How to grow basil at home from seeds in winter?

Basil is a plant that is ideal for growing at home. The culture grows at any time of the year and is not whimsical. Therefore, even a beginner will cope with its cultivation. In our article, we want to talk about how to grow basil on a windowsill.

What is Basil?

Basil is an indispensable spice used by people for a long time. The plant is rich in essential oils, therefore, in addition to cooking, it is also used in natural cosmetics. In good conditions, it grows in greenhouses, in vegetable gardens, so you shouldn't even doubt whether it is possible to grow basil on a windowsill.

The culture originated from India. Presumably the name of the plant goes back to the Greek basileus, which means king or king. There are two different versions regarding the origin of the culture. According to one of them, the basil was found near the place where Queen Helen once discovered the True Cross. According to another version, the plant was used to treat people of royal families.

Basil has long been used for religious rituals in Orthodoxy (in the Balkans and in Greece) and Hinduism. Ayurveda appreciates culture not only for its cosmetic, but also medicinal properties. There are many varieties of basil. In cooking, fragrant varieties are often used. They all differ not only in appearance, but also in smell and taste.

Which variety should you prefer?

Basil attracts not only as a culinary additive, but also as a medicinal plant. At home, it can be used as an interior decoration. Recently, the popularity of the plant has increased more and more. Therefore, when thinking about how to grow basil on a windowsill, you should decide which variety you prefer to see on your balcony. We have already said that the plant is unpretentious. However, it should be understood that not every variety is suitable for growing at home. The most acceptable options may be the following types: spoon-shaped, Yerevan, Baku, marquis, clove aroma. These varieties are small-leaved, and therefore easier to cultivate at home. Large-leaved plants need a fairly large amount of trace elements that must be introduced into the ground. Only experienced gardeners can handle such care. Therefore, novice housewives should pay attention to small-leaved varieties.

When a gardener already has experience in caring for simpler species, and understands how to grow basil on a windowsill, you can move on to other varieties.

Cultivation methods

How to grow basil on a windowsill? There are three ways:

1. An adult plant can be transplanted from the soil into a pot. This is what summer residents do, who in the summer grow crops in their personal plots. Young bushes that have not yet bloomed can be transplanted together with an earthen clod into a pot. However, the growing season of the plant is short, so it will soon bloom. And then you have to cut off the shoots to plant young plants.
2. Growing a plant from cuttings. To do this, the tops or side shoots are cut off and placed in the water. This is necessary in order for them to put down the roots. Then the basil is transplanted into a pot, the first greens can be cut off in two to three weeks. Such bushes can last you about three to four months, after which you need to renew the plant again.
3. Growing basil from seeds is the longest way. It will take a long time to get good greens. If you need a faster result, then it is better to use the second method.

Optimal time to grow basil

How to grow basil on a windowsill in winter? Basil can be grown in principle at any time of the year, including in winter. However, it should be understood that the plant belongs to light-loving and heat-loving crops, and therefore in cold periods it will take more effort to maintain.

Some housewives wrap the basil pots with polyethylene in winter to protect them from drafts and increase the temperature. In addition, from October to March, in our climate, there is not enough sunlight for the basil, so the plants will have to be illuminated. This will help to artificially increase daylight hours. To simplify the care of the plant, many housewives prefer to sow seeds in February, then the main period of active crop growth will be just a period with a sufficient length of daylight hours. And in the summer, basil will feel great on the window in the apartment.

How to grow basil from seeds on a windowsill?

Before you start planting, you need to prepare the ground. You can take good soil from your summer cottage, or you can purchase a ready-made substrate. A little peat can be added to the soil from the garden to lighten it.

Sometimes basil is planted in a mixture of peat and humus (humus can be replaced with coconut fiber) in a 2: 1 ratio. Before sowing, the seeds should be held for a couple of hours in a solution of raspberry-colored potassium permanganate.

While talking about how to grow basil on a windowsill in an apartment, it is worth remembering that you need to pick up pots for plants for planting. There are two options here. You can sow seeds in small containers (200 g), and then transplant the plants into larger pots. But in general, you can use large drawers right away, this will save you a lot of hassle. Expanded clay should be placed on the bottom of the vessels as drainage. Seeds are sown in moist soil to a depth of no more than one centimeter at a distance of 7-10 centimeters from each other. After that, the pots should be tightened with cling film and do not remove it until shoots appear. Further, in order to quickly grow basil at home on the windowsill, you should create optimal conditions. At a temperature of + 22-28 degrees, the first shoots will appear in five to eight days.

Care of young seedlings

As soon as young shoots appear, it is immediately necessary to rearrange the pots in a well-lit and warm place. Plants need to be watered regularly. This should be done once a day; on the hottest summer days, you can moisten the soil in the morning and in the evening with water at room temperature. Basil can be sprinkled with water from time to time, especially in summer.

To understand how to grow basil in a pot on a windowsill, you need to know that the subtropics are the birthplace of the plant. That is why culture needs an abundance of warmth and light.In order for the plant to develop well and grow quickly on the windowsill, the air temperature should be at least +20 degrees, but better than +25 degrees, and the sun should shine for at least 4 hours a day.

Basil is very afraid of drafts. Adult bushes can loosen the soil once every three days. If the soil in pots is not very fertile, then periodically (no more than once a month) it should be fertilized. Any universal fertilizer based on gummates or organic compost is suitable as a top dressing.

The first leaves can be torn off from the plant in 1.5 months. In the future, cutting off the greens, you need to leave at least three leaves on the stems. This is necessary so that new branches begin to form in the sinuses. When the basil grows up, you can pinch the top of it, then the bush will grow in breadth.

How to grow basil at home on a windowsill in winter?

If you decide to sow seeds in winter, then you will need more careful care to grow a good plant. On the one hand, the culture needs good watering, and on the other hand, excessive waterlogging can lead to diseases. Therefore, you need to be careful with water.

The most comfortable temperature for basil is + 20-25 degrees. In winter, the daylight hours for a plant are not long enough for normal development, so it must be additionally highlighted. To do this, in the evening, you can turn on the lamp for 3-4 hours. Basil does not tolerate temperature extremes and drafts.

Given these points, the culture can be grown at home in the winter cold.

Diseases to which the plant is susceptible

Basil, like many other crops, is susceptible to various diseases. Of course, indoor plants are less sick than outdoor plants, but it is still worth protecting yourself. The most common diseases that affect basil are fusarium and gray mold. To prevent your bushes from being struck by such ailments, you need to avoid overflow, since excessive moisture provokes an ailment. If the plant is still sick, then it is necessary to remove the affected stems in a timely manner so that they do not infect healthy shoots.

How to harvest correctly?

In order for the plant to grow well and continue to develop in the future, you need to be able to harvest correctly. You should never pinch off basil at the very root, this can harm the plant. In order to increase the life of the plant, it is necessary to remove the peduncles as soon as they appear. Basil should not be pinched off at the root, it can ruin the whole plant. In general, you can remove the leaves, but you should leave 4-5 leaves, in the future new branches will begin to appear from their sinuses.

In order to less injure the bushes, it is better not to pinch off the foliage, but to cut it off with scissors. Greens are easily removed by them, and the stems are not injured.

Knowing all the intricacies of the process, it is pretty easy to grow basil at home on a windowsill. Therefore, each hostess can try her hand.

Basil is ideal for growing at home, as it is not whimsical, it grows both in winter and in summer, it looks pretty and smells very tasty. If you are new to home gardening, we recommend that you start by planting this particular herb! In this material, you will find everything about how to grow basil on a windowsill, how to care for it and pinch it correctly in order to get as much harvest as possible.

How to plant basil seeds

You can grow basil in a pot from cuttings or from a young shoot from a garden, but basil grown from seeds gives the best and longest time (almost a year!) At home.

To plant basil on a windowsill, you will need:

1. Seeds;

• Basil varieties will work either, but keep in mind that purple and Greek small-leaved varieties take longer and harder to grow. Small-leaved and low-growing varieties of basil grow especially quickly and easily.

2. Soil (for more information on soil selection and preparation, see Step # 2);
3. Expanded clay or pebbles for drainage;
4. A pot with a volume of 1-2 liters or a large container with a depth of at least 15 cm, in which the basil shoots can grow at a distance of 10 cm from each other. The container for growing basil must necessarily have drainage holes;
5. Cling film or plastic bag;
6. Scapula.

Step 1. Seed preparation

This stage is optional, but desirable if you want to slightly speed up the appearance of the first shoots. Soak the seeds in warm water for 1-2 days, changing the water every 12 hours (or more often), then soak them in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate for 2 hours and finally dry the seeds on a napkin or gauze. You can catch the seeds with a toothpick.

Step 2. Preparing the soil

Loose soil is an important condition for success. Suitable soil can be created from:

• A mixture of universal soil for indoor plants with garden soil (in a 1: 1 ratio);
• A mixture of vermicompost and soil for indoor plants (in a ratio of 1: 4);
• Mixtures of vermicompost with coco-soil (in a ratio of 1: 2).

Do not forget to treat the purchased soil before planting the seeds: pour it onto a baking sheet and bake it in the oven at a temperature of 100-120 degrees for about an hour, and then feed it with any mineral fertilizer. This procedure will prevent the emergence of pests in the future.

Next, put expanded clay or pebbles on the bottom of the container so that a drainage layer 2-3 cm thick is obtained.Finally, pour the prepared soil on top, not reaching 3-4 cm to the edges, level the surface, and then water the soil abundantly.

Watering the soil

Step 3. Sowing seeds

Now you need to sow the seeds at a distance of about 2 cm from each other, sprinkle them with a 1-2 cm layer of earth, and then cover the pot with cling film or a bag to create a greenhouse effect.

Next, we transfer the pot to a warm place and wait for the first shoots to appear, periodically opening the film to air the planting. It is not necessary to water the seedlings during this period, if desired, you can spray them slightly, then the greens will turn out to be juicier.

• Depending on the variety and the favorable conditions, the first sprouts of the basil will appear in 7-12 days.

When the shoots finally appear, remove the film and boldly thin out the shoots so that there is a gap of 10 cm between the remaining shoots. Then transfer the pot to a sunny windowsill.

• When the seedlings grow to 5-7 cm, another 2-3 cm of soil can be added to the pot to strengthen the young shoots.

From the moment the film is removed, you need to start looking after the plant - water regularly, loosen the ground, control the temperature and lighting. Below is a memo with the main rules of care.

Basil care rules

Watering: During the summer, water and spray the basil if desired in the morning every day, while the soil should always be moist, but not overflowed. In winter, watering should be moderate - 2 times a week will be enough.

Temperature: Keep an eye on the air temperature, it should be quite high - 20-25 degrees. Keep in mind that basil does not tolerate drafts, and when the air temperature is below 20 degrees, it begins to lose its aroma.

Also see our other materials:

Light: During the warmer months (March to August), basil needs 6 hours of natural sunlight. In winter, you cannot do without additional lighting. How and how to create it, read further in Step # 4.

Fertilizing the soil: If the soil is not fertile enough, then it can be fertilized once a month: with biohumus, Agrolife (1 tsp on the surface of the earth) or other organic fertilizers.

Step 4. Create favorable lighting

If you grow basil in the fall or winter (from September to February), then your mini-vegetable garden must be artificially illuminated for 12 hours a day.

• Fitolamps or LED lamps with warm white light 2700K, installed at a distance of 15-20 cm from the plants, are suitable for this.

Step 5. Correct harvest

The key to getting fluffy and branched with lots of basil leaves is pruning frequently and early, also known as pinching.

After 1-1.5 months, when the basil is overgrown with 4-6 real leaves, you need to harvest the first crop by pinching off 2 leaves from the tops.

Further, when the basil acquires 3 sets of real leaves, you need to pinch its top immediately, cutting off the stem just above the small leaves that are just starting to grow from the sinuses. The place of the cut and those very small, barely noticeable leaves can be seen in the photo below. This procedure should be done every few weeks.

Pinching basil

• When you only need a few leaves here and there to add to a dish or drink, select the older side leaves and pinch them off where they meet the main stem (shown in the photo).

Lateral shoots of basil

• Remember that plants should always have at least 4 leaves at the bottom. If you prune the lower shoots, the basil will start to grow tall rather than wide and will be less productive.
• If you see a bud in bloom, immediately cut it off and the two leaves below it. If this is not done, the greens will start to deteriorate.

We offer you to watch an illustrative video tutorial on growing basil on a windowsill.

3 alternative ways to grow basil in pots

1. All the same method, but with germinating seeds in a temporary container and then picking them into a permanent

In our instructions, we talked about sowing seeds immediately into a permanent pot, which is convenient because the plant does not need to be replanted after the first shoots. But if for the first 1.5 months you do not want to clutter up the windowsill with a large pot, then you can first sow the seeds in a small container (for example, in sour cream cups) and only after reaching the growth of shoots of 5-7 cm, transplant them in a large pot.

You can clearly see the process of picking basil in the next video tutorial.

2. Transplanting basil from open ground to a pot

If you are growing basil in a garden bed, then you can simply transplant the young plant into a pot. Such basil will harvest faster, but it will not last long, as it will bloom soon.

3. Growing basil from cuttings

Another way to quickly and easily grow basil is by planting cuttings. To do this, you need to cut off the tops or side shoots from an adult plant (you can even from a purchased basil), germinate them in water for 1-2 weeks (changing it every day), and then plant in a pot. Such seedlings will give the first harvest in 2-3 weeks, but will stand for only 3-4 months.

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For beginners, for the purpose of experimenting for growing at home, it is better to choose small-leaved varieties of basil, which require less attention than large-leaved varieties, which require a large amount of trace elements.

Experienced amateurs can grow any kind of greenery on their windowsills. Growing basil from seeds at home will allow gardeners to easily have fresh, fragrant and healthy greens in the kitchen, which are loved by many.

Traditional requirements - light, warmth, moisture in winter in modern home conditions are not at all difficult to provide.

Basic conditions for the cultivation of basil on a windowsill

The basil has a developed root system, it will need a high, roomy container, you can use several flowerpots. In small volumes of soil with dense planting, plants will not take root.

To keep crops like basil warm in winter, growing from seeds on a south-facing windowsill with a nearby central heating radiator would be the best option. On gray, gloomy days, for additional lighting, you need to adapt fluorescent lamps or phytolamps.

The temperature at which the plant will be most comfortable ranges from 20 to 25 degrees, basil has a thermophilic character.When keeping boxes or containers with herbs on a glazed balcony, crops must be protected from drafts and low temperatures.

Basil varieties suitable for growing at home

Growing basil on a windowsill has its own characteristics. In confined spaces, short varieties are best suited:

• Troll - a variety with small green-purple leaves, the height of the bushes does not exceed 45 cm;
• Marquis - the variety has green foliage, clove-pepper aroma, bush height 20-25 cm;
• Basilisk - with a pleasant peppery aroma, early ripening and compact bush, not exceeding 25 cm;
• Yerevan - the variety is undersized, with purple-blue leaves and a delicate aroma of pepper;
• Dwarf - small bushes up to 20 cm allow growing the variety as a spice and decoration, the leaves are green and purple.

Purple basil varieties have a more pronounced aroma due to the high content of essential oils, but they grow more difficult at home.

In addition to purple and green, there is lemon basil with a pronounced mildly sour citrus aroma. This species has the same widespread use and cultivation methods as its relatives, only it should not be allowed to bloom - the leaves will cease to be edible. Some gardeners soak the seeds between two layers of damp thin tissue for two days before sowing to test their germination and speed up germination.

Sowing basil seeds

Growing basil from seeds is the most acceptable way. Plants do not tolerate root damage during transplantation.

One of the important conditions for success is loose fertile soil prepared from the following components:

• manure that has qualitatively rotted to a granular state - 4 parts;
• garden land - 2 parts;
• washed river sand - 1 part;
• coarse sand - 0.5 parts;
• ash - 200 g per bucket of mixture.

Basil grown in room conditions practically does not get sick, but for prevention, it is still better to spill the soil filled in the container with a manganese solution.

The pot or container must have drainage holes to drain excess water; a layer of fine expanded clay is poured onto the bottom of the container (pebbles can be used).

To prevent planting from thickening, in rows when sowing, the distance must be observed:

• between rows –7-10 cm;
• between seeds - 2-2.5 cm.

The holes sprinkled with light earth or peat should be carefully, without washing the seeds, spilled with warm water, covered with a piece of polyethylene and exposed to heat for germination, which lasts 5-7 days.

The question of when to plant the seeds is very difficult to answer. Basil is a crop that can grow on a window all year round with minor adjustments to conditions. For beginner gardeners who do not have much experience, it is better to plant in mid or late March.

Caring for young basil sprouts

The appearance of the first shoots is a crucial moment influencing the further development of plants. Dishes with seedlings should be placed in the brightest place and provide at least 16-17 hours of daylight. After 2-3 days, when the density of the seedlings is extremely clear, they need to be thinned out, leaving a distance of 10 cm between the plants.When the seedlings reach a height of 5-7 cm, approximately 2 cm of soil should be added to the container, this will strengthen the plants and protect them from lodging.

Growing basil at home requires proper watering:

• irrigation is carried out on cloudy days once a day (best in the morning);
• on sunny days or when the radiator is located close to it, water should be watered in the morning and at noon.

From time to time, you can spray the foliage with a spray bottle, but try not to over-wet the ground.

A month and a half after the emergence of shoots, young greens are suitable for eating.Basil grown in an apartment from seeds will be able to provide the family with greens for about a year, this will be facilitated by breaking off the side shoots, stimulating their active growth.

A well-fertilized soil mixture will free the gardener from the need to often feed the mini-garden on the windowsill, it will be enough to process the plantings with a solution of a complex mineral composition or diluted humate concentrate once every 2-3 weeks.

The technology for growing refined spicy greens at home is simple, the main thing is to maintain the temperature and humidity that are optimal for growth, periodically turn the containers to the light source in different directions so that the crown is formed evenly. You also need to cut off shoots from different sides.

VIDEO: rules for growing basil on a windowsill

Basil is one of the simplest green plants to grow on a windowsill. Full instructions for planting and care in the video:

In this article, we will tell you how to grow basil at home. You will learn about preparing seeds and soil, how to plant and care for a plant, and what to do to make basil grow healthy, juicy, beautiful and give a good harvest on the windowsill, even in winter.

How to grow basil from seeds

Basil can be grown at any time of the year at home

Growing basil on a windowsill differs little from the more usual method of planting seeds in open ground in a personal plot. If you decide to grow a plant at home, follow the advice of experienced gardeners.

To successfully grow basil on a windowsill, you need to find out what optimal conditions the plant needs for growth and development.

For good growth, a warm and light-loving basil requires:

• lightweight structural soil;
• room for the development of a voluminous root system;
• warmth (optimum temperature +25 degrees);
• a lot of sunlight;
• regular watering.

Basil dislikes:

• stagnant moisture;
• draft;
• sudden changes in temperature;
• shading.

Growing basil on a windowsill is possible both by sowing seeds and planting cuttings. Although the first harvest method will take longer, and more effort will be required, but you will get a strong plant with delicate foliage and a rich aroma.

Seed selection

To plant basil at home on a windowsill, you should choose small-leaved species, the height of which does not exceed 50 cm... Experienced gardeners recommend paying attention to the following varieties of basil:

• Marquis - medium early, height up to 25 cm, green mass in the form of a ball or pyramid, bright pepper-clove aroma;
• Bascuro - dark green leaves form into a lush cap, the variety is great for planting in pots;
• Dwarf - leaves of green or purple color, height from 10 to 18 cm, rich spicy aroma;
• Osmin - original bronze foliage, undersized variety;
• Basilisk - early ripening, height up to 25 cm, spicy pepper-clove aroma;
• Troll - small leaves of purple-green color, bush height up to 40 cm;
• Philosopher - purple leaves with a strong clove aroma, height up to 30 cm;
• Blowjob - a series of dwarf varieties no more than 30 cm high, ideal for growing in containers, small leaves create a dense mass.

Be sure to check that the seeds are within the expiration date printed on the packaging.

Seed preparation

It is a mistake to believe that basil seeds require special preparation. Inexperience, it can be assumed that for better growth, the seeds must be pre-soaked. So it will be easier for them to hatch, basil in a pot at home will grow faster. A similar procedure is really necessary for the seeds of some plant species, for example, cucumbers. However, basil is not one of them.

Never soak your seed if you want to grow basil on a windowsill in winter or on your garden plot in summer.After lying even for several hours in water, the seeds will become covered with mucus, this will negatively affect their growth.

The preparation of the seed is reduced to the selection of the best seeds from the packaging and the elimination of small ones, with a broken shell, blackened. For the prevention of fungal diseases, seeds can be treated with fungicides (Fitosporin-M, Vitaros, etc.).

Soil preparation

The voluminous root system determines the choice of container for growing basil at home. You can use a large flower pot (ceramic is best), a wooden box, or a special container for seedlings. In all cases, containers must have drainage holes. They will ensure that excess water flows out after irrigation.

Before filling the ground, do not forget to lay a 2-3 cm drainage 2-3 cm high on the bottom - small expanded clay, pebbles or crushed brick.

The easiest way is to buy a ready-made soil mixture, it is enriched with the necessary trace elements for good plant growth. Choose a universal seedling soil - it has a structural composition.

If there is no opportunity to purchase a ready-made mixture, then it is easy to prepare it yourself. In order for basil to grow strong and healthy in a pot or container, one of the following formulations will work for it:

• peat, earth and humus in equal proportions;
• 2 parts of humus and earth and 1 part of coconut fibers (you can buy special pots made of coconut fiber for seedlings, and when the plant gets stronger, transplant it into a permanent container together with a coconut pot);
• 1 part of humus, 2 parts of peat and earth each with the addition of a tablespoon of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate;
• 2 parts soil and 1 part fresh compost.

Before using ordinary land from a personal plot, it must be heat treated for disinfection. To do this, pour the required amount of soil into a metal dish (on a baking sheet) and put in the oven for 20 minutes at the maximum temperature.

It is possible to destroy pests and disease vectors that can destroy a plant with the help of a solution of potassium permanganate. Dissolve a few granules in a liter of boiled water and carefully spill the soil brought from the cottage.

Sowing basil seeds

For those who are studying how to grow basil on a windowsill in winter, it will be useful to remind that the best time to sow seeds is March-April. If you plant a plant in early spring, then during the period of active growth and development, it will receive the maximum amount of sunlight. Nobody forbids you to grow a fragrant spice at other times of the year. You just need to remember that it will take more effort to succeed.

To successfully grow basil on a windowsill in winter, observe the following sequence when planting seeds:

• thoroughly moisten the soil so that dripping water appears on the pan;
• after half an hour, make holes in the soil at a distance of 2 cm with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm and a depth of no more than 2 cm;
• moisten them with a little water from a spray bottle;
• carefully put one or two seeds in each (in the second case, the seeds should not lie close to each other);
• Sprinkle a small amount of soil over the seeds, kneading it thoroughly in your hands (any lumps you cover the seeds with will inhibit their germination).

Cover the container with plastic wrap, creating a greenhouse effect, and place it in a warm and dark place. The basil will need the sun's rays as it sprouts, while excessive heating will lead to the accumulation of excess condensation.

Every day for 1-2 weeks, until the first shoots appear, the film must be lifted to remove excess condensation and ventilate. If the soil is dry, spray it with room temperature filtered water from a spray bottle.

Do not use a watering can to water unsprouted seeds to avoid nailing the ground and making it harder for the basil to grow. If the soil is moist due to condensation, no additional watering is required.

As soon as the seeds hatch and the plant appears above the ground, remove the plastic and place the pot or box in sunlight.

When the third leaf appears, carefully add no more than 5 centimeters of earth - this will help the shoots gain strength. Do not forget to water the seedlings daily, directing a thin stream of water to the roots, but not to the leaves. Many gardeners use a medical syringe (no needle) for watering.

When learning how to grow basil from seeds on a windowsill, don't forget to pick. The procedure consists in transplanting three to four week old plants to a permanent place. You can plant some shoots in a beautiful flower pot or plant them at least 10 cm apart in a box. For better development of the root system during a pick, use a root formation stimulator ("Kornevin", "Ukorenit", "Zircon", etc.).

Plant care

It is important to properly care for basil at home

In order for the basil bush to grow well, it is necessary to maintain optimal conditions for its growth:

• lighting - at least 12 hours;
• the optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees (at a lower temperature, the plant will slow down its growth, and its leaves will lose their taste);
• no drafts - make sure that there is no blowing from the cracks in the window frames, and the air from the open window passes by the plant;
• regular watering - if the container is large, then water more often, the main thing is that the water does not stagnate on the surface.

How to care for basil in winter

Dreams of growing basil on your own windowsill can be easily realized, because the plant is unpretentious, it grows quickly both in summer and in winter. Although in the cold season, he needs special care:

1. Too often watering the basil in winter is not necessary - twice a week will be enough. Make sure that the soil does not dry out and at the same time turn into mush.
2. Lack of natural light will be a big problem for winter growth. To replenish it, install phyto or LED lamps with white light at a distance of at least 20 cm from the plant.
3. Feed the plant with organic fertilizers once a month ("Biohumus" or "Agrolife" - 1 tsp each).
4. Loosen the soil regularly without burying the teeth of your garden tool to avoid damaging the root system.

For more information on how to plant basil at home, see this video:

Other ways to plant basil at home

How to grow basil from cuttings at home in winter? Choose one of the ways:

1. Buy basil in a pot from the vegetable section of your supermarket and transplant it into a larger container at home.
2. Cut a few branches from the growing basil bush, carefully remove the lower leaves, place the cutting in water - after a few days the branch will take root (to speed up the process, add a rooting stimulator to the water). After the root system gets stronger, transplant the cutting into the ground.

For information on how to grow basil in a summer cottage and in a greenhouse, read the article basil - planting and care in the open field.

Home-grown basil can be planted outdoors

How to harvest correctly

In order not to damage the fragile plant and force the basil growing in the apartment to form a dense mass of leaves, pinching should be performed one and a half months after the emergence of shoots. Check that the plant already has 6 true leaves. You can pinch off two of them and try the first harvest. After another week, cut off the top of each stem with scissors, leaving small leaves growing in the axils. This procedure can be performed every 2 weeks.

For addition to food or drinks, select the older leaves on the bush, growing on the central stem on top. If you only cut off the bottom leaves, the basil will begin to stretch. Leave at least 4 leaves on the plant.

When growing basil on a windowsill from seeds or cuttings, as soon as you notice the first flowers, immediately remove them along with the two lower leaves. If this is not done, the plant will wither after a while.

Diseases to which basil is susceptible

Being resistant to most diseases, basil most often dies due to fungal infection.

Blackleg

Features of the disease:

• softening and blackening of the root part of the stem;
• more susceptible to seedlings;
• reasons: excessive watering and insufficient aeration of the soil (stagnant water);
• treatment and prevention: spray the plant with a solution of biological fungicides (AlirinB, Gamair) and water - 4 tablets per 10 liters.

Fusarium

Features of the disease:

• decay of roots, yellowing of leaves, thinning of the stems;
• both young shoots and adult plants get sick;
• reasons: infected seeds or soil, sudden changes in temperature and humidity;
• treatment and prevention: treat the plant with biologics "Phytocide" or "FitosporinM".

Gray rot

Features of the disease:

• brown spots and gray mold appear on the leaves and stems;
• the fungus infects adult plants;
• reasons: insufficient feeding, high humidity, poor ventilation;
• the treatment will be successful if at the initial stage the plant is sprayed with onion peel infusion (pour onion peel with boiling water in a ratio of 1: 4 and leave for 24 hours).

For the prevention of fungal diseases, after you have planted basil at home, do not forget about the rules of watering, regular airing and loosening of the soil, and the introduction of mineral fertilizers.

What to remember

1. When learning how to grow basil on a windowsill, remember that this can be done both with seeds and by cuttings.
2. Before planting, it is important to properly prepare the soil - pour drainage and disinfect the soil brought from the cottage with the help of heat treatment.
3. It is not necessary to soak basil seeds in water, but treatment with fungicides will not be superfluous.
4. Basil should receive sunlight for at least 12 hours a day. It grows well at a temperature of 20-25 degrees, but does not like drafts.
5. Stagnation of water is not allowed during watering.
6. Eat the top large leaves to form even, lush greenery.