Rules for growing basil from seeds in open ground

Table of Contents

• Ancient History of Purple and Red Basil
• Description of the Bush
• How many varieties can be planted in the country?
• Settings

  People have been using basil for over 5,000 years. Both in cooking and in medicine. Basil tea soothes the nerves and tones the body. They drink it to relieve colic in the stomach. It improves the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.

  Grassland - Africa. In Russia, it appeared in the XVIII century. Then on its basis they made popular tonics and cosmetic masks, which are still popular today.

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  Basil in a pot in close-up

  Description of the shrub

  Basil is an annual plant, with oblong, short-peeled leaves. The stalk on average reaches a length of 60 cm. The root is branching, located close to the surface. The leaves, like the stem, are covered with hairs. The flowers are white, pale pink. The fruits are dark, similar to nuts, ripen in groups of 4 pieces and remain viable for 5 years.

  How many varieties can be planted in the country?

  There are many kinds of grass, more than a hundred. Fragrant Basil - the most popular of them. In Africa, basil grows with blue leaves, called camphor. In Mexico, it is cinnamon, and in southeast Asia, it is lemon. There is a view with purple leaves. Its aroma is mild compared to green, but for its rich color it is often used in decorating dishes.

  Preparation of seedlings at home in the spring

  Seeds are planted in seedlings at the end of March. They are briefly soaked before planting. Two hours in warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. For seedlings suitable capacity of 10 cm or more in depth, pots or boxes for flowers. At the bottom of the drainage spread, pochvosmesi sprinkled on top of it( the 4: 2: 1) of:

  • peat humus
  • sand ground

  In doing groove depth of 1 cm, which lay seeds. Sprinkled with earth and irrigated from the sprayer, and then covered with film or glass.

  Seed containers are stored in a warm place. At this stage it is important to properly care for seedlings:

  • times a day to shoot a film or glass and briefly ventilate it( enough for 15 minutes)
  • to remove condensation from the inside
  • easy to moisten the earth

  Flower basil

  A week later, the first shoots sprout. This is a sign that it is time to open seedlings. When the sprouts have the first full leaf, they are seated from each other at a distance of 5 cm. When the fifth leaf appears, the top of the sprouts is pinched. So the plant will give more foliage.

  At the end of May sprouts sprouted at home are planted in open ground. It is important that the plants have 5 formed leaves. Until they appear, you can wait a little with the landing.

  Before planting, seedlings are taken out of the room and left in the open air so that it is tempered. Begin with 15 minutes and gradually increase the time spent on the street to several hours. Hardening begin one week before transplantation.

  How to plant seeds or seedlings in open ground

  Basil dies from low temperatures .Therefore, seedlings are planted in a permanent place when there is no morning frost. It is best to plant vegetable seeds in the spring in the middle of May. Scheme for crops, you can choose any.

  Soil for grass needs fertile, air and moisture permeable. Soil before planting fertilize. Per 1 m2 make 2 kg of humus, peat and compost.

  Sprouts are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, in the pits 10 cm deep. Before planting pits plentifully watered.

  You can not plant basil in the same place for two years in a row. This will lead to the appearance of brown spots on the leaves and the death of plantings. The reason for this - the disease Fusarium. It is caused by fungi that live in the soil for a long time. Between the planting of spicy grass, the soil "rests" for 5 years.

  Growing and maintaining green basil seedlings in the garden

  Basil grown in a keg

  Basil needs watering with warm, settled water. Experienced gardeners give birth to a large plastic barrel. During the day, the water in the barrel will heat up and stand. By evening, it is suitable for watering.

  It is important not to fill the sprouts with water. The soil should be slightly wet. With an excess of moisture plants hit the black leg.

  Grass grows well when fed with nitrogen fertilizer .The first feeding occurs two weeks after disembarkation.

  In order to increase the green mass of sprouts, except for pinching the tops, flowers are cut on them.

  The soil around the plants is loosened and weeded away from weeds. For the summer season will be enough 6-7 times. After weeding and loosening the sprouts are watered abundantly.

  Harvesting crops in the garden

  Basil leaves are harvested before flowering. Then the concentration of essential oils and vitamins peak. An immature bud is a sign to collect leaves.

  Grass blooms until early autumn days. Do not forget that this is a thermophilic plant. Before the onset of the first frost, it is transplanted into a greenhouse or house. Grass grows without problems in a pot for indoor plants. She decorates the house and fills the room with a spicy scent.

  Proper drying

  After harvesting the crop is dried:

  • Outdoors .The leaves are washed, remove debris and spread on a towel. When the water is drained they put on a baking sheet. It is better to tie a large crop in bunches and hang it on a rope in a warm room without direct sunlight.
  • In the oven. The washed and dried leaves are laid out on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 400 ° C.Drying will take 2 hours.
  • In the microwave. At full capacity, drying will take 3 minutes.

  Readiness is determined manually. Dried herbs crumble easily in the hands. It is stored in dry glass jars or paper bags.

  Plant Care Basil

  Freezing Whole Leaves

  They are washed and dipped in boiling water for 3 seconds. Then cooled in cold water. A little dried on a towel and laid out in packets in small portions. Then put in the freezer.

  Fast freezing of chopped leaves

  They are washed, finely chopped and filled with water. Water is poured into molds and placed in a freezer. If instead of water to use olive oil, you get an excellent preparation for frying in a pan.

  Basil Seeds

  Basil has long been known to man. He takes pride of place in the kitchen of many countries: Greece, France, Italy and Thailand. In the Caucasus, he even got his own name - Regan.

  It has vitamins:

  • C( lowers blood cholesterol)
  • B( eye-friendly riboflavin)
  • PP( nicotinic acid for healthy skin and stomach mucosa)
  It is dangerous to use mercury compounds in the basilica of mercuryquantities. In pregnancy, diabetes and heart disease, spicy grass can be harmful to health. Everything is good in moderation, including the use of basil.

  Growing red basil in the area is easy. The plant is unpretentious and requires little care and attention. You can sow it almost half of May. A pick a plant is needed far from always. In addition, the plant quickly rises and grows rapidly. Harvesting and harvesting is easy. To diversify the table and pamper yourself "king" among the herbs does not take much time and effort.