How to grow basil properly
Content:
Basil in a nutshell
Basil goes well with meat, vegetables, sweet dishes, it is added to various drinks and liqueurs.
The herb is an annual, belongs to the Lamiaceae family. It grows in the form of a straight stem with green leaves, there are varieties with a color of purple and silver shades. Wild basil thickets are found everywhere in the Caucasus, India and China.
What are the varieties of basil
There are different varieties: mexican, small-leaved, lemon and purple... Each variety grows well in favorable conditions and produces a good harvest.
The difference between regan and oregano
Surely you have heard about regan and oregano, and then a logical question arises, how do they relate to basil and what are their differences - regan, they call purple grass, the word itself comes from the Armenian language, in fact it is the same basil, but oregano is a slightly different kind of grass - in Russia it is called "oregano" for its bright aroma and slightly tart taste.
Basil growing methods
It is not difficult to grow basil, but some tricks are still better to know. The plant is grown in two ways: by planting seeds in open ground and planting seedlings. To obtain seedlings, be sure to prepare a nutritious soil - the seeds are planted about 1.5 - 2 months before planting in the garden.
Basil growing instructions
Earth is poured into pots for seedlings, crops are laid to a depth of 1 cm, after watering, they are covered with glass or film to create a greenhouse effect. Seedlings will appear in 15-20 days, be sure to follow the watering, if the plant receives a lot of moisture, fungal diseases can strike it.
For moderate growth of seedlings, the temperature should not exceed 16 degrees. Fortified sprouts can be planted, handle the roots carefully and do not plant too deep, focus on the depth of the shoots.
Basil in the future only needs watering. Before planting, be sure to harden the seedlings and plant them in the ground at an earth temperature of at least 15 degrees. If the seedlings outgrow, but there is no opportunity to plant, pinch the tops of it.
When to plant basil
For seed sowing, warm weather is suitable, approximately in early May. Periodic watering will quickly give its results, as the plant grows - it must be planted. The distance between the bushes is 25-30 cm.
Where to plant basil
Be sure to choose a calm place for the plant, if you remove the inflorescences on the bush, it will give new shoots, clay soils will not work, you can dilute it with peat or sand.
Seeds are formed in inflorescences, after collection they are stored in a dry place.