus, earth and peat mixed in equal proportions;
• one part coconut fiber and two parts humus;
• compost and soil (2: 1);
• peat and humus (2: 1).

It is advisable to place the soil in an oven preheated to 100 ° C for 60 minutes. After that, the soil is watered with fertilizers. When planting basil, you will definitely need drainage, which is placed on the bottom of the pot with a layer of 3 cm:

• small pebbles;
• coarse sand;
• gravel;
• crushed stone;
• expanded clay.

The plant is planted in pots with a volume of 1.5 liters.

Important! When growing basil, it is imperative to use drainage, as excessive soil moisture can cause the development of diseases.

External conditions

Basil is a thermophilic crop, so it must be grown at 22–25 ° C. The pots are placed on the south side. Also, the plant needs good lighting for up to 15 hours a day. You can provide the necessary conditions using fluorescent or halogen lamps.

Basil loves sun and warmth

But at the same time, the features of these devices must be taken into account. Halogen lamps are not only a source of light, but also heat. In this regard, it is recommended to use such lighting elements in the cold season or in the case of growing basil on the balcony.

Growing basil from seeds at home: step by step instructions

The development of seed-grown basil bushes will take from 8 months to a year. But the advantage of this method is that you can get greens from such a plant much longer than using cuttings.

Growing basil from seeds is a time consuming process

To plant seeds, you need to prepare:

• drainage;
• container 15 cm deep or a pot with a capacity of 1.5–2 liters;
• soil mixture, which is prepared in the same way as in the previous version;
• scapula;
• plastic bag or cling film.

The sequence of actions is as follows:

1. It is recommended to start work with seed preparation. This step is not considered mandatory, but it will speed up the emergence of sprouts. The seeds are soaked in water (25 ° C) for two days. In this case, fluid is replaced every 12 hours. It is advisable to prepare basil seeds before sowing.
2. After that, the planting material is dipped into a potassium manganese solution. It should be a composition of low concentration of light pink color, in which the seeds are kept for two hours.After that, they are removed from the water onto a napkin and dried. Seeds must be soaked and disinfected
3. Next, drainage is poured into a container or pot, and prepared soil is poured on top. At the same time, 3-4 cm should be left between the surface of the soil and the edge of the container. The earth is leveled and well watered. Fill the pots with potting soil
4. Then they start sowing seeds. They are buried 1–2 cm, keeping the distance between plants at 8–10 mm. Sowing seeds into the soil
5. The containers are covered with foil or a transparent plastic lid to achieve a greenhouse effect. The pots are placed on a well-lit windowsill. Every day, the foil is opened for 10 minutes to allow airing of the basil. Cover the sowing with a lid
6. After 8-12 days, the first shoots will appear. After that, the film is removed, and the room temperature is lowered to 16–20 ° C. This is to prevent over-stretching of the plants. We are waiting for the emergence of seedlings
7. When the sprouts reach a height of 5-7 cm, add 2-3 cm of soil to the pot. This will help strengthen the seedlings.

After removing the film, the basil must be cleaned regularly and on time. The temperature in the room should be kept within 20-25 ° С. At the germination stage, the soil is moistened every two days. Watering should be moderate. Top dressing during this period is not required for the plant. The nutrients added to the soil mixture are sufficient to ensure the full development of the basil.

Video: sowing basil seeds

How to properly transplant an adult plant into a pot on the eve of winter?

Basil transplantation is carried out when growing crops in the open field. In this case, in August or September, the plant must be moved to a pot so that it does not suffer during the cold period. The soil composition is prepared in the same way as when planting cuttings. The volume of the pot should be up to 2 liters.

Basil is transplanted to protect against winter frost

The transplant has the following features:

1. First, a drainage layer is placed in the pot. Then they fill it with soil, in which a depression is made, where water is poured.
2. When the moisture is absorbed, the bush is carefully poured in, removed along with the earthen lump and transferred to the pot. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the roots are not damaged or bent.
3. The plant is covered with soil and slightly compacted. If in the process of transplanting some parts of the bush were damaged, they should be cut off.

Video: practical tips for transplanting

Culture care

You need to start caring for the plant immediately after removing the film. Timely implementation of all measures will allow you to grow a healthy culture.

Watering

Watering the basil depends on the temperature conditions. In warm weather, the procedure is carried out daily. On hot days, the frequency of watering should be 2 times a day. The bushes are moisturized in the morning and at lunchtime using a spray can for this purpose.

The watering rate is determined by the condition of the soil - it should be moderately moist (so that the water does not stagnate in the pan of the pot).

It is undesirable to water the plant in the evening. This rule is due to the fact that a cool temperature is set in the room at night. As a result, the evaporation of water from the soil slows down and the likelihood of developing diseases of the bush increases.

Fertilizers

If fertile soil was used when planting the basil, there is no need to feed it, since it is an annual plant with a short growing season.... For the development of the bushes, there will be enough substances introduced initially into the substrate. If the seeds or cuttings were planted in regular garden soil, then the basil should be fertilized once a month.

Fertilizer will help the plant to obtain nutrients from ordinary soil.

The plant is watered with a nutrient solution, which is prepared from 2 liters of water and 1 cap of the Growth preparation. Also, Agrolife fertilizer is applied to the upper layer of the substrate (1 tsp per pot).

Pruning

Pruning is done to encourage lateral shoot development. The procedure consists in removing the top of the bush at the level of 6-8 leaves. It is carried out 15–20 days after germination. You should also remove all flowering shoots immediately after they appear. This will enhance the branching of the basil, help preserve the aroma, and help increase the plant's lifespan.

Pruning basil will help it grow in breadth

Other features

1. In autumn and winter, it is recommended to wrap the pots with plastic wrap. This will help protect the plant from drafts.
2. In the period from October to February, the basilica needs additional lighting in the evening. Lamps are installed at a distance of 20 cm from the bushes.
3. On cloudy days, the plant needs artificial lighting.
4. Basil can be grown year-round. But in order for the plant to receive a sufficient amount of natural light during the growth period, it is advised to plant in March.
5. When the size of the bushes reaches 15 cm, you can harvest. At this stage, the formation of the stem is completed, so the loss of leaves will not affect the development of the basil.

Important! Basil must be protected from drafts.

Pests and diseases

Among the pests, aphids are dangerous. It provokes the appearance of such symptoms:

• the leaves are deformed, lose their color and curl up;
• the growth of the bushes is suspended, and the stems are bent.

As a treatment, spraying with the drug Decis (1 g per 5 l) or Fitoverm (4 ml per 20 l) is carried out. To prevent a pest attack, you must follow the rules of care.

Basil, which is grown at home, is much less likely to suffer from ailments and pests than bushes growing in the open field. But violation of the rules of care can provoke the onset of diseases.

Table: Basil Diseases

Common mistakes gardeners

Mistakes in the cultivation of bushes and harvesting can cause disease and death of the plant. Basil is undesirable to excessively moisturize. When watering, it is necessary to avoid stagnant water.

Some gardeners break off the stems when harvesting. This should not be done as the plant will dry out. You can only collect leaves.

Another mistake is tearing off the basil. This can damage the stem. Therefore, the leaves should be cut off with scissors.

When growing basil, take into account its need for warmth and good lighting. It must also be remembered that the plant does not tolerate excessive watering and drafts. Compliance with these rules will help to grow this tropical crop on the windowsill and get a good harvest.