Vasilistnik planting and care in the open field in the suburbs

Basil - an ornamental and medicinal plant

Basil is a perennial rhizome plant belonging to the buttercup family. In nature, it grows in southern Africa, in the mountains of tropical America and the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. It is often found in central Russia.

This flower is unpretentious, shade-tolerant and not afraid of severe frosts.

The plant has a creeping rhizome, stem basal leaves, which are similar in shape to a triangle. The flowers are purple, white, yellow, lilac or pale pink. Basil reaches a height of 2 meters or more.

Landing

It does not take much time and effort to plant this plant.

In order for the basil to grow quickly and please with bright and abundant flowering, you need to choose the right place and time of planting.

Seat selection

For planting a basil, it is better to choose partial shade, under the influence of direct sunlight, the flowers and leaves fade and fade over time.

Planting timing

Seeds are planted in open ground in late autumn or early spring. Plants obtained by dividing the bush are planted in early spring.

To learn about the rules for planting and caring for phlox, click here.

How to plant and grow astilba, read the article

Soil preparation

This flower can grow in any soil, but will thrive better in fertile and moist soils. The soil should be free of weeds and loose. There are no special requirements for the composition of the soil, but deeply cultivated, moderately moist sandy loam and loamy soils with a neutral acidity level are preferable.

Landing features

At the planting site, holes are prepared at a distance of 40 cm from each other, the soil is well moistened. Then sprouts or bushes are planted, the root system is sprinkled with earth and tamped.

After planting, the basil must be tied up.

Reproduction

Basil reproduces in three ways: seed, vegetative and cuttings. These plants are prone to self-seeding.

Seed reproduction

Basil sprouts from seed

The seeds are harvested in the fall and immediately sown in open ground. They can be stored until spring, but then cold stratification will be required for 30 days.

The seeds have a high germination capacity, the sprouts are unpretentious and develop rapidly, flowering occurs in the second year.

Vegetative propagation

This is the most common type of breeding.In the fall or spring, the bush is dug up, divided into several parts and planted in different places.

Propagation by cuttings

For this, young shoots are carefully cut off and placed in a container with water. To accelerate the formation of the root system, add "Kornevin" to the liquid. Then the cutting is planted in open ground.

Care

Basil is unpretentious and does not require careful maintenance; it can grow in one place for more than 10 years.

Watering

The flower is drought-resistant, needs watering only on dry and hot days. Excess moisture does not bring any harm to the plant. With insufficient watering, the flowering period decreases.

Basil is unpretentious and does not require constant care

Top dressing

Basil is fed in spring with complex mineral fertilizers. Before wintering, the land around the plant is mulched with peat or humus.

Pruning

When the basil has faded, it is cut off at the root. Pruning is not necessary for undersized varieties. If self-seeding is to be avoided, the inflorescences are removed immediately after flowering.

Preparing for winter

Most types of basil do not need special preparation for winter. Many varieties can withstand temperatures down to -30 ° C. However, some species need shelter, such as the Delaway Basil.

Read about planting barberry and caring for it here.

You will find information on how to plant and care for rhododendron in the article

You can also learn about caring for Kalina Buldenezh.

Disease and pest control

Pests and diseases rarely bother the basil, but aphids can appear in dry times. To get rid of it, gardeners spray the plant with insecticidal preparations (Karbofos, Aktellik, Bankol, Akarin, Aktara, Tanrek, Biotlin).

Varieties

The variety of species and varieties of basil is striking. In the garden, you can grow both giant varieties, which reach a height of 2 meters or more, and miniature bushes adjacent to the ground.

More than 150 species of basil grow in nature, but the following are considered popular in gardening:

1. Alpine basil... It is a small perennial plant up to 20 cm high. Flowering occurs at the end of June and lasts about a month.
2. Delaway Basil... The plant, reaching a height of 150 cm, has small purple-pink flowers. It begins to bloom at the end of July and continues until the end of August. Lilac-pink flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. This variety is winter-hardy and can tolerate temperatures down to -30 ° C under cover.
3. Basil watery... It is a compact shrub up to 120 cm high. It has large triangular leaves with a crenate edge and a bluish tint. Lavender or white flowers are collected in a corymbose panicle, its length reaches 20 cm.The plant begins to bloom in June and blooms for 35 days.
4. Basil filamentous... A miniature shrub that grows up to 25 cm high. The plant has pinnately-divided green leaves. Openwork inflorescences are composed of white flowers. Flowering begins in mid-May and lasts up to 25 days.
5. Twisted basil... A perennial shrub that grows up to 20 cm in height. The plant blooms in June, has white or purple flowers.
6. False-petal basil... Perennial with straight and strong stems up to 50 cm high. The leaves are wide, triangular, gray-green or blue-green. Dense inflorescences are pinkish and white flowers, flowering begins in May and lasts 30-35 days.
7. Basil narrow-leaved... A large plant, reaching a height of 150 cm. The underside of the leaf has a bluish-green plate.
8. Basil sultanabad... Rocky perennial up to 35 cm high. The plant is an openwork, loose and spherical bushes.

Several varieties of this plant are often found in gardens: "Dwarf Purl", "Album", "Heavits Double" and "Thundercloud".

Basilists of the Purpureum variety are especially beautiful. They are vigorous plants with black stems and bright purple buds.In landscape compositions, the varieties Thundercloude, Athropurpureum, Dwarf Purple are used.

Look at the photos of the basil species:

Use in landscape design

This plant is often used to create landscape designs: herbaceous and artisanal borders, large tracts, exquisite garden compositions. Basil is used as specimen plants.

It looks great next to shrubs with dark foliage: magnolia, purple-leaved euonymus, brilliant cotoneaster. Basil is often found in compositions with castor oil plant, buzulnik, rhubarb, Asian swimsuit, phlox, Siberian iris, catchment.

Healing properties of basil

The plant has medicinal properties, it is used in official and folk medicine. Basil contains saponins, alkaloids (thalmidine and malmin), resins, vitamin C and tannins. The flower has diuretic, antibacterial and laxative medicinal properties.

Basil is used in pharmacology - anti-inflammatory drugs are made on its basis. It has a positive effect on the human body with ulcers, nervous disorders, malaria and cardiovascular diseases.

Many gardeners prefer to decorate their plots with a basil, because it is an unpretentious and shade-tolerant plant. So that it grows quickly and pleases with abundant flowering, it is enough to provide it with partial shade and abundant watering in dry times.

Jul 14, 2015Elena Tymoshchuk

Basil (Thalictrum) not only has healing properties and an attractive external, but also complaisant character. Planting and caring for the basil is extremely simple, it is frost-hardy and does not require much trouble when grown in the middle lane. Its fluffy, graceful, watercolor inflorescences fit perfectly into the latest trend in plant painting - creating landscapes and compositions with subtly playing colors and combinations.

The correct spelling of the name is a basilisk (on behalf of Vasilis, there is another version - from the name of a mythical creature - Basilisk), however, the colloquial one - a basilist - has become more widespread.

Belongs to the buttercup family. The stem is straight, leafless, openwork leaves are collected in the root area, the roots are branched, actively growing in breadth of the rhizome. The plant is a real giant, it can reach 2 meters. Flowers are small, but collected in lush inflorescences of various shapes (racemose, paniculate, corymbose), and various colors of a calm range: white, cream, lilac, pink, greenish. There are species with yellow flowers.

Types and varieties

The Basil family is vast, the boundaries of the genus are rather vague, there is no certainty about many. Approximately 120 to 200 species in the genus.

In the garden, you can most often find:

1. Basil (Thalictrum aquilegiifolium) - up to 120 cm. It is he who is in the title photo. The leaves are large, delicate, gray-green. It got its name because the leaves are shaped like the leaves of the catchment. The flowers are purple, white (modern varieties also have flowers of various shades of burgundy, wine, purple, dark red, purple, pink), collected in a loose panicle, appear on the plant in June and last until the end of August.
2. Basil of Delavey (Thalictrum delavayi) - up to 150 cm. Flowers are double, lilac-lilac, or pink. The foliage is openwork. Blooms in late summer, from mid-July to mid-August. A very beautiful, graceful plant.
3. Basil yellow (Thalictrum flavum) - from 60 to 110 cm Leaves are solid, bluish-gray. The flowers are yellow, the thyroid-paniculate inflorescences are collected. Blooms in June-July.
4. Basil hybrid (Thalictrum hybridum) - up to 250 cm. The stem can be leafy and non-leafy. Inflorescences are large, of various colors. Bloom in July. These are garden forms of the plant.
5. Basil filamentous (Thalictrum filamentosum) - low up to 25 cm, gentle soil-loving plant with beautiful foliage, originally from the Far East. The flowers are white, delicate. Early flowering, from mid-May for 3 weeks. Does not require replanting and retains its decorative appearance for 20 years, excellent for planting in tree trunks.
6. Basil (Thalictrum diffusiflorum) - height 70-90 cm. The flowers are relatively large - about 2 cm in diameter, collected in loose inflorescences.

Basil of Delavey - Thalictrum delavayi

Basil yellow - Thalictrum flavumglaucum

Basil filamentous Thalictrum filamentosum

Sprawling -Thalictrum diffusiflorum

Black shoking with expressive, almost black stems.

Below are a few more common varieties:

Thalictrum Thundercloud - fairly compact, expressive dark stems, very light pink flowers.

Below in the photo is a modern variety of Delavey's basil with double flowers - Hewitt's Double.

Thalictrum Delavayi Hewitt's Double

The Elin variety is one of the longest-lasting varieties. Blooms from early July to late September.

Thalictrum 'Elin'

Sometimes you can find a mention of the magnificent basil, but this type does not exist.

Landing and seat selection

The correct location is almost always half the success, and in this case it is also important because basilists do not need transplants and thinning for at least 10 years. The plant is not aggressive, on the contrary, it grows very slowly, after transplanting it “comes to its senses” for a long time, it can coexist with other tall crops, but if it is too close, it feels bad, so it is worth keeping 50 cm.

Natural basilists are inhabitants of river valleys, forests, that is, wet semi-shady places. Deep shade is not suitable for most species, the stems are too elongated. A sunny area is permissible (for species, water-collecting, twisted), however, in this case, frequent watering will be required and flowering will not be so long.

They are undemanding to the soil, however, fertilizing during soil preparation will be well received: humus, compost, and complex mineral fertilizer are added to the holes.

For quick rooting, the roots of the seedlings are soaked in stimulants ("Epin", "Kornevin"). They withstand the period specified in the instructions for the product, planted in the holes, watered (you can pour the solution in which the seedlings were kept). After the soil subsides, more earth is added so that the root collar is flush with the soil, mulch on top.

How to care?

Grooming is not difficult, but necessary. Young plants need regular and abundant watering, adult plants have enough rain - with the exception of those planted in sunny places.

Loosening and weeding will be required. Basil aquifer needs pruning.

If the soil is sufficiently nutritious, or has been prepared as described above, there is no need to feed the first three years. In the future, nitrogenous fertilizing is introduced in the spring (to stimulate growth), before winter, complex organic fertilizers are embedded in the soil around the plant.

When planting and caring, you should also take into account the individual characteristics of each plant. The views described above are from different parts of the world and their requirements may vary. For example, the yellow basil is native to the damp meadows and banks of the rivers of Siberia, Altai, Europe, therefore, it loves the direct morning sun, and the Delavey basil, as a native of the mountain forests of China, the sun is contraindicated - he prefers shade or at least partial shade and good moisture.

Reproduction

Seeds

Basil plants reproduce well by self-seeding before winter. Can be planted in spring, after stratification (seeds mixed with wet sand are kept in the refrigerator for a month).

By dividing the bush

The bushes are divided in spring or autumn (approximately at the beginning of September). Delenki are seated at a distance of at least 40 cm from each other.

Application in the garden

Basil, thanks to its predilections (semi-shady, humid places) and delicate watercolor appearance, is popular:

1. For the design of areas near the walls of the house, fences.
2. The shady sides of the alpine slides.
3. Trunk circles of trees.
4. In mixborders in a natural, English style.
5. In herbaceous and shrub borders, in the background of flower borders.

Composition of hybrid hosts "Chalceon", basil "Elin", herbaceous peonies, Chemeritsa white (succulent leaves in the center).

Basil of the Black Stockings variety. In this photo, you can clearly see how its dark stems add expression and drama.

Basil yellow is good solo.

Plants with the same needs can be good partners for a plant:

1. Aquilegia.
2. Astilba.
3. Phlox.
4. Swimsuit.
5. Irises.
6. Avens.
7. Hosts.

Plant overview on video

Basic information about the plant in the most capacious and concise form in an audio article from the blog "Alexandra".

In this article, we will look at how planting and caring for the Basil is carried out, when to plant seeds. We will take a closer look at the features of reproduction and cultivation in different conditions.

Reproduction of the basil in the garden

Basil is a large to medium-sized perennial plant often found in the wild. In horticulture, three types are used - water-collecting, yellow, Delawaya.

It is important to remember that the airy flowers of the basil are poisonous, like all parts of the plant.

The varieties bred on their basis are popular because of their simplicity in growing and reproduction. Basil is sown with seeds, the processes are separated, the cuttings are removed.

Sowing seeds in open ground spend before winter, as it happens in nature with wild species. It is possible in early spring after seed stratification. Plants grown in this way bloom the next year.

By dividing the bush basil is propagated in April or September. The root system is divided so that a sufficient number of ground shoots are preserved in the planting material. Delenki are immediately planted in a permanent place with an interval of 40 - 50 cm.

For grafting choose shoots with two internodes. When harvesting, the stem is torn off so that the "heel" is preserved. For rooting, a sandy-earthy substrate 1: 1 is used. Before placing the cutting in the soil, it is dusted with a rooting agent, for example, "Kornevin". With this method of propagation, all the qualities of the variety are guaranteed to be preserved. Usually work is carried out at the end of May, beginning of June.

The modern gardening industry allows you to adjust the "biological program" of plants. The seedling basil blooms this year. Step-by-step instructions for preparing seedlings:

Step 1.	1. Preparing the potting mix. Garden land is combined with coarse sand 1: 1. 2. Planting containers are filled: boxes, cassettes, pots. 3. Water until wet.
Step 2.	1. In the boxes, grooves are formed at a distance of 5 cm, a depth of 1 cm. Seeds are placed at intervals of 3 - 5 cm. 2. Place 2 - 3 grains in a pot or a cassette cell with a diameter of 8 cm.
Step 3.	The sowing is covered with plastic wrap and placed in a well-lit place with a temperature – + 20 – 250.
Step 4.	With the emergence of seedlings, the sowing is fed with growth stimulants.
Step 5.	Seedlings grown in boxes dive at the stage of 2 - 3 true leaves. The same is done with seedlings, of which there are several in a pot (or cassette).
Step 6.	2 weeks after the pick, the senses are fed. You can use a diluted 1:10 mullein solution, 1 cup per 10 plants.

Cassettes replace planting pots and boxes

Basilisk seedlings, which are planted in peat tablets, do not require picks, since they are sown one piece in each nutrient substrate.

Tip # 1. Note! When planting in open ground, seedlings in peat tablets from the nutrient medium do not need to be removed, the plant is placed in the ground along with the tablet.

To increase the germination of seeds, stimulants and fertilizers are also used for the active growth of seedlings. See also the article: → "Reproduction of Kalanchoe by cuttings: process features"

5 best seedling preparations, advantages and disadvantages

1. "Epin - extra" - awakens latent plant reserves during seed germination and strengthens plant tissues during growth. It is used for soaking the seeds before planting and feeding the seedlings.
2. "Mira Life" - biologically active drug of protective action. Promotes regrowth of roots, protects seedlings from diseases.
3. "Albit" - complex bioregulator of growth with a protective fungicidal effect. It is used for seed treatment before sowing.
4. "Zerebra Agro" is a silver-based growth stimulator with a disinfecting effect, intended for active germination of seeds and strengthening of seedlings.
5. "Lignohumat" - extract of humic acids to regulate the growth of seedlings, with an anti-stress effect on plant development.

Lignohumate is an environmentally friendly preparation intended for various plants. For flowering plants, use - universal garden

Flaw of the above drugshIt works in the opposite direction in case of overdose. Excess substance causes inhibition of sap flow, up to the death of plants.

Planting and caring for the Basil in the open field

Basil is an extremely unpretentious plant, survives in the sun, partial shade, on poor sandy and clay soils. But lush growth and abundant flowering occurs on rich, fertile soils with good watering.

Planting sequence:

1. Seedlings are planted in open ground in the middle, end of May.... The place is selected light, with light shading. The soil is prepared loamy, neutral or slightly acidic reaction. Soil optimization is deep enough up to 40 cm. Basil is a large plant and grows in one area for up to 10 years, which is why the preparation of the planting site must be deep.
2. Seedlings are placed at a distance of 40-50 cm.
3. After landing, carefully watered at the rate of 10 l / m2.

Features of care during flowering and after

Various varieties of Basil bloom from late June to mid-August. The flowering time depends on good watering. In dry summers, flowering without irrigation occurs too quickly, even rapidly. You can prolong the decorative effect with the help of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, at the rate of 200 g per 1 m2.

Advice # 2. Note! Good results are obtained by timely cutting off wilted flowers and careful weeding. Basil is powerless against powerful weeds.

At the end of flowering, dried peduncles are completely removed if seed collection is not planned.Preparing for winter consists in cutting dry leaves and mulching. For shelter, mowed grass, fallen leaves of healthy plants, bark and chips are used. Usually young plants are sheltered, an adult basil hibernates well without shelter.

Daily care and planting plan

The basil care work plan consists of:

Type of work	Deadline
Soil preparation for planting seedlings	May 15 - 30
Planting a basil	May 15 - 30
Watering	After landing. Thereafter, weekly.
Top dressing planting with complex fertilizer "Fertika - universal" gardeners' reviews about Fertika	June 1 - 15 (the first feeding 2 weeks after planting, each subsequent with an interval of 15 - 20 days)
Top dressing with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers	2 weeks before flowering, depending on the variety.
Removing wilted buds	As it blooms
Weeding Basil	The first, 2 - 3 weeks after planting, each subsequent, if necessary.
Cutting dry peduncles	At the end of flowering. (Depends on the variety - from late July to September).
Mulching young plants	October 20 - 30, but no later than a week before frost.

The best varieties of Basil

The best varieties of basil are represented by the following varieties:
Read also the article: → "The best varieties of eggplants for growing in the Moscow region"

View	Variety	Features of the variety
Basil drainage or drainage	"Black Stockings"	The color of the flowers is lilac - pink. The height during flowering is 1.5 m.
	"Thundercloud"	The flowers are bright lilac. Height, up to 80 cm.
	Album	Flowers are white.
Basil yellow	Illuminator	Height - 1.3 m, flowers are bright yellow.
	"True Blue"	Leaves with a bluish tint, flowers - yellow.
Basil Delaway	"Hewlett's Doublе"	Large double flowers of deep purple color.

Delaway Basil is a tall shade-tolerant plant for planting under the crown of trees

Prevention and control of diseases and pests

Basil is one of the most resistant plants. Never again under favorable conditions. In dry weather or from lack of watering, it suffers from the attack of aphids.

The best drugs to protect the basil

To prevent a pest attack for prevention, drugs are used against ants - carriers of aphids:

1. Muratsid,
2. Antimuravyin,
3. Ant-eater.

If the plant is still affected by aphids, you can treat the planting with insecticides:

1. "Aktofit" is a biological synthesis preparation, the use of which does not harm plants and humans.
2. "Envidor" is a broad-spectrum chemical agent that is not addictive to insects.

Disease and Pest Resistant Basil Varieties

Gardeners have noticed that most of the popular types of basil do not suffer from adverse conditions. The most resistant varieties are:

1. Medium-sized - 1.2 m, (Delaway view):

• "Hewlett's Doublе",
• "Hinckley",
• Album.

Variety "Album" has a white color of flowers, uncharacteristic for a basil.

2. Large - 1.5 m (Vodosborolistny view):

• "Black Stockings",
• "Purpureum"
• "Thundercloud"

3. Undersized up to 50 cm - type Small or Ordinary.

The best and worst regions to grow basil

The biological origin of the plant affects the development of artificially bred varieties. Just like wild species, ornamental basil grows well in moderately humid climates. Such conditions are typical for the Middle belt, the Volga region, the southern belt of the Urals and Siberia. In the hot arid regions of the Kuban and Krasnodar Territory, the cultivation of basil is not popular due to the high costs of watering the plants.

Use in landscape design

Basil is popular in private gardens and park compositions. Large varieties are successfully used in large-scale mixborders in the vicinity of other perennials:

• hairy rudbeckia,
• catchment area,
• iris,
• daylily
• delphinium,
• buzulnik,
• doronicum.

Read also the article: → "Landscaping of a summer cottage"

Basil (lilac) goes well with white lyatrix

Basilist looks spectacular against the background of ornamental shrubs:

• Mahonia holly,
• shining cotoneaster,
• barberry Thunberg,
• deren white,
• juniper Cossack.

Category: "Questions and Answers"

Question number 1... Is it possible to grow a basil in a greenhouse, what is the difference from outdoor care?

In greenhouses, seedlings are grown in order to get strong and large seedlings by the time of planting in the garden. This method ensures the flowering of the plant in the year of planting. The difference from sowing in open ground is that the flowering of seedlings occurs next year. Further care for plants propagated in different ways is identical, there are no differences.

Question number 2... Why do basil leaves turn yellow?

Most often this happens in the open sun, in dry weather. It is better to transplant the plant in partial shade, where there is enough moisture.

Question number 3. What if the basil is not blooming?

Most likely, the soil lacks nutrients, you can apply organic fertilizers, for example, humus 2 - 3 kg with the addition of 1 glass of ash, evenly loosen with the soil. (norm for 1 m2).You can apply mineral phosphorus-potassium fertilizers - 300 g / m2.

Question number 4... How to grow a basil at home?

Basil fans grow it on windowsills and balconies. The northwest, north and northeast sides are best suited for this purpose. It is this arrangement that gives the greatest shading. The soil is chosen universal for indoor plants, pH - 6.5. The difference from growing in the garden is more frequent watering and less fertilization.

Question number 5... How many plants can you plant in one pot?

All varieties of basil, even undersized varieties, have a powerful root system. This is why you only need to plant one plant per pot.

Serious mistakes when growing a basil

1. Planting in an open, sunny location leads to yellowing and drying of leaves in heat. If the temperature is too high, the plant dies.
2. When planting seedlings, gardeners are confused by the small size of the plants, therefore they are placed densely... With the growth of a powerful root system, the bushes crowd out each other, up to death.
3. Lack of watering negatively affects the decorative qualities of plants, they are depleted and do not bloom.

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Recently, the flowering basil plant has become increasingly popular among gardeners for its excellent decorative characteristics and medicinal properties. Many beauty lovers are attracted by its resistance to frost, unpretentiousness in planting and care, and cultivation that does not require special recommendations. When the basilicum blooms, it seems that fluffy translucent clouds are hovering over the garden.

Basilist: photo, general description, varieties

The plant of the buttercup family is different erect stems without leaves, creeping roots and triangular openwork basal leaves. The height of the basil bush can reach two meters. Its numerous small flowers are collected in racemose, corymbose or paniculate inflorescences. They can be white, lilac, cream, yellow, greenish or pink in color.

The main types of plants

Plant of the Buttercup family has about 150 species, among which the following are most often used to decorate garden plots:

1. Basil is a compact perennial herb that can reach a height of 120 cm. Its large gray leaves resemble the openwork leaves of aquilegia. Basil blooms with small fragrant lavender or white flowers, which are collected in a round loose panicle. Flowering begins in June and lasts for about two months. Breeders have bred a large number of varieties of the water-bearing plant species, which are distinguished by dark red, purple and lilac-pink flowers.
2. The Delaway Basil is a herbaceous shrub with erect stems up to one and a half meters high. Differs in openwork foliage and terry lilac-lilac and pink flowers that resemble pumpkins. In August, large, oblong leaflet fruits ripen. The Delavey Basil blooms in late summer. By the famous Dutch architect, he was included in the list of plants that must be grown in the garden.
3. The stinking basil is a herbaceous plant with a height of 15 to 65 cm. Its feathery leaves without stipules have an obovate or rounded shape and whole or serrated lobes. Inflorescences are collected from small spreading flowers. Each flower is distinguished by stamens with yellow anthers and yellowish-purple sepals. Basil smelly got its name from the flowers that have an unpleasant odor. Flowering begins in mid-June and lasts until the end of July.
4. Basil hybrid is a rhizome plant up to 2.5 meters high.It can have leafless or slightly leafy stems on which grayish-green and red-brown leaves grow. Paniculate inflorescences 15 cm long are collected from small two-colored flowers of light lilac or light yellow color. The plant blooms in July.
5. Basil yellow is distinguished by erect stems from 60 to 110 cm high. On them, sharp-toothed, obovate leaves, dull on top, are evenly distributed. Small drooping flowers on short pedicels are collected in thyroid-paniculate yellow, fragrant inflorescences. Blooms during the first two months of summer.
6. Small Basil is a uniformly leafy herb with a knobby rhizome. Stems up to one meter in height can be erect or curved. On them, alternate leaves, different in shape, grow. Above the plants are sessile, in the middle - multi-pinnate petiole, and below - trifoliate leaves. A drooping or spreading loose panicle consists of small flowers with a green corolla and small stamens. Blooms in June and blooms for two months.

Basil: planting and care

Before planting a perennial plant, it should be well think over its location on a garden plot, since basilists can grow in one place for more than 10 years. Herbaceous bushes grow slowly and do not like transplants, after which they get sick for a long time. In an open sunny area, they form erect stems. In this case, the plant requires regular watering. They can be planted under trees and near water bodies, since in nature, basil plants grow in river valleys, in mountains and in humid damp forests.

In the shade, the stems of the bushes stretch out, so the best place for them would be semi-shady area away from other plants. Basil plants do not like competition, and the distance from them to other tall crops should be at least 50 cm.

Landing features

Basilists grow on any soil, but before planting them you need to fertilize wellby adding to the wells:

• 50 grams of any complex mineral fertilizer;
• leaf humus;
• compost.

For better rooting, the bushes are soaked before planting in a solution of Heteroauxin, Kornevin, Humate or Epin. The exposed roots are kept in the solution for 2-6 hours, and the potted plant - 20-30 minutes.

The basil planted in the holes is sprinkled with earth and well watered with a diluted solution in which it was soaked. If the soil has subsided, then it must be poured more so that the root collar of the plant is at the level of the soil. For better survival and moisture retention, the soil around the bush is covered with mulch.

Care

Young plants require regular abundant watering... Adult bushes are rarely watered. If there is no opportunity to water the plants, then they can be planted in groups in areas protected from direct sunlight. Such a planting will greatly facilitate the care of the plant.

Basil plants planted in fertilized soil do not need to be fed during the first three years. In the future, the plants are fertilized in the spring with special nutritious fertilizers for flowering garden flowers with nitrogen content. In September, for each bush you need make 30-40 grams aboutorganic complex fertilizers. For this, they are embedded in mulch or soil.

Caring for basil plants during the season consists in loosening and clearing weeds from the soil under the plants. Some plant species, such as basil aquifer, require pruning.

Breeding basil

There are three ways to propagate a plant:

• seeds;
• dividing the bush;
• by cuttings.

Seed propagation

This is a rather laborious way of breeding a basil. It can be carried out immediately after collecting seeds in September or before winter. Seeds ripening in August may crumble. Therefore, in July, the inflorescences are tied with gauze. Dry the seeds before sowing.

Seeds planted in spring should undergo preliminary stratification... With seed propagation, varietal characteristics are not preserved. Plants bloom in the second year after planting.

Propagation by cuttings

This is the easiest way of breeding basil, which is carried out in the spring. Sections of a shoot or rhizome can be used as a cutting. The cut off stalk should have a heel. The cut site is treated with a growth stimulator before planting.

Cuttings are planted in a semi-shady place with light soil and covered with a transparent container. To do this, you can cut a plastic bottle or secure a plastic bag. To prevent the planting material from suffocating and starting to rot, take it daily for half an hour need to ventilate... Cuttings should be protected from direct sunlight.

Dividing the bush

In early spring, even before the active growth of the plant, the bushes are dug up and divided into parts. Each division should have 1-3 renewal buds. Separated bushes are planted in a semi-shady place. The soil is well watered and covered with mulch. Caring for the plots consists in regular watering and loosening the soil. If the soil is fertilized during planting, the plant will not need feeding in the first three years.

Basil in landscape design

A plant with beautiful openwork leaves and unusual airy flowers is used when decorating a garden plot:

1. To create exquisite compositions.
2. For planting in large tracts.
3. As specimen plants.
4. For the decoration of borders.

Basil go well with catchments, phlox and Siberian irises. They look great in compositions with castor oil or buzulnik. The herbaceous plant beautifully sets off shrubs with dark foliage, which include the brilliant dogwood and the perpure-leaved euonymus.

Basil plants planted in a semi-shaded place will look great both in single plantings and with any other plants. With proper planting and care, the flower will bush beautifully and delight with its delicate flowers for a long time.

Basil and its varieties

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