How to grow basil at home in winter?

Basil is an essential spice in many dishes. It is also used for cosmetic purposes for rinsing hair and in bath infusions. If you decide to master the cultivation of greenery on the windowsill, you can safely start training in the basil. It grows all year round and does not require much maintenance.

How to grow basil at home

Basil is grown from seeds, cuttings or transplanted into flowerpots for the winter, young, not yet flowering plants from the garden in the country.

Which basil is right for the window

For growing on a windowsill, choose low-growing varieties that form a bush: cinnamon basil (a plant up to 50 cm in height with a bright cinnamon taste), small-leaved basil (has a sweet, delicate taste), anise basil, bush basil. Pay special attention to purple basil, or regan - it is very good for Caucasian cuisine.

Photo gallery: types of basil for growing at home

Plant transplant from open ground

For transplanting the basil, young bushes are chosen that have not yet tied the buds.

Transplant process:

1. The plant is dug up together with a clod of earth.
2. Expanded clay or pebbles for drainage are placed on the bottom of a container chosen by the size of a lump of earth.
3. They put a bush in a pot, sprinkle earth on the sides of the pot.
4. It is checked that the root collar does not remain deeper than it was.
5. Keep the plant on a windowsill in a sunny place at a temperature of 20-25 ° C.

Growing basil this way will soon bloom and you will have to use it as a cuttings donor for new plants. To get as much "green" as possible and delay the flowering time, the bushes must be pinched and watered well.

Basil needs to be grown in a sunny location

Propagation by cuttings

Cutting is the fastest and most convenient way to propagate basil. This process includes the following steps:

1. From an adult plant, the lateral processes or the upper parts of the main branches are cut off.
2. Put them in a glass of water or hydrogel.

   Basil releases roots after about a week and a half.

3. After the stalk has released the roots, it is transplanted to a permanent place in a ceramic flowerpot.

Basil soil should be fertile, but light. You can take soil from the garden and add humus or soil for indoor plants.Do not forget about drainage: excess water should not stagnate, otherwise the roots will begin to rot. Keep the flowerpot in a warm, light place. The first greens can be cut after 3 weeks. When grafting, a basil bush will delight you for 3-4 months. Then you have to start over.

Growing aromatic greens from seeds

If you want the plant to last as long as possible, then choose this method. The seeds are bought at any garden store or ordered by mail. Before sowing, they should be prepared:

1. Wrap them in a piece of cloth or gauze and soak in warm water for 24 to 48 hours. In this case, change the water at least 4 times.

   Seeds must be soaked before sowing

2. Rinse the seeds.
3. Disinfect them in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for no more than 10 minutes.
4. Then dry.

In order not to injure the future bush with transplants, sow the seeds immediately into a permanent pot. The optimal volume is about a liter.

To prevent disease before planting, heat the soil in the oven for about an hour at a temperature of 110–120 ° C.

In addition, complex fertilizer must be applied to the soil. Seed sowing process:

1. Pour the drainage into the bottom of the pot in a layer of 1–2 cm.
2. Fill the container with soil, without adding 3-4 cm to the top.
3. Moisten the ground.
4. Spread the seeds at a distance of about 2 cm from each other and sprinkle with soil.
5. Cover with plastic wrap and place in a warm place.
6. Ventilate and moisten the soil periodically.
7. After 1-2 weeks, when the first shoots appear, remove the film and remove weak shoots so that the distance between the remaining ones is at least 10 cm.

   Weak basil sprouts must be removed, and the excess ones must be transplanted into other containers.

8. Place the pot on the sunniest windowsill.
9. When the basil grows a little, add another 2 cm of soil.

Some fans, when planting and transplanting basil, do not consider it necessary to do drainage, since there are holes in the flowerpot. This negligence can cost you the loss of plants, because stagnant water is the main cause of almost all fungal diseases.

Loosen the soil periodically, water and spray the young bush with a spray bottle regularly. In summer, this must be done every day so that the ground is moist, but not wet, and in winter it is enough to water it 2 times a week. Regardless of the season, the room temperature must be at least 20 ° C. Protect basil from drafts... As soon as the daylight hours wane, you need to start highlighting your bush - the basil should have 12 hours of daylight hours.

Basil needs lighting during the fall-winter season.

Pinch the top periodically to make the basil fluffier and give new side branches. The first real pruning can be done in 1-1.5 months. When pruning, always leave the bottom 4 leaves to prevent the plant from pulling upwards. As soon as you notice the first buds, immediately cut them off and the two following leaves, otherwise the taste of the basil will start to deteriorate.

Video: the nuances of growing basil at home

Basil diseases and pests

The basilica is threatened by fungal diseases: black leg and fusarium. The black leg affects the plant with increased acidity of the soil or excessive watering. Air does not enter the root system, and it begins to rot, the stem becomes soft, turns yellow, and then turns black. If a disease is detected, immediately remove the affected sprout, and pour the place where it was sitting with a strong dark raspberry solution of potassium permanganate. If the disease is nevertheless transmitted to other plants, you will have to use Fitosporin or Topaz.

Black-footed basil sprouts should be removed

The development of fusarium is promoted by the increased air temperature and excessive humidity. In the affected bushes, the stem gradually becomes thinner and turns brown, they become lethargic and die. At the initial stage of the disease, an infusion of onion peel will help (it is poured with water in a ratio of 1: 4 and insisted for a day).Strain the infusion and spray the damaged plant with it.

Fusarium can kill basil

The main enemy of the basilica can be considered aphids. It sucks out the sap of the plant, as a result, the leaves curl up, the stems stop growing and the bush dies. And also aphids are a carrier of viral diseases incurable for plants.

Aphids suck the juices from the plant

As soon as you notice this pest, you need to take urgent measures to combat it. You can use natural remedies - decoctions:

• wormwood,
• tansy,
• bitter pepper
• dandelion,
• yarrow,
• Luke,
• garlic
• mustard,
• tops of tomato or potatoes.

Sprinkle the basil 2-3 times a week. Repeat the course of treatment if necessary.

Basil is unpretentious and grows well at home. In addition, the costs of growing it are negligible compared to the price in a supermarket. For seasoning, a couple of basil leaves are usually enough, and so that the rest does not deteriorate, it is recommended to dry them.

Hello! My name is Olga. I am 41. Sphere of interest - everything related to agriculture.

Basil of any kind and type can be grown on a windowsill. This plant has purple or green hues, small or large leaves and a pleasant smell. In order for it to be accepted at home, it must be located in a warm and sunny place, provided with good watering, fertile soil and high-quality drainage. In this article, we will tell you how to grow basil on a windowsill, give advice on care, watering.

To grow basil on a windowsill, provide it with all the necessary conditions for full growth.

Preparation for sowing basil: recommendations

If you decide to grow this plant at home, then start doing it from seeds, not from cuttings. In this case, the plant is well accepted and less sick, but it will take longer to wait for the harvest. You can start sowing at any time of the year. If grown from shoots, then make every effort to ensure that the basil takes root. The leaf is cut from the top or middle of the stem. We put the leaf in water, and after 4-6 days it gives a root. After that, proceed to planting in the ground. Read also the article: → "Spicy herbs - we grow ourselves."

Before this procedure, take into account the following points:

• Pick the right type of basil;
• Prepare the soil;
• Soak the seeds;
• Select containers for growing the plant.

The best basil varieties for growing on a windowsill

There are hundreds of types of basil in nature, but only a few of them are used for food. For home cultivation, give preference to undersized and ornamental varieties. Choose the one that works best for you, depending on the qualities of the plant.

The varieties that are in demand include:

• Clove aroma - Basil with a spicy and strong aroma. Such basil is used everywhere: in preserves, in the form of seasonings for a meat dish, it is used fresh. Plant height - 20-25 centimeters, but dense foliage is present. Found on balconies and window sills of housewives.
• Thai queen - the leaves are dark green. Growth goes up to fifty centimeters. Grown both indoors and on a personal plot. Read also the article: → "How to grow herbs in the country."
• Osmin is a small, bronze-colored plant. It is dried or consumed fresh.
• Marquis is a plant with small foliage and small size.
• The dwarf is the lowest among the basil varieties. Reaches a maximum of twenty centimeters in length. It has a pungent and spicy taste and rounded leaves. Colors range from green to purple.

Basil "Dwarf" - a good option for growing on a windowsill.

Preparing soil and seeds for sowing

For basil, soil from the garden is suitable, but it should be fertilized with mineral fertilizers. It should be light and fertile.Remove all roots and weeds from it. If there is an opportunity to buy special land for planting ornamental crops, that's great.

Tip # 1. You don't have to fertilize such soil with anything. An earthen substrate is perfect - a mixture of vermicompost with coconut fiber.

If you have the time and desire to create a fertile and light soil, then pay attention to the following components.

Composition option	The name of the constituent components	Norm
1	Humus Coir	2 parts 1 part
2	Earth Fresh compost	1 part 1 part
3	Humus Peat Earth	1 part 1 part 1 part
4	Peat Humus Superphosphate Urea Potassium sulfate	2 parts 1 part 3 g / 1 l of water 1 g / 1 l of water 2 g / 1 l of water (moisten the soil with a mixture of these solutions)

As for the seeds, you should buy them in a special store. A prerequisite is soaking the seeds in a manganese solution before planting. You need to keep them there for 4-6 hours.

Soak the seeds in a mild manganese solution before sowing.

Basil planting container

To keep the basil growing comfortably on your windowsill, find a wooden box, plastic container, or flower pot for it. Depending on the amount of planting material, the number of planting containers is also selected. Take care of the holes through which excess moisture will escape.

Basil seeding process

After all this, you can start sowing the basil. Plant the plant in a large container, if you plant in a small one, you will have to, then dive. Do not plant seeds deeper than two centimeters. there should be a distance of 8-10 cm between the seeds. The soil should be moistened and pass through the drainage. Expanded clay, pebbles, white bricks or shards may lie at the bottom. Maintain a distance between each seed of at least fifteen centimeters.

Tip # 2. After sowing, cover the containers with oilcloth until sprouts appear. This will happen within five days, at temperatures from +23 to +26 degrees.

Plant care and watering

Seedlings should be carefully looked after so that they grow and form faster. The important steps are:

1. watering;
2. maintaining the temperature;
3. top dressing;
4. pruning;
5. correct lighting.

The plant should be watered every day, and best of all, this is the morning hours. If the days are hot and the ground dries out quickly, then you can add evening watering. Daytime watering is not recommended due to the risk of burns. Watering should be carried out only with settled and warm water. To prevent an earthen crust from appearing from frequent watering, loosen the soil once every seven days. Thanks to this manipulation, the root system is enriched with oxygen.

The temperature regime, as mentioned earlier, should be conducive to the development of the plant. At lower temperatures, the plant stops growing and loses its taste. At higher ones, it withers, dries up and disappears. If the room air is dry, then spray the plant with water several times a day. Also place a jar of water next to it to humidify the air. Read also the article: → "How to grow onions and other greens in an apartment."

Tip # 3. Provide the optimal temperature regime on the balcony, for good growth of the basil it is +22 - +26 degrees.

As for dressings, once every two weeks, basil should be fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers. Complexes for vegetables are suitable for this plant. Complex mineral fertilizers contain:

• Phosphorus;
• Potassium;
• Nitrogen;
• Calcium.

You can use such complexes:

• Nitrofoska;
• Ammophos;
• Nitroammofosk;
• Calcium nitrate;
• Diammophos;
• Potassium monophosphate.

Application rates are shown in the table.

Item No.	Fertilizer name	Norm
1.	Calcium nitrate	Dilute 3-5 g in 1 liter of water
2.	Nitrofoska	Dilute 4-6 g in 1 liter of water
3.	Ammophos	Dilute 3-4 g in 1 liter of water
4.	Diammophos	Dilute 2-3 g in 1 liter of water
5.	Nitroammofoska	Dilute 3-5 g in 1 liter of water
6.	Potassium monophosphate	Dilute 3-5 g in 1 liter of water

Agrolife or Rostom are also used in the form of dressings. Agrolife is poured onto the top layer of soil, in the amount of one teaspoon, Growth is diluted in water in proportions of 1 cap: 2 liters. If there is vermicompost, then it is added to the soil. When transplanting, the plant is fed with the following composition: 3 g of wood ash, superphosphate 3 g, ammonium nitrate 2 g. It is recommended to dilute everything in one liter of water.

Tip # 4. Cut off the first basil greens in a month, this will help the growth and strength of the plant. If you pinch the top, then the basil will bush.

Lighting and additional lighting of the basilica

The plant loves light and warmth. If you decide to start growing basil in the autumn-winter period, then provide it with additional lighting. In winter and autumn, the days are short, and these hours are not enough for a plant to grow, so if you want to get a good harvest, you should work hard. Purchase a special lighting fixture, lamp. Light the plant from 15 to 20 hours a day, if this is not possible, then your harvest is at risk. In this case, start sowing in early March when daylight hours increase. There should be no draft, because basil cannot stand it.

If there is a lack of sunlight in winter, use additional lighting.

Harvesting and using it

When harvesting, pick off only the tops, while the plant will not give color and will branch further. If the plant blooms, then it will have to be pulled out. Remains in the case when you need to collect seeds. Basil can be dried or used fresh. It is added to pickles and various dishes. In a glass container, a dried plant can lie for up to 5 years. It is not recommended to store in plastic and metal. If you want to keep it fresh, then use the refrigerator for this.

Recommendations for growing a plant at home:

1. Choose a spacious and wide container for planting basil.

Plant your plants in large pots.

2. Watch out for watering. Avoid excessive moisture and dryness in the soil.
3. Place the boxes with the plant on the sunny side.
4. Do the splitting off of the top, for the growth of the plant.
5. Feed the basil every two weeks to improve the quality and growth of the plant.

Answers to questions about growing basil at home

Question number 1. Does basil get sick if you grow it on a windowsill and how to prevent these diseases?

Yes, the plant is sick, both in the open field and when grown on a balcony or windowsill. It is affected by Fusarium and Gray mold.

1. Fusarium is a dangerous fungal disease that affects a plant at any age. The basil leaves turn yellow and the stem is thin. The root system is rotting. The plant instantly dies, if you do not take appropriate measures, then the disease will spread further. Fusarium appears due to excessively humid air and soil. Also, the infection could already be present in the soil or seeds. To prevent disease, it is advised to process the seeds before sowing and do not over-water the plant. If the disease manifests itself, then the affected plant is pulled out, and the rest are treated with Fundazol.
2. Gray mold is a microscopic fungus that infects a plant when it is waterlogged. In this case, the plant withers, fades, and spots appear on the leaves, in the form of burns. As a preventive measure, monitor the ratio of moisture, light and heat. Spray the plant with special preparations. When the first signs of illness appear, remove the spoiled leaves, stems and burn them.

Question number 2. What sorts of basil besides Osmina, Thai Queen, Clove Aroma, Marquis and Dwarf are grown on the windowsill?

Popular varieties of basil:

• "Anise flavor" - this name because of the bright aniseed flavor.Flaunts with its branched stems and spreading crown. Grows up to 50-60 centimeters.
• “Broadleaf” is a basil with large green leaves. Used fresh and dried.
• "Yerevan" has purple leaves and ripens quickly. Twenty days later they are already eaten.
• "Lemon aroma" - due to its citrus aroma, it is widely used to flavor dishes, but the variety is rare.
• "Basilisk" - peppery-clove smell and taste. Has ripened early. Grows up to 25 cm in height.
• "Philosopher" - purple foliage and clove scent. It grows up to 30cm.
• "Troll" - small purple-green foliage. Grows up to 40 cm.

Question number 3. How to care for rooted basil?

With sprouts up to 6 cm, no loosening is performed, but only watering the plant. Then the soil is loosened once every four days. Water once a day, but if the soil is too wet, do it less often. Remember that with an excess of moisture, diseases appear: Gray mold and Fusarium. Feed with complex mineral fertilizers every 3-4 weeks.

Question number 4. How is basil divided by ripening time?

There are early, medium, late and transitional varieties.

• The early ones include: "Yerevan", "Basilisk", "Clove aroma".
• To medium - "Anise aroma", "Lemon aroma", "Marquis".
• By the later - "Broadleaf".

Question number 5. Why cover basil with foil before germination?

For quick emergence, provide maximum warmth and light. Covering with foil, you will ensure good heating of the seeds, which will sprout within 4-5 days.

For early emergence, cover the seeded pots with plastic wrap.

4 common gardener mistakes

1. When growing basil on a windowsill, choose decorative and undersized varieties. You should not give preference to tall ones. They will take up a lot of space and will shade each other. You cannot provide them with full-fledged conditions for growth and development on the balcony or windowsill.
2. Plant the plant immediately in large containers. They need enough space to grow. If this is done in small pots, then they will have to be transplanted. A transplant for a plant is stress, from which not all seedlings survive.
3. Do not plant seeds close to each other. In the future, they will have to be seated or thinned out again.
4. Don't pluck basil at the root. This should be done from the tops. Cutting off this way will prevent the plant from blooming, and this will improve its growth.

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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, you do not need to water it additionally.

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.

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, scented 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 into a pot together with an earthen clod. 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, the basil does not have enough sunlight, 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 growth of the crop 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 immediately use large drawers, 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 still it is 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.