Contents of the article:
For a plant like basil, planting and caring in open ground do not represent work. This plant is not only a popular spice, but also a source of vitamins and microelements. Basil requires careful selection of the soil and daily care, but is resistant to many phyto-diseases and the effects of pests.
Rules for planting basil
Growing basil and care in open ground is possible only if the soil composition is suitable for its requirements. He prefers well warmed up areas that are protected from wind and cold. The composition of the most optimal will be sandy soil, which is necessary to add organic fertilizer.
Basil takes root well on the beds on which legumes, cucumbers, tomatoes or potatoes were previously grown. After these crops, a large amount of fertilizer remains in the soil, which basil also uses.
Planting seedlings
Growing basil seedlings is the most common method, it allows you to predict the amount of the crop and preserve the maximum number of plants. The survival rate with this method of planting is much higher than when planting seeds.
Preparation of seedlings begins in advance, in March or early April. Soil for its cultivation is made at home. The soil should be loose and contain nutrients. The following composition is considered optimal:
- 2 parts of organic fertilizers - compost or humus;
- 4 parts of peat or soil, which can be purchased at the store;
- 1 part of river sand.
The resulting composition is sieved, loosened and moisturized. Seeds are placed on the surface of the ground and sprinkled with a layer of 1 cm of earth on top. Cover the container with a film, leave it in the sun and wait for the sprouts to appear.
The next stage is picking up seedlings, that is, transplanting them in a larger container. You need to know how to dive basil, so that he well endured the procedure and continued growth. The best moment to transplant is the appearance of the first two leaves. Prepare a new soil of the same composition, you can optionally add wood ash. Each pot is filled with earth and compacted, leaving a hole in the middle for planting.
There is no exact time when planting basil seedlings in open ground, it depends on air temperature and weather conditions.
For 2-3 weeks it is recommended to take the pots of seedlings to the street during the warmest and sunny time of the day, so that the plants get used and then quickly adapt to the beds. Basil is planted only when the soil warms up to 15 ᴼC and the temperature does not drop at night. The distance between adjacent plants is at least 25 cm, so that the bushes grow wide and large.
Seeds are placed on the surface at a distance of 10 cm from each other and sprinkled with earth. Usually, not all plants germinate, so they sow a large number of seeds. When the first shoots harden, the beds are thinned, leaving 25-30 cm between adjacent bushes. There should be at least 30 cm between rows.
Young shoots are sensitive to temperature and soil moisture. If the air becomes cold when the plants are not yet strong, it is worth covering them with a film before warming.
Taking care of basil
Everyone can cope with planting basil and care in the open field. Watering is necessary during periods of drought, because without moisture, plants will not grow and may die. Also it is impossible to prevent overmoistening of the soil, otherwise the bushes will suffer from gray mold.
From the moment of the appearance of the first leaves, basil should be cut to form wide shrubs. Remove the upper point of growth, as well as cut the flower stalks. In this mode, you can achieve maximum branching basil.
It is important to regularly loosen the soil and weed all the weeds, especially in the beds with young, weak plants. The procedure can be carried out up to 7-10 times during the growing season, after which the ground should be watered. The first harvest can be harvested when the individual leaves reach 10-12 cm in length.
Planting basil and care in the open field is a time-consuming task. The condition of the bushes must be monitored regularly, otherwise the plants may die due to frost or drying. With a lack of nutrients in the soil, taste and leaf size may suffer.
