An easy way to grow basil outdoors

Hello. Today I want to talk about how to grow basil in open ground, both with seeds and seedlings. Growing basil does not pose any particular difficulties if you follow simple rules of agricultural technology. And I want to share my experience, make a short review of varieties, and also tell you how to plant basil with seeds and seedlings. I’ll tell you about care: watering, fertilizing, loosening, and about possible difficulties - diseases, pests. And if you follow my recommendations, you will grow a beautiful branchy bush of this spice. Go…

Why I decided to plant basil

Every year I remember to plant a small bed of basil, an aromatic herb from India. Its taste transforms meat dishes, soups, side dishes, and summer salads. Basil is also valued for other reasons:

1. Increased appetite, improved digestion.
2. In folk medicine it is used as an analgesic, antipyretic, and antimicrobial agent.
3. Improving blood circulation and respiratory system activity.
4. Stabilization of blood glucose levels.
5. The spice helps restore strength.
6. Counteracting free radicals (harmful substances that provoke the development of cancer cells).
7. Anti-aging effect when consumed regularly.
8. Prevention of respiratory infections, kidney stones.

It is important for a gardener that basil is an undemanding crop. It also feels great as a house plant on a windowsill. To regularly collect “bunches” of fragrant grass, you need to provide it with the following:

• sunlight;
• warm;
• moderate moisture;
• light, loose substrate.

The plant reaches its peak of development in Russian conditions in July-August. I don’t recommend collecting them before - they have weak taste. And by mid-summer, the essential oils in the leaf blades are most concentrated, which makes basil pleasantly tart and unusually aromatic.

General information about the plant

Many varieties have been bred by breeders. Their difference from each other is in the height of the bushes, the color of the leaves, and the aroma. There are varieties ranging from bright green to dark green with a purple tint.

Experts have calculated that basil varieties emit about 10 different odors. They can smell like: lemon, mint, cloves, anise, caramel, vanilla. The leaves also have the following aroma: clove-pepper, marinade, menthol, pepper.

Basil also varies in bush height. Tall bushes are bushes growing from 60 to 90 cm.

For medium-growing - from 30 to 59 cm, for low-growing - up to 29 cm.

Summer residents grow the following varieties on their beds and window sills:

1. Clove. The leaves are colored bright green. The height of an adult bush is up to 0.6 m. The aroma of cloves is inherent.
2. Anise variety, a variety of fragrant basil. The bush grows up to 40 cm. The leaves smell like anise. The color of the leaves is silver with purple hues.
3. Yerevan. The height of the bush is from 40 to 50 cm. The leaves taste tart and have an aftertaste of allspice. Leaves are purple in color. The variety allows you to harvest three crops in one season.
4. Tempter. A tall bush, grows up to 85-90 cm. The leaves are green and have a pungent aroma.
5. Tone. The height of the bush is 45‒55 cm. The variety is distinguished by its high content of phytoncides and essential oils. The color of the leaves is bright green.

Basil is used as a seasoning for preparing various dishes.

We recommend studying: the intricacies and secrets of growing Mallow from seeds on your site

How and why I chose this particular variety of basil

All varieties of basil are represented by annual spicy branched plants. The height of the bush is 20-60 cm. They differ in the taste of the greenery, the color and shape of the leaves. They can be green, reddish, purple, flat, carved, corrugated, matte and shiny.

I plant 2-3 varieties of basil at a time. After all, each of them has special taste qualities. Some leaves are more suitable for fresh consumption as an ingredient in salads or as a “topping” for first courses. Some are suitable for drying - they can be stored until winter, added to meat dishes and soups.

I will present to you the most famous varieties of basil and their taste characteristics:

1. Violet. Used mainly in Caucasian cuisine - the most tart, spicy of all varieties. The leaves are a rich reddish-purple hue.
2. Anisic. A common seasoning already in Thai cuisine. The leaves have a pleasant anise flavor and aroma and stand out with a greenish-silver tint.
3. Citric. An excellent ingredient in fish dishes - it eliminates unpleasant odor and adds a zesty lemon flavor.
4. Mexican. You will recognize this basil by its dark purple leaves. I really like it because of the light cinnamon scent.

All seeds sold in garden centers are adapted to the Russian climate. But I always study the bags for optimal soil and air temperatures - I give preference to the most cold-resistant varieties.

Overview of varieties

Today there are more than 150 varieties of this herb. I present the most famous in Russia:

1. Camphorous (fragrant). The most widespread around the globe. The leaves taste tart, with a pleasant clove aroma. The bush reaches 50 cm in height. Representatives: Magical Michael (branchy bushes), Mammoth (large and very spicy leaves), Genovese Gigante (very appreciated in Italian cuisine due to its unique taste).
2. Violet. No less popular: the red-violet leaves are smooth and large. The taste is more delicate, but with a pleasant hint of astringency. Famous varieties: Osmin Purple, Red Rubin, Purpurascens. The latter variety has an unusual sweetish taste.

You don’t have to buy the variety you like for next year - you can get your own seeds, leaving the basil fruits to ripen.

Seed preparation

Basil seeds (like other herbs) are covered with a thin ethereal coating, which makes their germination difficult. Therefore, they are not soaked, but warmed up:

1. Before planting in the ground or seedlings, place the seed in a warm place where the temperature reaches +30 C. 2 weeks of such treatment is enough.
2. Until the steam heating is turned off, gardeners place basil seeds in a paper or fabric bag and attach it to the radiator for the same period - a couple of weeks.

After heat treatment - disinfection. The easiest way: dilute a saturated manganese solution, dip the seeds in it for 30 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and dry them. You can use special preparations: “Fitosporin”, “Maxim”, “Vitaros”.

Types and varieties of basil

There are many varieties of basil, all with different aromatic and taste properties. The names themselves speak about this - “Lemon Aroma”, “Clove”, “Anise”, “Caramel” and others. Varieties differ in height, size, shape and color of leaves, but primarily in aroma.

Here are descriptions of some of them, each good in its own way:

Basil variety	Description
"Scented Handsome"	Mid-season variety (70-75 days) Height 30-40 cm The leaves are olive green with purple veins. Spike-shaped pink inflorescences Aroma with light hints of cinnamon and clover.
"Caramel"	Mid-season (45-65 days) variety Height 30-40 cm Leaves are medium sized, dark green with a silvery tint, smooth, with a smooth leaf edge The aroma is strong, with a specific smell of fruit caramel
"Violet"	Mid-early variety (35-45 days) Height 40-50 cm Leaves are large, red-violet Strong aroma of allspice
"Vanilla aroma"	Mid-season (45-55 days) Height 35-40 cm The leaves are dark purple with jagged edges. The flowers are light purple, collected in spike-shaped inflorescences Rich spicy aroma with vanilla flavor Read also:  Top 5 growth stimulants for tomato seeds. Pros and cons of using accelerators and the scheme for using solutions
"Ararat"	Mid-season (70-75 days) variety Height 40-60 cm Leaves are bluish-green with serrated edges, flowers are purple Peppery aroma with hints of anise
"Fragrant green"	Mid-early variety (35-45 days) Height 40-50 cm The leaves are large, green, slightly bubbly Spicy aroma with tart taste
"Clove"	Early ripening variety (25-35 days) Height 30-40 cm The leaves are green, large, wrinkled, with a serrated edge. Flowers white-green Strong spicy aroma, with clove-anise flavor
"Wonderful day"	Mid-season (45-65 days) variety Height 40-50 cm The leaves are small, smooth, olive green and purple along the leaf margins. Purple flowers Spicy anise aroma and taste
"Beautiful fairy tale"	Mid-season variety (70-75 days) Height 50-60 cm. The leaves are medium sized, dark purple, slightly bubbly. Flowers pinkish-lilac Fresh peppery clove aroma

And this is just a small list. Not so long ago, gardeners knew only two forms of basil - green and purple, but now the choice is simply huge.

Planting basil seedlings

For basil seedlings, small bowls no more than 10 cm high are sufficient. You can use plastic cups and boxes from fermented milk products. The procedure itself is simple:

1. Prepare nutritious, but light and breathable soil: mix garden substrate, compost, sand and peat in equal proportions.
2. Cover the bottom of the cups with a drainage layer - a low row of pebbles or expanded clay. Fill the prepared soil on top.
3. The substrate is watered with warm water. You can additionally disinfect the soil with a weak solution of manganese.
4. Basil seeds are planted to a depth of no more than 1 cm, sprinkled with the same substrate.
5. To create a comfortable, humid and warm environment, the cups are covered with glass or wrapped in cling film.

Before sowing, you can pre-fertilize the soil with a fertile composition:

1. Urea: ½ spoon.
2. Potassium chloride: ½ spoon.
3. Superphosphate: ½ spoon.
4. Potassium sulfate: ½ spoon.
5. Water: 5 l.

Shoots will appear in 7-10 days. Don’t miss this moment - the glass and film are then removed for good, but the seedlings are kept in a warm place and protected from drafts. For watering, I recommend using water at room temperature.

As soon as the seedlings have two true leaf blades, it is time to pick. The easiest way is to transplant into a freer container:

1. A substrate of the same composition (garden soil, peat, compost, sand in equal parts) is placed in a new bowl. You can add a little ash.
2. The soil is lightly compacted, after which a small hole is made in it - under an earthen ball on the roots of the basil.
3. Carefully place the plant in its new location, compacting the soil slightly around the base of the stem to keep it firmly upright.
4. After transplanting, water the basil with warm water, being careful not to get it on the stem and leaves.

A week after transplantation, fertilize with an aqueous solution of mineral fertilizer. The strengthened seedlings are placed on the windowsill, but also protected from drafts and hypothermia. Make sure that the seedlings do not shade each other - this inhibits their development. Watering should be moderate - waterlogging can lead to the formation of blackleg.

About 2 weeks before moving to the garden, the seedlings begin to harden: in warm sunny weather, they are taken out to the balcony and left for 1-2 hours. Gradually, this time is increased - at the end of hardening, the young basil spends the whole day on the balcony (and a warm night).

After the soil temperature warms up to 15-20 C, the plants are transplanted to a permanent place. A little secret: in order for the bush to branch well, do not forget to pinch the top before replanting.

How and in which seedling containers to sow basil seeds

sow basil for seedlings in a seedling box or pots, but in order not to bother with intermediate diving, it is better to sow them in cassettes with a depth of 50-70 millimeters. It is important that these containers are perforated and have drainage material at the bottom to avoid the seedlings getting wet. Basil seedlings, very thin and fragile, are sensitive to both drying out and waterlogging.

Fill the selected containers for seedlings with soil mixture, compact it slightly and moderately moisten it. Place the basil seeds on the surface and literally sprinkle them with a thin layer of the same soil mixture, no more than 10 millimeters. When sowing in a seedling box, leave an interval of 3-4 centimeters between the rows. Cover containers with crops with transparent film or glass and place in a bright, warm place. In a week or two, shoots will appear.

When to plant basil in open ground

Since basil came to us from India, it loves warm weather and does not tolerate frost. Therefore, it is planted when the threat of cold weather has passed and stable summer weather has established itself. But in this case, the peak harvest will occur only in the second half of summer. If you want to collect fragrant leaves as early as June, the solution is to plant the spice in a greenhouse, or raise seedlings.

Seeds

The timing of planting a plant in open ground depends on two factors: your climate zone and the weather characteristics of a particular season. In the middle latitudes of Russia, basil seeds are sown in open beds in early June.

Check the long-range weather forecast. If a sharp or prolonged cold snap is not expected, you can proceed to sowing.

Seedlings

To harvest basil as early as June, gardeners grow the heat-loving spice with seedlings. The plant becomes ready for transplanting into an open garden bed 2 months after sowing.

The optimal air and soil temperatures are established by the first half of June. This means that seeds for seedlings are planted in early April. For the “home garden”, earlier dates: you can sow basil already in mid-March - the length of daylight hours is already sufficient for this crop.

Features of planting basil seedlings in a greenhouse

In protected soil, comfortable conditions for planting basil occur several weeks earlier than in open soil. The rules for transplanting basil into a greenhouse do not differ from planting it in open ground. The main feature is that in unprotected soil, plants are most often planted in a row or in a separate ridge. In greenhouses and greenhouses, basil is used as a compacting plant between tomatoes, eggplants and peppers. For better growth and bushiness, it is recommended to pinch the top of the seedling. Provided the soil has good nutritional value and regular and abundant watering, the harvest will be early and of high quality.

In the conditions of the Moscow region, northwestern and northern regions, it is cultivation in a greenhouse that will provide an early and abundant harvest of greenery

Site selection and soil preparation

The plant loves open areas, evenly warmed by the sun throughout the day. Shaded areas, drafts, the northern side of the garden are not for basil.

The soil in the garden bed should be the same as the substrate for seedlings - nutritious and loose, air- and water-permeable:

1. Light soil. It is enough to add fertilizer (I use compost), loosen the soil thoroughly - and you can plant seeds and seedlings.
2. Heavy ground. Add sand, ash, peat, compost, and then dig into the bayonet of a shovel. This will make the substrate oxygen-permeable and lighter.

I also recommend this universal fertilizing: 1 bucket (10 l) of last year’s humus, 1 glass (200 ml) of ash per 1 m2 of future ridge.

The best predecessors of basil:

• cucumbers;
• tomatoes;
• legumes;
• green manure;
• greenery;
• beet;
• garden strawberries;
• onion;
• potato.

There is no need to create a new bed in place of last year's basil. The plant is planted in the same area no more than once every 5 years. After basil, you can plant carrots, legumes, cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, and zucchini.

And another little secret: make mini-beds of basil throughout the area. Especially near crops that are vulnerable to pests. The specific smell of spice will scare away uninvited “guests”.

Where to plant basil: place and soil

Basil is planted in areas protected from cold winds and well lit by the sun, since in the shade it develops worse, and the essential oil in the leaves becomes less, its quality decreases.

In areas with dry and arid summers, it can be placed in light partial shade.

Basil grows well in soil rich in humus. Does not grow well in heavy, poor soils. Does not tolerate sudden drops in temperature. At -15C, development is sharply inhibited, and at -1C it dies.

It is demanding on soil: higher yields are obtained on fertile black soils. It also succeeds on loose loamy and sandy loam soils, if they are well filled with humus, but on heavy, acidic and damp soils it grows poorly.

For growth and development, the most comfortable temperature is 20-25°C. When growing this spice, you should not allow the soil to dry out or become waterlogged.

Fertile, light, unshaded areas are allocated for basil!

What to plant basil with in the garden: grow it next to tomatoes, asparagus, various cabbages, sweet and hot peppers.

How to properly plant basil in open ground

Heat-loving basil is planted in open ground when the temperature is stable at 25-28 C. Planting work is best done in cloudy weather or in the evening, after sunset.

For the seeds, make uniform grooves 1 cm deep. I advise you to then treat the substrate with a growth stimulating solution. I use traditional Zircon (1 ampoule per 5 liters of water). Sprinkle the seeds with soil and compact it slightly. Then be sure to cover the ridge with film or covering material.

Basil seedlings are planted in even rows, keeping 40 cm between them. Between bushes in one line - 30 cm. After planting, do not forget to water both the seeds and young seedlings. It is very good if the water is settled and warm.

How to water planted basil

It is recommended to water the planted basil daily and moderately at least for the first two weeks. Excessive watering with stagnant water can cause fungal diseases of plants.

For their full development, for the taste and quality of the aromatic foliage, it is necessary to water the basil with sufficiently warm (+25 C) settled water. For these purposes, you need to use some suitable container, where the collected water will warm up well within a day.

Caring for basil in open ground

Indian spice requires simple basic care: weeding, loosening and watering. Since you are growing basil for its leaves, you need to prevent it from flowering: trim the buds, ovaries, and pedicels with scissors. This promotes enhanced development of green mass.

Shelter from the cold

Frail seedlings and seedlings weakened by transplantation are covered with film for the first two weeks. When the daytime air temperature is more than 20 C, it is removed, but returned again at night.

There is no need to build a shelter in the future. If cold nights are expected, you can use thick polyethylene, but remove it in the morning.

Watering and loosening

When watering spices, do not forget about the “golden mean”: it should be moderate, but complete. Try to use warm water that has stood in the sun or in a greenhouse. There is no clear schedule - the plants are watered as the substrate dries out. In rainy summers it practically does not need watering, but in dry summers it requires increased moisture.

Since basil loves an airtight substrate, do not forget to loosen it after each watering, prolonged or heavy rain. The plant needs constant weeding - weeds not only shade it, but also take nutrients from the soil.

Pinching

I have already written that before transplanting basil seedlings into open ground, I always pinch the top. The procedure can also be applied to seedlings propagated by seeds. As soon as they get stronger, they form several branches and pinch off the top. This is repeated when the bush begins to grow, practically without forming branches.

If you have pollinated plants on your site, I advise you not to pinch a couple of bushes. Small basil flowers, unsightly to humans, will attract whole flocks of pollinating insects to your garden. By the end of summer, fruits resembling purple nuts appear in their place. If you wait until they ripen (by mid-autumn), you will have your own seeds of your favorite basil variety.

Feeding

To fertilize basil planted in open ground, nitrogenous compounds are sufficient, since they contribute to the enhanced development of the green mass of the plant. The recharge schedule is once a month.

The first feeding is 2 weeks after planting in open ground. I use regular nitrophoska: 2 tbsp. spoons per 12 liters of water. Approximate composition consumption: 3-4 liters per 1 m2. It’s great if you warm the aqueous solution to 25 C before feeding.

Soil preparation and composition

Basil grows well in loose, well-drained and nutritious soil. If the soil on your personal plot does not have the above properties, then it is advisable to carry out a number of measures to prepare it.

1. In autumn, the site is dug up to a depth of 25 cm.
2. When digging, organic fertilizers (humus, manure, compost) are applied at the rate of 2–2.5 kg per m2, as well as mineral fertilizers: superphosphate (40–50 grams per m2) and potassium salt (10–15 grams per m2).
3. In the spring, the area is loosened to a depth of 10–12 centimeters; you can add coarse river sand or peat (1–2 bags of 25 kilograms per bed) to make the soil light and loose.

What difficulties may arise when growing basil?

Basil is a disease and pest resistant plant. Its specific smell repels many insects, which protects not only the crop itself, but also its neighbors.

Plantings on heavy, waterlogged, “stuffy” soils are susceptible to diseases. The plant develops slowly, branches poorly, the leaves are deformed, and essential oils do not accumulate in them.

Diseases

A common disease is fusarium (the appearance of brown spots on leaf blades). The vessels of the plant are affected - toxic components penetrate into the nutritious juices. In young plants, the stem turns brown and withers, in adults - the top.

The best prevention is not to plant new basil in the same place as last year’s ridge. Fusarium also provokes high humidity in hot weather.

Another dangerous enemy is gray rot. Gray-brown spots appear, which over time fill with liquid and become covered with mold fluff.

With excessive moisture, as well as with severe drought, the plant may suffer from the insidious black leg. The disease is provoked by “stuffy” soil and severe acidification of the soil. The fungus infects the root collar, clogs the planting vessels, causing it to die. At the first signs of disease (darkening of the stems), basil is treated with a solution of copper sulfate (1 teaspoon per 2 liters of water).

There are also universal remedies for these diseases:

1. You will need an infusion of onion peels: 1 part mass, 4 parts water. The composition is infused for a day, after which the leaves are irrigated with it.
2. A solution of potassium permanganate is used for root watering.
3. Prevention: dusting plantings with wood ash, monitoring water balance, timely weeding.

But folk remedies are powerless if the disease has gone beyond the initial stage. Only fungicides will help here: “Topaz”, “Fitosporin”, “Fundazol”.

Pests

Basil can be attacked by aphids: they not only feed on the leaves, but also carry viral diseases. If a pest is detected, use infusions, decoctions of wormwood, garlic, dandelion, hot pepper, onion, mustard, tansy, and tomato tops. Two to three treatments per week are needed.

Other good remedies:

1. Shavings of tar soap (100 g) per bucket (10 l) of water. Plants are treated with a daily solution.
2. Ash water. 300 g of ash is boiled in boiling water for 30 minutes. The concentrated solution is diluted with a bucket (10 l) of water.

Chemical preparations against aphids: “Karbofos”, “Bankol”, “Akarin”.

Another enemy is the field (meadow) bug. Both larvae and adults are not averse to feasting on basil. Bedbugs live in last year's tops or the top layer of the substrate. The methods of dealing with them are the same as with aphids.

What soil is suitable for basil seedlings?

Basil seedlings are sown in a special soil mixture, bagged or prepared independently at home. Such seedling soil is prepared from rotted compost, humus and washed river sand at the rate of 4:2:1. This nutrient mixture should be sifted and steamed in a water bath for 60 minutes. Next, let this soil mixture naturalize with beneficial bacteria and sow the seeds in two to three weeks. And even a purchased soil mixture would not be superfluous to etch with a solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate) or Fitosporin-M.

Basil harvest time

Spicy herbs are collected as new greenery appears. Young leaves are suitable for adding to salads and eating fresh. But when collecting, try not to touch the new branches - leave them for the development of the bush.

If you are harvesting basil for drying, try to cut off the stem, not the individual leaves, with scissors. Make sure that there are branches left on the plant, otherwise it will soon wither and die.

In autumn, the entire bush is cut off at the root and dried completely. If space allows, each is tied at the base and hung upside down. Another way: spread newspapers, tracing paper, paper, natural material and lay out the blanks to dry. Some gardeners successfully use vegetable dehydrators.

The room must be dry, otherwise the basil may begin to rot. The spice is dried only in a shaded niche, in a room, or on a veranda with good air circulation.

If you wish, you can take a few bushes home in September. They are dug up together with a lump of earth, trying not to damage the root system, and moved into a cup. Drainage is placed at the bottom, and garden soil from the garden bed is placed on top.

However, such “domesticated” basil will most likely delight you with fresh herbs only until winter. For full development, it requires a full day of light (10 hours).

In the summer, taking the plant home is even easier: cut off a strong branched branch and place it in a glass of water. After a while it will give roots, then the basil can be transplanted into a pot with soil. Another advantage of such a houseplant is that its spicy smell, pleasant to people, drives away flies, mosquitoes and midges.

Now you are convinced that growing your own basil is not so difficult. Just remember that this is a heat-loving plant that is not happy with drought, waterlogging, or shade. To get a good harvest, do not forget to pinch the top and apply nitrogen fertilizers monthly.

How to grow at home

You can start sowing basil on the windowsill earlier - at the end of February or beginning of March.

It is very convenient to grow in peat pots or peat tablets. I put a few seeds in each container.

But before that I make sure to prepare:

• I immerse the seeds in a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate for 2 hours;
• I cover it with something transparent and breathable;
• I try to keep it in the light for at least 4 hours a day;
• after the first pair of leaves appear, I dive.

I carry out the dive as follows:

• I take any container with a volume of 1 liter;
• I lay out a thin layer of drainage (up to 3 cm) of small pebbles, expanded clay or polystyrene foam balls on the bottom;
• I plant basil together with a peat pot;
• I prepare nutritious, loose soil.

Transplanting and sowing basil

Both when sowing seeds and when transplanting seedlings, the bed is prepared in the fall. The place under the garden bed should be lit and protected from the wind.

Basil needs light and fertile soil. When the soil at the dacha is clayey, sand, manure, compost humus, and peat are added when digging. You need to dig the ground 20 cm deep. While digging, add superphosphate (50 g/m²), compost and humus (2.5 kg/m² each), potassium salt (15 g/m²) to the soil and scatter wood ash (10 g/m² each).

When the soil has not been prepared in the fall, then in the spring, 30 days before planting, they begin to prepare the bed, as described above.

5 days before planting or sowing, the bed should be watered abundantly. Immediately before planting, the soil is loosened with a rake.

Transplant the seedlings into the holes along with a lump of earth. To do this, 10 hours before transplanting, cassettes or pots with seedlings are filled with water so that the earthen ball does not crumble. Tall basil is planted, retreating between seedlings up to 30 cm, low-growing varieties - up to 20 cm. Row spacing is 22-25 cm.

After transplanting, the seedlings are watered. Until the bushes take root, they are watered every day. Until a stable temperature above +10°C is established at night, the seedlings are covered with agrofibre.

Sowing seeds

If you sow seeds in a garden bed, the plant will grow green mass over the season, but the seeds will not have time to ripen. Basil is sown in the ground after May 15th. The soil should warm up to a temperature of +15 °C. Seeds are prepared in the same way as for sowing seedlings. Dried seeds are placed in grooves. Its depth is no more than 1 cm. The seeds are sprinkled with humus or garden soil. The grooves are watered with water heated to 20-25 °C. After this, the crops must be covered with film or agrofibre.

When sprouts appear, the film is removed. It is necessary to thin out the plantings when two true leaves are formed on the seedling. A distance of 5-6 cm is left between seedlings.

Next time, remove excess sprouts when 6-7 leaves appear. The distance between them is made from 25 to 35 cm.

How to choose and arrange a place?

In order to get a rich harvest of basil, the soil must be nutritious and rich in organic matter. Basil grows best after vegetable crops that have been fertilized with manure, peat or humus - eggplants, cucumbers, peppers, etc. The soil after tomatoes and legumes is also suitable.

It is better to place the garden bed in a sunny place, sheltered from the wind. The best soil is considered to be light, breathable and neutral in acidity . If the soil is clayey, it is recommended to dilute it with sand, if acidic - with lime.

Help : to avoid fusarium, it is not recommended to plant basil in the same place for several years in a row.

How to properly prepare the soil?

1. It is recommended to prepare the soil in advance, in the fall: dig it well, fertilize it, remove weeds. To fertilize the soil, compost or manure is enough, about half a bucket per m².
2. To increase productivity, you can use mineral fertilizers, but it is advisable to apply them in the spring, immediately before planting. Potash and nitrogen fertilizers are sufficient at 15-20 g/m², superphosphate 30-40 g/m².
3. Wood ash is no less useful - it serves both as a fertilizer and as protection against most pests; you need to add at least 500 g/m² (about a liter jar).
4. In the spring, you can dig up and fertilize the soil again.

Planting seeds

Basil can be grown either directly in the ground or by seedlings. Most experienced gardeners prefer planting seedlings, as this method is more reliable.

Is it possible to sow immediately?

To determine how to plant basil seeds, it is necessary to rely on the local climate and the desired time for the first harvest. In the northern regions, it is not recommended to plant seeds directly in open ground , since at the end of summer a significant decrease in air and soil temperatures is already observed. In this case, you may simply not have time to harvest. The seedling planting method is favorable for any heat-loving plants, and in most Russian regions it is highly desirable.

When to carry out the procedure in the spring?

When to plant basil seeds and seedlings? Planting seeds in open ground is carried out in the spring, after the night cold snaps have passed and warm weather has established itself steadily. Basil grows actively at temperatures of at least 20°C, usually at the end of May or early June. The timing of planting seedlings begins in early April and usually lasts until the middle of the month. You can learn more details about basil seedlings in this material; read about the timing of growing basil here.

How to choose seeds, what does healthy material look like in the photo?

Healthy basil seeds are small, black, and shaped like sesame seeds. They are covered with a hygroscopic thin film shell, so if you fill the seeds with water, the shell will swell and the seeds will look like eggs .

Before planting, it is advisable to check the seeds for suitability.

1. Add 1 tsp to a full glass of water. table salt, stir until completely dissolved, then add the seeds.
2. Wait 3 minutes, remove the floating seeds - they are not suitable.
3. Remove the rest, rinse thoroughly and dry first with a paper towel, then in the fresh air in a cool, shady place.

Where to buy and what to look for when buying?

Basil seeds can be purchased both in specialized agricultural stores and in regular supermarkets or online. The main thing is to pay attention to the shelf life of the seeds - for basil it is no more than a year. The fresher the seeds, the greater the percentage of similarity of seedlings. The price of basil seeds for a package of 0.3-0.5 g in Moscow is 9-32 rubles, in St. Petersburg – 2-29 rubles.

How to prepare?

• Before sowing in spring, it is recommended to keep purchased seeds for 2 weeks in a warm place, preferably near a radiator. This will increase the similarity of the basil.
• Immediately before planting, the seeds are disinfected in a concentrated manganese solution for 2 hours.
• For faster germination, seeds can be soaked in a solution with Zircon growth stimulator.

Read about how to prepare basil seeds before planting and why to do it here.

How to plant?

What is the best way to plant basil from seeds, for example, in the country?

1. To plant seeds in open ground, prepare small trenches 1-2 cm deep. The soil must be moist.
2. The seeds are sprinkled with earth and trampled down.
3. If the soil is moist, there is no need to water the planted seeds.
4. Pinch off the top growth point of the plant, maybe with a couple of leaves - this will allow the basil to grow in breadth and not upward.
5. Stretched or overgrown seedlings can be buried down to the cotyledon leaves.

Diagram: at what distance should plants be placed among themselves in the beds?

How to plant basil seeds correctly? Basil seeds are planted in rows at a distance of 35-40 cm from each other . Is it possible to bury seeds when planting? Seeds are sown individually, at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other, to a depth of 1-1.5 cm.

In a mixed bed with tomatoes, it is recommended to plant basil between tomato bushes and at a distance of 40-50 cm between basil bushes. Among potatoes and eggplants, basil can be planted a little more often - 30-40 cm.

How to sow so that it sprouts quickly?

Basil can grow very strongly, so planting in rows requires a desired distance of 30 cm. You can put 2 seeds in the row itself with a distance of 5-6 cm.

If all the seeds have sprouted, the more flaccid shoots can be removed . In order for the seeds to germinate faster, the bed is covered with film, and after germination it is removed.

Practical recommendations for growing basil in a greenhouse can be found on our website. It is also important to know when and how to harvest.

Time, sowing rules and growing seedlings

The culture is heat-loving, so the plant is most often grown as seedlings. If you sow seeds directly into the soil, you need to wait until it warms up. Not all regions reach 20 degrees at the end of March. Namely, it is at this time that the seeds must be sown in order to obtain the first edible sprouts in a month and a half.

Therefore, let's consider growing basil seedlings. Preparatory work before sowing looks like this:

1. Soil preparation. A substrate is prepared from 4 parts of peat, two parts of humus and one part of river sand. After mixing all the ingredients, the mixture must be steamed in the oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 150 degrees. Next, the soil is cooled, disinfected and saturated with microelements. To do this, the mixture is poured with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate.
2. Preparing containers for seedlings. The container in which basil seedlings will be grown must be at least 7 cm high. It is also practiced to sow seeds in peat pots.
3. Seed preparation. They are soaked for two days in water at room temperature. A prerequisite is changing the water in the morning and evening. Then the swollen seeds are immersed in a slightly pinkish solution of potassium permanganate. Time - 1.5 hours. Next, the seeds are dried on a napkin and sown in the substrate.

How to sow basil

Sowing seeds is carried out as follows:

• the container is filled with prepared soil 0.5 cm below the edge and compacted;
• prepared seeds are laid out on the surface of the substrate;
• Lay a layer of soil on top of the seeds, no more than half a centimeter, and lightly compact them;
• Moisten the surface with warm water from a spray bottle;
• The container with seeds is covered with film or glass and, for germination, placed in a bright place at a temperature of +21‒25°C.

Before emergence, open the cover once a day and ventilate the seeds. When the top layer of soil dries, spraying is carried out. If the conditions are met exactly, the seedlings will appear in 9-12 days. When the first shoots sprout, the cover is removed.

The seedlings are moved to where the temperature will be +15 – 20°C. If you leave the seedlings in the same place, with a high temperature, the seedlings will begin to stretch.

Caring for the sprouts until 2-3 true leaves appear consists of observing the temperature regime and watering. Seedlings should be watered as the top layer dries. Under no circumstances should it be overfilled. Basil seedlings are sensitive to the “black leg”, which will destroy all crops due to high humidity in the soil.

When three true leaves appear, pick the seedlings. The soil is prepared in the same way as for sowing seeds.

To the resulting substrate add nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizer (1 tbsp), ash (2 tbsp) for every 5 kg of soil. Mix and leave for 48 hours for the fertilizer to dissolve.

Before picking (15-20 hours before), the seedlings are watered abundantly.

Seedlings dive in this way:

1. Pots or seedling cassettes are filled with planting substrate and compacted.
2. Make a hole in the ground; you can use the handle of a fork to make it.
3. Each seedling needs to be moved into a pot along with a lump of soil. This way the roots will not be damaged and will adapt much faster.
4. Next, the seedling is sprinkled with substrate, carefully compacted and watered. When watering, make sure that the sprout does not go deeper, but remains at the same level as it grew in the same place.

Before transplanting seedlings into open ground, care consists of regular watering, maintaining temperature conditions and hardening. Pinching is performed on every 8 leaves.

Purple basil: diseases and pests

Important: Basil is a disease-resistant plant. But if the growing conditions are not met, the plant is affected by fungal diseases.

Knowing the causes of diseases and pests of basil, you can prevent plant damage.

Diseases of purple basil:

1. Blackleg is a fungal infection of the root collar and stem of a plant. It is not difficult to identify this disease; the stem becomes dark and the leaves become depleted. Blackleg damage is caused by excessive watering, poor drainage, poor aeration and increased soil acidity.
2. Gray mold is a fungal disease that mainly affects basil in a greenhouse. This type of fungus is present in the soil, but actively begins to multiply due to an excess of moisture in the air. As a result of high temperature and moisture, drops form on the leaves, which lead to the death of the leaves. First, gray dry spots appear on the leaves, then they become watery and fluff appears. The fungus spreads to all parts of the plant and leads to death.
3. Fusarium - characterized by wilting of the plant. On young plants, the disease manifests itself as depletion of the stem, the color becomes brown. Adult plants begin to die from the top, it dries out. Fusarium affects seeds and can be present in the soil. For prevention, it is recommended to regularly alternate the planting site for basil.

Basil diseases
Pests practically do not bother basil. Moreover, this plant serves to repel various pests, such as aphids, spider mites, and field bugs. Sometimes the plant is affected by Japanese beetle. You can get rid of the pest manually by collecting the insect.

The best prevention of diseases is disinfection of the soil before planting, proper watering, and sufficient air in the greenhouse. In the early stages of a fungal disease, spraying with an infusion of onion peels helps. It is important to get rid of diseased plants so as not to expose other basil bushes to the disease.

Features of Basil

Basil has a branching and superficial root system. The straight tetrahedral stem reaches a height of 0.5–0.7 m, it is leafy and branched. The sparsely toothed, oblong-ovate leaf blades are short-petiolate. There are villi on the surface of the foliage and shoots. Irregular whorls consist of axillary flowers of white, pinkish or purple color. The fruit contains nuts, which after full ripening are easily separated from each other. The seeds remain viable for 5 years.

The purple varieties of this plant have the strongest smell; they are very popular in the Caucasus and Asia. Green basil is most in demand in Europe, and this plant is also considered the most popular spice in Mediterranean cuisine. Before the bush begins to bloom, it begins to emit the most pungent odor.

Basil. A new effective method of planting. (02/19/2016)

Harvesting

When the plant reaches a height of 10-12cm, it can be slowly collected. The collected bushes are dried and finely ground, resulting in an excellent herb.

Basil is collected leaf by leaf, carefully so as not to damage the main part of the plant. Cut leaves and upper rosettes are placed in the shade with constant air circulation - usually various canopies are used for this. The tops of the shoots are tied into bunches and hung to dry from the ceiling.

The collected top rosettes of basil are tied into a bunch and hung to dry under a canopy.

Purple basil: with what, then can you plant it in the beds in the garden?

Basil is known for its spicy aroma. Its leaves perfectly complement various meat dishes, salads, and sauces. In addition, the basil plant is often used in landscape compositions; the beautiful rich purple color of basil will become a decoration for flower beds. But they still love basil for its taste and aroma.

Among the varieties of purple basil are:

• Ararat
• Yerevan
• Pepper aroma
• Opal
• Vanilla
• Thai

Basil is sold in supermarkets, markets, and vegetable stalls; purchasing the spice is not a problem. But you can grow this plant at home if you know some of the subtleties of care. Basil is capricious. Sufficient lighting, suitable soil, and fertilizer are required. Without proper care, instead of abundant large leaves, you can get limp greens. Therefore, let's figure out what conditions need to be organized for growing an annual basil plant.

Purple basil

First you need to choose the right place to plant your seeds or seedlings.

Important: According to the rules for alternating crops in open ground, basil cannot be planted in one place for more than 5 years. If you do not adhere to this rule, a massive disease of all nearby plants with fusarium is possible.

Good neighbors for basil will be:

1. Legumes. Basil prevents bean weevil from infecting legumes.
2. Tomatoes. Fragrant basil has a positive effect on the taste of tomatoes.
3. Bell pepper. Basil has a positive effect on the growth and development of sweet peppers.

Basil can be planted after potatoes and tomatoes. For a good harvest of these crops, fertilizers are usually used, which subsequently have a positive effect on the growth of basil.

Basil is often planted in the tree trunks. Basil drives away pests with its smell and phytoncides. Only trees need to be selected with a small crown so that the basil receives a lot of light.

Bad neighbors for basil are daikon and radish.

Neighborhood of crops in the garden

How to care and harvest

One of the main care requirements for basil is watering. If the soil is not sufficiently moistened, the leaf mass will grow poorly. If the summer turns out to be dry, then the watering rate is increased. On average, 1 m² requires up to 10 liters of water per week.

Important! Excessive watering is dangerous! If moisture stagnates in the soil, the seedlings will be affected by a fungal disease - “black leg”.

If you do not miss the onset of the disease, you can cure the plantings with fungicidal solutions. Copper sulfate is also used to treat fungus.

Important for planting basil and fertilizing. Root feeding is carried out for the first time 14 days after transplanting the seedlings into the soil or after the first thinning of the seedlings. Prepare fertilizer from nitroammophoska. For 10 liters of water take 2 tbsp. facilities. Per 1 m², the consumption rate is 3.5-4 liters of solution. Further feeding is carried out once a month.

The beds are regularly weeded to remove weeds. After watering, on the second day, the plantings are loosened.

To protect basil from pests, the beds are set up close to the pepper or tomato plantings.

Another way to protect against pests is dusting with ash. To get rid of aphid infestations, bushes are sprayed with infusions. You can use the following to prepare the infusion: dandelion, wormwood, potato or tomato tops, garlic, tansy.

If during cultivation there was proper watering and timely removal of weeds, then the basil plantings will not get sick.

Important! To get lush bushes, you need to pinch the tops and remove the flowers.

Harvesting basil leaves

For daily use, basil leaves are cut throughout the season. They begin to pick leaves when the bush grows to 15 cm. The branches are cut off along with the tops. 2 pairs of leaves are left on the branch.

Next time the tops remain, but only the flower stalks are cut off. After collecting the spices, be sure to water the garden bed, because the plant will need a lot of moisture to grow new leaf mass.

Basil gains its maximum aromatic oils and beneficial components in early autumn.

The plant is cut for drying when flower stalks have formed on the bush, but the plant has not yet bloomed. If you skip this moment, then after flowering the leaves will not be so tender, and their taste will become worse. The branches with flower stalks are cut off for the last time.

We recommend studying: how to dilute boric acid for tomatoes to get the best effect?

What kind of plant is basil?

This plant, originally from Asia, has several varieties, the varieties differ in color and leaf shape. The culinary arts of European countries widely use green basil for preparing dishes.

Green basil

In our country, on the contrary, its purple counterpart is more common, which has a bright, pronounced aroma.

Purple basil

The leaves of the Baku variety are purple in color, their smell is somewhat reminiscent of a mixture of the aromas of mint and cloves (seasoning). Basil with a bluish color (Yerevan) smells of tea and allspice. Green basil (spoon-shaped) - the smell is a bit like laurel with a hint of cloves.

In addition to its culinary purpose, this aromatic crop has quite a wide application, since its leaves and stems contain many vitamins, essential components, camphor, carotene, and potassium. Purple basil has bactericidal, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its use has a positive effect on the nervous and genitourinary systems. An interesting fact is that mosquitoes, midges, and flies do not like the smell of basil, so it would be advisable to sow it near gazebos, benches or other recreational areas at your dacha.

Dry or fresh basil leaves are used to prepare a wide variety of dishes, sauces, and soups. It should be added very carefully, as it can completely change, even interrupt, the taste of the main ingredients.

Why do the leaves of purple basil turn black in the garden beds: reasons, what to do?

Important: If the leaves of the basil turn black, this indicates that the plant is infected with the fungal disease “blackleg”.

Your actions as a result of the formation of black leaves may be as follows:

1. Review the irrigation system. Most often, the cause of the development of the disease lies in abundant watering.
2. Loosen the soil. Creating soil that drains well will help save the situation.
3. Getting rid of weeds. Regular weeding of basil is required. Weeds inhibit the growth and development of plants.
4. Removing affected leaves and plants. If your entire basil bush turns black, get rid of it. Remove blackened leaves.
5. Tilling the land with potassium permanganate. After uprooting the diseased plant, the earthen lump located under it is removed.
6. A plot of land is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate.

These simple steps will help you save your basil harvest at the early stage of the disease. But if the disease has taken hold, fungicides will help to cope with it.

Preparations for processing basil:

• Fundazol
• Topaz
• Fitosporin

After the final harvest, the land will need to be additionally disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate and dug up. Next year the basil should be planted in a different place.

Growing on a windowsill

For growing on a windowsill, seeds are prepared in the same way as for sowing seedlings. Only sown at the end of February. Use peat tablets or pots. Place 2 seeds in each tablet. Or they prepare their own soil and place it in disposable cups or in a pot when cutting.

The substrate is mixed in the following proportions:

• compost, humus, garden soil in equal parts;
• compost and garden soil in a 2:1 ratio.

When growing greens, drainage up to 3-4 cm high is placed at the bottom of the container. For this, pebbles, gravel, pieces of brick, and crushed stone are used. The volume of the container should be 1.5 liters.

How to grow from cuttings

You can quickly plant fragrant spices at home using cuttings. With their help, greens can be cut within two weeks.

Cuttings are obtained by cutting them even from a small bush that was purchased. The presence of roots in this case is not necessary. The most important thing is that the bush is not wilted.

Cuttings are carried out in the following steps:

1. Use scissors to cut side shoots. They should be under the leaf nodes. The pieces must be at least 6 cm.
2. The container is filled with water and the cuttings are placed in it.
3. Every day the water is changed to new one. The roots will begin to appear on day 7-8.
4. When the roots grow to 4 cm, the cutting is placed in a pot where the substrate has already been prepared. 3 shoots are placed in one container.

Basil is grown on a windowsill, but without direct sunlight.

The leaves begin to be cut off when the bush grows to 15 cm. The life cycle of plants from cuttings will be completed in 3.5-4 months. Therefore, a month before this moment, cuttings are taken from the bush and new seedlings are grown.

Growing from seed

The process is longer and therefore not as popular. An adult bush is considered to be 6-8 months old after sowing the seeds. Only such basil will live three times longer.

Planting seeds is done in the same way as sowing basil for seedlings.

Seeds are placed 2-3 pieces in disposable cups or peat tablets, or in containers, keeping the distance between them. If they are grown in cups, then after the third true leaf appears, the seedlings are transplanted into a large container. If they are sown immediately in containers or a large pot, then when the sprouts reach 7-8 cm, add the substrate to the edges of the container.

Varieties to choose from

Among the variety of varieties, there are several proven ones that are guaranteed to delight you with their taste.

Basil of Yerevan - has leaves of a rich bluish color, has a persistent pleasant aroma of tea and allspice.

Spoon basil - it has leaves that are already light green in color and an aroma that is reminiscent of both cloves and bay leaves.

Baku basil - the color of the leaves is purple-brown, and the aroma has a mixture of mint and clove scents.

Sweet basil - also known as Camphor basil - is common in garden beds all over the world and is well known to every spice lover. It reaches a height of 50cm and has a pronounced clove aroma.

Magical Michael basil is known for its ability to bush well.

Mammoth Basil – grows large leaves and has a fairly pungent taste.

Cinnamon basil - also known as Mexican basil - is already clear from the name that it has a cinnamon flavor. It grows up to half a meter in height and blooms with purple flowers.

Purple basil gets its name from the red-violet color of its leaves. Its leaves are large, fleshy and delicate in taste. It enjoys well-deserved popularity in the Caucasus, where it is called “regan”.

Lemon basil - and this name is quite eloquent - the aroma and taste of its leaves is lemony. Add to this its incredibly lush leaf mass - you can collect up to 250g of greenery from one bush.

Photo gallery of basil varieties

Basil of Yerevan

Sweet basil or camphor

Basil Magical Michael

Basil Mammoth

Basil Cinnamon

Basil Violet aka Regan

Growing basil is a rewarding activity, because as a result you get an excellent seasoning that makes the taste of many dishes much richer. There is a great variety of varieties to choose from, from which you can choose the one that suits your taste and aroma.

• Author: Pavel
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Soil for basil

The soil for this aromatic herb needs loose and nutritious soil. On the plot or in the greenhouse, add a bucket of well-rotted compost or humus to every square meter of the bed. If the soil is clayey or heavy, add a bucket of old sawdust. Last year's fallen leaves, grass dust and other plant debris are suitable as a leavening agent.

Video: green manure for looseness and fertility of beds

For seedlings, buy ready-made universal soil in the store. Ask the seller for a mixture for sowing small seeds. If the soil on your site has thawed by the time of planting, then pick it up and mix it with peat and humus (compost) in equal proportions 1:1:1. Before sowing, the soil must be poured with boiling water or heated in the oven, microwave, stove, or on the grill until it begins to steam. This is necessary to destroy pests (aphids, whiteflies, spider mites), whose eggs overwinter under lumps of earth and in plant debris.

By warming the soil to 100⁰C, you will get rid of pests and pathogens that can harm basil seedlings

Why does purple basil turn green: reasons, what to do?

Summer residents are often concerned with the question: why does purple basil turn green? Such a case is by no means uncommon. Many people think that the seeds were of poor quality. But it happens that purple entrances appear first, and then turn green.

This happens when there is insufficient sunlight. Basil should be in the sun 6-8 hours a day. If the weather is cloudy outside or the basil is growing on a windowsill in the shade, the leaves and tops of the plant begin to turn green.

There is no need to get rid of such a plant, everything is fine with it. It is enough to take the basil to a sunny place, and the leaves will again acquire a purple tint. If it is not possible to provide sunlight, it is recommended to install lamps for artificial lighting in greenhouses and on window sills.

If basil is growing in the garden and has begun to turn green, wait for sunny days. You will see your basil bushes begin to change color.

Basil turns green

What to plant after basil in the beds?

Basil bushes should be dug up in the fall. In warm regions in September you can still collect the remains of fresh leaves. If you live in a region where autumn begins according to the calendar, dig up the bushes earlier.

Plant remains should be disposed of and the bed should be dug up. In the fall, you can apply organic fertilizers. This will ensure soil fertility next season. After basil, it is good to plant crops:

• Onion
• Potato
• Tomatoes
• Zucchini
• pumpkin
• cucumbers
• Garlic

Neutral followers of basil are:

• Corn
• Beet
• Eggplant

Caring for purple basil will not be difficult even for novice gardeners. It is much more difficult to organize the necessary conditions for plant growth. But now you know how to do it. Many people who have discovered the taste of basil never part with it. If you haven't yet found a use for this aromatic herb, be sure to give it a try. In addition to its taste, the value of basil lies in its range of health-promoting vitamins. We invite you to watch a video on how to properly prepare basil for the winter.