Basil: how to grow spicy herbs in a greenhouse in winter? Growing basil in a greenhouse and on a window Growing basil in a greenhouse in winter

And on your personal plot you can harvest other spicy crops, for example, basil. Although this plant loves warm weather and is mainly grown in Transcaucasia and Asian countries, you can get a normal basil harvest in the central zone of our country.

Undemanding basil, grown in open ground or greenhouses. It can be grown in a garden bed in any region using seedlings.

Choosing a place for basil

Basil came to us from the southern latitudes, and a well-lit bed is chosen for it. The plant does not tolerate drafts or cold winds, for this reason it is advisable to plant this crop under the protection of bushes, fences or near buildings.

Basil requires nutritious, light and loose soil; basil grows well in beds where tomatoes or cucumbers were previously planted. Before planting basil seedlings in open ground, the area must be fertilized with manure. It also grows well after legumes, since they supply the soil with nitrogen with the help of nodule bacteria.

The site for planting basil is prepared in the fall, it is dug up on the bayonet of a shovel and fed with the following fertilizers:

Good compost or humus - add 3.5-5 kg ​​per 1 m2, depending on the nutritional value of the soil;
Granulated superphosphate – 22 g;
Potassium sulfate – 12 g.

If the area where basil will grow is in a lowland, then it would be a good idea to plant seedlings in high beds, fencing them with boards. In damp, poorly aerated soil, spices will not develop well.

Growing seedlings

Basil is a spicy annual plant that forms a branched and beautiful bush that can grow up to 20-60 cm, depending on the variety grown. In addition, the color of the leaves depends on the variety - from bright green to dark green, they will even turn out green-violet. In different varieties of basil, the leaves also differ in shape - they can be even and flat, with a carved edge, or even corrugated leaves can grow. There are leaf blades of different sizes and widths, but any variety has their divine aroma.
Basil blooms in the last ten days of July - the first ten days of August. By this time, a lot of essential oil accumulates in it, and the plants begin to emit a pleasant aroma. At this time you need to collect spicy herbs.

Although basil is mainly loved for its fragrant foliage, its white microscopic flowers attract many pollinating insects to your garden.

From the outside, at this time, it seems that the basil sprigs begin to move. In mid-September, the fruits also ripen - black-purple nuts.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

To do this, use a wide box and a nutritious soil mixture; it can be bought in a special store.

In the room where the box is located, the air temperature is maintained at 25-27 degrees; in such conditions, the first shoots can be noticed after 10 days.

When the seedlings sprout, they need to be provided with suitable conditions. Sowing is done to a depth of 10 mm, seeds are placed frequently after the appearance of seedlings, strong plants are planted in separate cups, and weak ones are discarded.

You can grow basil seedlings in an apartment, and after the weather warms up, gradually take the seedlings out onto the balcony (harden off), first for 2 hours, then gradually increase the hardening time.

Once every 15 days, seedlings need to be fed with fertilizers that contain the main nutrients - nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus (in a ratio of 2: 3: 5).

A week before transplanting seedlings into open ground, you need to water less frequently, and the time for hardening should be increased even more so that the seedlings get used to the new conditions.

Seedlings do not require special care - you just need to monitor the soil moisture; the soil in the pots should not be allowed to dry out. You also shouldn’t water it too often; because of this, a black leg may appear on the seedlings, which can destroy it.

In the southern regions, you can sow basil directly into the garden bed. This is done in early June, watering the furrows in advance. After sowing, the bed is covered with film and kept there until the seedlings sprout.

Planting seedlings in the garden

Transplantation of seedlings to a permanent place is carried out in early June, after the return frosts have passed. For those who live in the middle zone or in the north, spicy greens need to be grown through seedlings in a greenhouse or greenhouse.

The seedlings are planted in the garden bed in pre-made holes, with row spacing of 30 cm, a distance of 25 cm is maintained in the row. The holes are dug so that an earthen clump of seedlings can be placed in them, most often 9 cm is enough. Right before transplanting the seedlings, 1 liter of water is poured into the holes . Seedlings are removed from the pots along with the soil. After this, it is advisable to make a temporary greenhouse, covering the plantings with polyethylene. This is important in case of possible night cold snaps; after the seedlings take root and the shoots begin to grow, the shelter is completely removed.

Caring for Basil

Caring for this crop is complicated by the fact that it requires a lot of heat.

When it gets cold (especially with light frosts), it is advisable to cover the beds with film at night and remove them in time in the morning.

For people who only need a few fragrant sprigs for the table, there is no need to try too hard; growing a small amount of basil is not difficult.

Watering and fertilizing

Water the plants moderately; do not flood the beds. Warm water is used, previously settled in a barrel, the bushes are watered from a watering can, the best time for watering is when the heat of the day subsides, after 17.00 hours. Once every 2 weeks you need to loosen the soil and remove weeds.

The first feeding of basil is carried out from June 10 to 20, another one 3-4 weeks after the first. For feeding, mineral or organic fertilizers are used, in proportions intended for green vegetables or herbs. This crop blooms in early August, during which time the branches become slightly tart and fragrant.

Collection of greens

Basil, if necessary, can be harvested 2 times per season. The first time the greens are cut is in early July, before flowering. To do this, carefully cut off the upper shoots; you cannot cut at the root, otherwise the plant will die; you need to leave a few leaves at the beginning of the branch. Basil is harvested again in August, by which time new branches should appear on the bushes. If you need some greenery for the table, you can trim a few branches at any time. In order for the bush to live longer, in the first ten days of September, 2-3 bushes are transplanted into large flower pots. This way the basil can live a long time and supply you with fresh herbs almost all winter.

Basil is prepared by pickling it or drying the herbs.

To get dry basil, scatter the cut sprigs in a thin layer on baking sheets and cover them with a clean cloth.

After this, the baking sheets are transferred to a well-ventilated, dry place where the sun's rays do not penetrate. For example, a barn or attic would be suitable.

It is not difficult to determine whether the greens have dried enough. Its leaves should be easily crushed and its stems should break.

Dry herbs are stored in porcelain or glass hermetically sealed jars. This way the basil will not spoil for more than 3 years.

They allow harvesting in late autumn, winter and early spring, when vitamins are especially needed.

Variety selection

Botanists there are at least 150 varieties of basil. They differ in bush size, leaf color, nuances of taste and aroma.

The most popular and undemanding varieties are suitable for a novice gardener. In a greenhouse, you can plant several options at once or choose your favorite ones.

• Basil fragrant or camphorous. The most popular variety with bright green leaves. It has a recognizable clove aroma and bushes well. The variety is especially popular in Mediterranean cuisine.
• Basil cinnamon or Mexican. There are subtle cinnamon nuances in the taste. The plant is compact and beautifully combines pale green leaves with bright purple flowers.
• Basil violet. Very popular in Caucasian cuisine, added to meat side dishes, sauces and even desserts. The leaves have a very delicate, slightly sweet taste.
• Basil citric. A spreading plant that produces a large green mass. The leaves are large, light green, with a subtle lemon aroma.

Useful video about basil varieties grown in a greenhouse:

What kind of greenhouse do you need?

Basil can be grown in greenhouses and heated greenhouses. Thus, basil, when grown in a greenhouse in winter, can be combined with other crops:,. These crops have similar requirements for soil composition, watering and temperature conditions.

Ideal greenhouse for growing greens throughout the year maybe small, from 20 to 50 sq. m. On a personal plot it can be made of wood or metal profiles. Convenient or pitched structures.

Small ones adjacent to the building are also suitable. In such structures, one wall is made blank, which increases the temperature inside the structure and allows you to save on heating costs. Find out how to organize it on our website.

The winter greenhouse can be covered with glass or sheets. A more economical option is double plastic film. Her The only drawback is fragility. The film coating will have to be changed annually, and in regions with a very cold climate, such protection may not be sufficient.

In winter, maintain the desired temperature in the greenhouse biofuel will help- a mixture of rotted manure and straw. The mass is left under plastic film for several days, and then laid out in ridges and covered with a thick layer of prepared soil.

It is recommended to lay sheets of roofing felt around the perimeter of the greenhouse, which will help protect the plants from the cold.

For heating greenhouses use electric boilers, air heaters, stoves or small fires.

Heating is necessary with the onset of frost. For ventilation you need vents. To prevent cold air from entering the greenhouse, a small vestibule is made at the entrance.

Soil preparation

Basil is picky about soil composition. In a greenhouse, it is better to remove the top layer of soil by filling the ridges with a mixture of garden soil, peat and sand. The soil should be light and loose, with moderate acidity. Before planting, rotted manure is added to the soil (at the rate of 4 kg per 1 sq. m). 2 weeks after planting the plants, you need to fertilize the soil with an aqueous solution of chicken droppings or urea.

In a greenhouse, basil can be grown from seedlings or seeds. The first method significantly shortens the growing season. Seeds on seedlings are sown in boxes filled with light soil. There is no need to bury them. The boxes are covered with plastic film.

The first shoots appear after 2 weeks. When the plants acquire 2 leaves, picking is carried out. A distance of 5 cm remains between young plants, this will allow them to develop normally. In a month and a half seedlings can be transplanted into a greenhouse. It is better to sow basil in winter, and plant seedlings in early spring.

Features of planting and care

How to grow basil in a greenhouse? The seedlings are planted in shallow furrows, the distance between plants is about 15 cm. Every 7 days, the beds should be watered generously with not too cold water.

For watering, use watering cans with a wide spray nozzle. Very comfortable and automatic drip system, which is installed in industrial greenhouses.

Basil loves warmth. The optimal temperature for growth is 22°C...28°C. The plant does not need excessive heat; in the warm season, the greenhouse should be frequently ventilated. Basil in the cold must be protected from drafts. When the temperature drops to 15°C, growth slows down; cooling to 5°C can destroy the sprouts.

The first harvest can be harvested when the young plants reach 20 cm. Stems cut with pruners or a sharp knife so that a stump with 2 leaves remains on the surface of the earth. You need to act carefully, the root system of basil is weak, and with a sharp movement you can accidentally pull out the bush.

After harvesting, plants need to be well watered and apply fertilizer to the beds: chicken manure or aqueous urea solution. Such a system will ensure the uninterrupted growth of fresh herbs; harvesting can be done at least once a week. For the season from 1st quarter. m of closed ground you can collect from 2 to 7 kg of greens.

Basil low maintenance and pleases with a good harvest. This crop is suitable even for novice gardeners. Having gained useful experience, you can begin to grow other, more capricious plants.

If you find an error, please highlight a piece of text and click Ctrl+Enter.

People have known about the beneficial properties of basil and its ability to give food a unique taste for a long time. This spice is especially popular in the East. The population of Europe learned about basil thanks to the campaigns of Alexander the Great, but for some time they treated the unfamiliar plant with distrust. Hundreds of years have passed, and now in almost every private house or country house there is sure to be a small flower bed with herbs, among which basil takes pride of place.

Description of basil

Cooking can be approached in different ways. Some people cook in a hurry, just to drown out the feeling of hunger, some people make an effort to do this, but in the absence of imagination, the dishes turn out to be ordinary and bland. And someone, after work, turns into a good fairy or sorceress in the kitchen, who can create a real miracle from a minimal food set. But dexterous hands alone will not be enough to prepare a masterpiece. Every fairy has a magic wand, and a real housewife always has a magic ingredient in her kitchen - spicy herbs. The palm among aromatic herbs belongs, of course, to basil.

Basil is perhaps the most popular herb in cooking.

From ancient Greek, basil is translated as “king, royal, royal.” Its synonyms are: fragrant cornflowers, red cornflowers, darlings. In Azerbaijan, basil is called reagan, in Uzbekistan - raikhon, in Armenia it is known as rean. Such a variety of names indicates only one thing: basil is an incredibly popular herb in many countries around the world.

Africa is believed to be the birthplace of this magical plant. Basil is found wild in India, China and Iran. Currently, this aromatic herb is successfully grown almost all over the world.

Basil is found in many countries of the world, but Africa is considered to be its homeland.

Sweet basil, or common basil, is an annual herbaceous plant with a straight, tetrahedral and well-leafed stem. Height is from 50 to 70 cm. The bush looks lush due to the strong branching of the stem. The leaves are oblong-ovate, located on short petioles. The surface of the plate varies depending on the species - some are almost smooth, others have a bubbly leaf surface. The colors of basil can be very diverse - soft green, deep purple or with a hint of red. The edges of the leaf blade are dotted with sparse teeth.

The stem, leaves and bracts of many types of basil are covered with sparse hairs, making the plant appear rough when touched with your hand.

The flowers are mostly white or pale pink, sometimes purple. The inflorescences look like brushes. The corolla is bilabial in structure, which classifies basil to the family of Lamiaceae, or Lamiaceae. Flowers appear in the axils of the upper leaves.

Blooming basil is an excellent honey plant.

Blooming basil is an excellent honey plant

Application and contraindications

Basil gained great popularity and fame precisely as a spice used in cooking. Leaves and stems are used both fresh and dried. They need to be collected before flowering begins. Basil has a unique aroma and taste that cannot be confused with anything else. It is the variety of aromas that determines which dish is suitable for one or another type of basil. Plants that smell like caramel, lemon, cinnamon or vanilla are most often used to make desserts. The clove smell is good for meat dishes, the anise smell is good for fish. Spicy greens are an integral part of refreshing vegetable and fruit salads, pates, marinades, sauces, soups, winter preparations, and tea drinks.

Basil adds a unique taste and aroma to homemade preparations.

To ensure that basil retains its unique aroma, add it at the end of cooking. But keep it in moderation!

But the use of basil is not limited to cooking. It turns out that the plant is very beneficial for health and, having appeared in Russia in the 18th century, was initially used exclusively as a medicine. The antiseptic and antibacterial effect of basil has long been noted. But it also has the following effects on the body:

• diaphoretic,
• antipyretic,
• astringent,
• strengthens the nerves
• antispasmodic.

Basil is equally good both fresh and dried.

But due to the high content of essential oils, there are also contraindications. Basil is not suitable for people with coronary heart disease, those who have had a stroke and those suffering from epilepsy. It is also necessary to limit its consumption in the following cases:

• diabetes,
• hypertension,
• thrombophlebitis,
• individual intolerance,
• age up to 7 years,
• pregnancy.

For a long time, basil has been known both as a medicinal and as a cosmetic product.

This plant is also widely used in cosmetology. Basil perfectly rejuvenates, regenerates and tones the skin. Activates hair follicles, causing hair to grow faster and become shiny. Excellent for problematic skin as it is an antibacterial agent.

Types and varieties

Nowadays, more than 150 varieties of fragrant plants have been classified. But the basis for breeding work was the types of basil with green and purple leaves. A large variety of varieties allows you to add different shades of taste to ready-made dishes and experiment with familiar products. Of course, every housewife chooses a spice based on her preferences. Therefore, you should know that each type and variety of basil has its own unique taste and aromatic characteristics.

1. Sandwich sheet. It smells like cloves. Used as a flavoring additive for culinary dishes in fresh and dried form. Used for conservation. Suitability for consumption occurs on the 47–51st day from the appearance of the first shoots. The plant is tall, upright, heavily leafy. The leaf blade is juicy green, quite large, ovoid in shape. It has a serrated edge and a smooth surface. The flowers are white. Plant weight 170–210 g.

   

   Sandwich leaf basil has a wonderful clove aroma.

2. Anise aroma. The name speaks about its spicy aroma. Used to add flavor to various prepared dishes and sauces. Good both fresh and dried. It grows as a semi-spreading bush up to 60 cm high. It is well leafed. The leaf blade is slightly bubbly and green. Plant weight 185–250 g.

   

   Basil of the Anise aroma variety is used as a flavored additive to dishes

3. Lemon miracle. It can enrich a dish with lemon-mint notes, so it is often used in home cooking and in canning as a flavoring additive. Plant of medium height, intermediate. The foliage is average. The green leaf has an elliptical shape and is of medium size. The surface of the plate is slightly bubbly, the edges are finely toothed. The flowers are pink. Plant weight is 300–320 g. The period from full germination to the beginning of economic suitability is 45–53 days.

   

   Basil of the Lemon Miracle variety adds freshness to dishes thanks to its lemon-mint aroma.

4. Vanilla aroma. The vanilla-smelling herb is used as an aromatic additive in home cooking. Suitable for canned products. The leaves of the plant can be eaten on the 50–60th day after full germination. The bush is low-growing, upright, of medium density. The leaves are ovate-shaped and have a finely toothed edge. The surface of the plate is slightly bubbly and concave. There is practically no gloss. Blooms purple.

   

   Basil variety Aroma goes well with desserts

5. Russian hero. Has a spicy clove-pepper aroma. Used as a flavoring additive in the process of canning and cooking. Used fresh and dried. Ready for consumption 48–50 days after germination. The bush is erect and tall. The leaf is large, ovate, green in color. The surface of the plate is medium bubbly. During the flowering period, it produces white inflorescences. Plant weight 170–210 g.

   

   Basil of the Russian Bogatyr variety is successfully used in fresh and dried form.

6. Purple glitter. The aroma is camphor-clove. Good fresh and dried for home cooking and for canning as a flavoring additive. The medium-sized bush grows straight and has strong foliage. The leaf is ovoid, dark purple, medium size. The surface of the plate is smooth, the edge is finely toothed. The flowers are pink. Suitable for food 30–35 days after germination. The plant is quite weighty, its weight reaches 470 g.

   

   Basil of the Violet Glitter variety is good fresh or dried.

7. Malachite. It has a pleasant caramel-mint smell. Used in home cooking and canning. The bush is tall. Upright, slightly loose. The foliage is average. The dark green leaf is medium in size and elliptical in shape. The surface of the plate is slightly bubbly, the edge is finely toothed. Flower color is pink. Ready for use on the 40–53rd day after germination. Plant weight 300–320 g.

   

   Malachite basil has a pronounced caramel-mint aroma

8. Favorite. Pleasant taste and aroma of caramel. Refers to mid-season varieties, economic suitability occurs 50–55 days from the beginning of germination. The weight of one plant is 400–450 g. It is used as a flavoring and spicy-flavoring additive in canning and cooking. When fresh, it is good as salad greens. The vertically growing tall bush has medium foliage. The leaves are light green, elliptical. The flowers are pink.

   

   Basil variety Lyubimchik is especially good in salads

9. Raspberry nutmeg. It has a bright nutmeg taste and aroma. It can add spicy notes and enhance the aroma of prepared dishes and sauces. Used fresh or dried. Medium-sized, intermediate and loose bush. The medium-sized leaf has an anthocyanin color. The flowers are dark purple. Can be used for its intended purpose 45–48 days after complete germination. The bush weighs on average 180–200 g.

   

   Basil Raspberry nutmeg adds a spicy note to prepared dishes

Reproduction methods

Regardless of whether you grow basil in open ground, in a greenhouse or on a windowsill at home, there are only 2 ways to propagate this plant.

1. Seminal. This method is simple, although it requires a little preparation of the seeds. They are soaked in a solution of a stimulant, for example, Epin, for 8 or 10 hours. Then dry it by spreading it on a cloth. Dry seeds are sown in open ground, covered with plastic film. With timely watering, the first shoots will appear in 1.5–2 weeks.
2. Cuttings. If you already have an adult basil bush, then you can use the fastest and most convenient method. To do this, cut off several shoots or the top of the plant and place the cuttings in a container with water. The roots will appear very quickly - in 1, maximum 2 weeks.

Caring for basil in open ground

Basil seedlings are planted in open ground no earlier than the second half of May, when the threat of return frosts has passed and the daytime temperature remains consistently above 20 o C. But in each region, this period must be selected individually - in cooler areas, planting begins in early June. In the southern regions, you can not only plant seedlings, but also sow seeds directly into open ground.

For open ground, it is preferable to plant basil seedlings

Good predecessors for basil are legumes, pumpkin and nightshade crops.

Growing conditions

Basil is thermophilic, so for its successful cultivation you need to choose the most illuminated area, protected from strong winds and drafts.

Experienced gardeners often plant a spicy plant under young trees. They are not yet capable of providing much shade and do not interfere with the basil’s enjoyment of the sun’s rays. In turn, the strong-smelling bush drives away harmful insects from the seedlings. This is such natural mutual assistance.

Basil loves light soil rich in humus, the main advantage of which is good water permeability. The site should be prepared a month before planting. It is cleared of remnants of vegetation, stones and dug up with organic matter - humus, compost or peat. On light loams it will be enough to add 2 kg of organic matter per 1 m2. The planting itself is best done on a cloudy day or in the evening.

Basil grows well in open ground conditions

Watering frequency

The delicate aromatic plant is very moisture-loving. Sufficient watering helps basil actively grow young leaves. But watering should be done only after the soil has dried. Excess moisture, as well as its lack, negatively affects the development of the plant. Therefore, natural precipitation or increased air temperature significantly adjust the frequency of watering in one direction or another.

Do not water basil with cold water. Before moistening, you need to let the liquid sit for at least 24 hours in a large container. During this time, the water will have time to warm up properly.

So that the liquid can heat up sufficiently, place the container for settling the water in an open sunny place.

Basil responds well to drip irrigation

Top dressing

To stimulate leaf growth, you should feed basil at least once a month. Fertilizers can be organic or mineral. But it is preferable to carry out mixed feeding.

Table: types of fertilizers for basil

If nutrients were added to the soil before planting, then the first fertilizing is carried out 10–12 days after planting.

In order for the vitamin leaf mass of basil to increase, fertilizing is needed

Trimming and shaping

A special feature of basil is its excellent branching ability. To achieve maximum splendor of the bush, you need to remove the emerging flower stalks from adult plants in a timely manner. Young basil is pinched at 5–6 leaves. This procedure activates the growth of side shoots, and the spicy bush grows in breadth, rather than stretching out in height.

By periodically pruning fresh herbs, you can help your basil maintain its luscious foliage throughout the season. If you do not remove the inflorescences, the leaves begin to taste bitter, and the lower ones quickly turn yellow and dry out.

Pinching basil stimulates the growth of side shoots

Growing basil in a greenhouse

The greenhouse reliably protects plants from frost. A microclimate without sharp temperature fluctuations at different times of the day and with a constant level of humidity allows you to get greens much earlier than in open ground.

Features of cultivation

Growing basil in greenhouse conditions is quite simple and profitable. Indoor spaces have many advantages, including:

• getting early greens,
• reliable protection from bad weather,
• minimal damage from pests and diseases.

A greenhouse makes it possible to grow a vitamin product not only during the season, but all year round. True, for this you need to have a heated room to maintain the air temperature at 22–28 o C. To prevent plants from suffering from lack of lighting, preference should be given to durable and transparent materials, for example, glass or polycarbonate, and it is necessary to have additional lighting inside. Another requirement for greenhouses is the presence of vents for ventilation.

Greenhouse conditions provide excellent opportunities for growing basil all year round.

Methods for growing basil in a greenhouse

In a greenhouse, basil can be grown quite successfully by seed or seedlings. In one case or another, planting is carried out earlier than in open ground. Seeds are sown in early March or April. During this period, the spring sun has time to warm up the greenhouse. Seedlings in the southern regions can be planted in mid or late March. In places with cooler climates, this work may need to wait a little longer.

Planting by seeds

The seeds are planted in well-moistened soil to a depth of no more than 1 cm. The crops are covered with plastic film. The first shoots usually appear after 10 days. When all the seeds sprout together, be sure to thin out. The distance between bushes in a row should be 20–25 cm, depending on the growth performance of the planted variety. You need to leave at least 30 cm between rows.

Video: how to plant basil seeds

Planting seedlings

Seedlings are grown in special containers. The seeds are deepened half a centimeter into the moistened soil, the distance between them is 3 cm. In order for the seedlings to germinate successfully, the container is covered with glass or plastic film. Such a shelter will help maintain a temperature of 25 o C inside. If the seedlings are weak, then after the appearance of the first true leaf they need to be fed with a nutrient solution. To do this, mix phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen fertilizers in a ratio of 5:3:2 with 10 liters of water. Picking is carried out when 2 leaves appear on the seedlings. Seedlings are transplanted into the ground when the plants have at least 4–5 leaves.

Soil requirements

As a rule, the greenhouse begins to be prepared for spring planting in the fall. They remove a layer of earth up to 25 cm thick and fill the vacant areas with a mixture of garden soil with humus or peat, with the addition of sand to make it loose. You can go the other way - simply dig up the soil, first scattering fertilizer evenly over the surface. For each m2 it is necessary to add from 3 to 5 kg of organic matter, 25 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium salt.

If for some reason you were unable to prepare the land in the fall, do it no later than 2 weeks before starting work.

Watering

The watering schedule when growing basil in a greenhouse does not undergo drastic changes due to stable indoor conditions. Water more often and more generously in the first month after planting. Then reduce the frequency of moisturizing so that excess moisture does not lead to illness. Water an adult plant when the top layer of soil is reasonably dry.

As a rule, in a greenhouse it is enough to water basil once a week. But if the microclimate conditions inside change, the humidification schedule will also change.

Watering should be done with warm water. For the procedure you will need a watering can with a nozzle in the form of a wide spray. Drip irrigation has also proven itself to be excellent.

To maintain normal humidity inside, it is necessary to carry out periodic ventilation. Accumulating condensation on the glass must be removed. When ventilating, the timing of which depends on the weather conditions, try to avoid drafts.

Basil is demanding of moisture, but in the greenhouse you need to strictly control the humidity level

Feeding and pruning

These procedures are carried out in the same way as when growing basil in open ground.

Video: growing basil in a greenhouse

Growing at home

If you love basil and want to have this fragrant herb on your table every day, try growing it at home. This activity is fun and easy. But there is one little secret. Low-growing varieties of basil have proven themselves excellent as potted plants. The list is long, but we will still offer some of them:

• Dwarf,
• Basilisk,
• Troll,
• Marquis,
• Philosopher,
• Compatto.

Growing basil as a houseplant was a popular activity in ancient Rome. They believed that the fragrant herb brought love, happiness and good luck. By the way, in the Mediterranean countries they still believe in this. Therefore, almost every balcony there is decorated with this spicy plant.

At home, basil is grown using the same methods - seeds and seedlings. But first you need to choose the right soil mixture - it should be light and permeable. Be sure to place drainage at the bottom of the pot, since stagnation of water in the roots will lead to the death of the plant. And of course, observe the thermal regime. Basil grows well in a warm, sunny window, away from drafts.

Basil was popular as a houseplant in ancient Rome.

Compatibility of basil with other plants

As you know, in the cramped conditions of small gardens, many summer residents resort to a trick - compatible or compacted plantings. The same method is often used in greenhouses. To ensure that plants do not oppress each other, but rather help them develop, you need to choose the right neighbors. Basil is a convenient plant in this regard. It grows well surrounded by many vegetable crops.

• For legumes, basil is not only a wonderful neighbor, but also a protector. Its bright aroma repels bean weevil.
• It improves the taste of leaf and head lettuce and tomatoes.
• Goes well with kohlrabi, peppers, corn, zucchini, and asparagus.

But there are vegetables and strong-smelling plants with which basil does not have a good relationship. They oppress each other, so it is not recommended to plant basil next to the following crops:

• cucumbers,
• cabbage,
• radish,
• marigolds,
• marjoram,
• rosemary.

Basil is a wonderful neighbor for many vegetable crops

Diseases

Despite its apparent tenderness and fragility, basil is quite disease-resistant. But the occurrence of diseases is possible with a combination of unfavorable factors, namely:

• high humidity,
• decrease or increase in temperature,
• thickening of plantings,
• incorrect watering mode.

The most dangerous fungal diseases for basil are:

Treatment

If the disease has just manifested itself, spraying with an infusion of onion peels will help cope with the spread of the fungus: 1 part of the crushed peel is poured with 4 parts of boiling water. Infuse for a day in a warm place and strain. You can use copper sulfate - 1 tsp. for 2 liters of water.

If the fungus has spread to most of the plants, you cannot do without the use of fungicides. Chemicals are used for processing, for example:

• Topaz,
• Fundazol,
• Fitosporin.

Each package contains instructions and must be strictly followed.

Treatment of plants against diseases should be carried out in cloudy weather or in the evening

Prevention

As you know, prevention is the best remedy in the fight against any disease. In order to avoid resorting to chemistry once again, you will have to carry out a number of measures.

• Do not allow plantings to thicken.
• Once every 5–7 days, dust the ground with the ash of deciduous trees.
• Weed and loosen the soil in beds with basil and between rows more often.
• Regulate watering. In some cases, it is better not to top up than to overfill.
• Be sure to ventilate greenhouses and get rid of condensation.
• Remove the diseased plant along with a lump of earth, and water the hole with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
• Try not to grow basil in one place for more than two years in a row.

When planting basil, do not forget that thickened plantings can lead to disease.

Pests

Basil is also resistant to pests. The strong aroma can scare off most of them. As a rule, mass destruction of plantings by harmful insects is not observed. But young and weakened plants can suffer from aphids or meadow (field) bugs. Sucking pests feed on the cell sap of plants, which leads to a slowdown in their growth and then to drying out of the leaves.

Following the preventative measures described above will help prevent uninvited guests. Well, if they appear, folk remedies will help you cope at an early stage. Herbal decoctions will repel pests:

• tansy,
• wormwood,
• hot pepper,
• Luke,
• dandelion,
• garlic

Treatment is carried out several times at intervals of a week. An ash solution works great - pour 300 g of ash with boiling water, simmer over low heat for half an hour, cool and strain. Dilute the resulting volume with water to 10 liters.

If you can no longer do without chemicals, then use Karbofos, Actellik or Akarin.

The meadow bug is not afraid of strong aromas, so it can visit the basil bed

Problems encountered during cultivation

Although basil is not a fussy plant, sometimes problems can arise when growing it. Most often this can happen at home or when grown in a greenhouse.

Table: problems encountered and their elimination

To prevent basil leaves from becoming bitter, the inflorescences need to be cut off.

Secrets of cultivation

If this is your first time deciding to grow this useful plant in the garden, first carefully study all the secrets for its successful cultivation:

• For basil, choose the sunniest places. It would be nice if the bed is protected from the north by dense plantings of other plants.
• In the southern regions, sow seeds or plant seedlings only in well-warmed soil. If you live in a cold climate, you need to grow basil either in greenhouses or in a room on a windowsill.
• Break out or cut off any inflorescences that form in a timely manner. This stimulates branching and growth of delicate vitamin greens.
• Basil loves a clean bed, so weeding and loosening should be done at least 7 times during the growing season.
• If you plant basil with peppers or tomatoes, you will make caring for your herbs much easier. While caring for the vegetables, you also pay attention to the basil.

Harvesting and storing basil

To use basil as a flavorful addition to dishes, you can pick the leaves or the top of the shoot when the plant has reached 15 cm in height. Do this carefully so as not to accidentally pull out the entire bush.

By the time flowering begins, which is approximately the end of July or beginning of August, the leaves have already accumulated a sufficient amount of essential oils. It is during this period that the leaf mass needs to be collected for harvesting for future use. You can preserve vitamin greens in various ways:

• to freeze,
• pickle,
• preserve.

Frozen basil does not lose its beneficial qualities

But the most common way to store vitamin herbs is drying. Preparing basil this way is very simple:

1. Pick or cut off the plant's shoots.
2. Collect 5-6 branches in small bunches.
3. Hang upside down in a well-ventilated, dark area.
4. After a few weeks, the leaves will naturally lose moisture.
5. Store the finished product in a glass jar with a tight lid.

You can also dry basil in the microwave, electric dryer and oven.

Like any aromatic herb, basil is easily dried in natural conditions.

Basil is a healthy seasoning that gives dishes a piquant taste and a pleasant aroma. With the onset of the summer season, I want to get an early harvest of this valuable and tasty spice. If you sow directly into the ground, you will have to wait a long time for the harvest, since basil is heat-loving, demanding of soil nutrition and the rules of agricultural technology. But if you grow it through seedlings, then achieving an early harvest of greenery will be quite easy.

Sowing basil for seedlings

The seedling method of planting basil is an opportunity to get early greens and collect full-fledged seed material for planting next season. Healthy and strong seedlings are the key to a good result, so when growing them, you need to pay attention to the timing of planting, as well as the conditions for growing them.

Step 1: determine planting dates

When determining the timing of sowing seeds, you need to focus on the possible timing of planting seedlings in open ground or a greenhouse. In the temperate climate zone, this is approximately the first ten days of June. In regions with warmer climates, seedlings can be planted as early as mid-May. By this time, the possibility of return frosts will have passed, consistently warm weather will have established, the soil will have warmed up sufficiently (up to +10–15 degrees), and the basil plantings will not be threatened by weather disasters.

Helpful information! In the southern regions, basil is most often planted with seeds directly into the ground, but in the northern regions a full harvest can only be obtained by growing seedlings.

In order to accurately determine the timing of sowing, use the following scheme:

1. Let’s take the estimated date of planting the seedlings to a permanent location as a starting point. Let's say that the possible date for your area is June 1st.
2. From this date it takes 60 days - the required age of seedlings before planting. We get April 2.
3. Let's subtract another 2 weeks. This is the maximum time required for seeds to germinate. The resulting date is March 19.
4. If the seedlings will be grown with picking, that is, with transplantation from a common container into individual ones, then it is necessary to subtract another 4–5 days (the time for the seedlings to adapt after picking). We get the seed sowing date - March 14.

When determining the timing of sowing, the selected variety must also be taken into account. Mid-late and late ripening basil develops more slowly, so its seeds are planted several days earlier. The sowing time for early and mid-early varieties needs to be shifted in the other direction. These plants develop faster and can outgrow within the specified time. This is extremely undesirable, because overgrown seedlings will take a long time to take root.

Note! If you plan to grow basil in a greenhouse, then the timing of sowing seedlings is shifted by two weeks, that is, to the beginning of March.

Step 2: prepare the containers

Any container is suitable for sowing basil seeds. When choosing, you should decide in advance whether you will grow seedlings with or without picking seedlings. If you are planning a diving procedure, then for initial sowing you can choose boxes in which the seedlings will feel free, they will be easy to care for, they can be quickly moved to a new place or turned the other side towards the light.

When selecting planting containers, keep in mind that their height must be at least 8 cm

When growing without picking, individual containers are preferred. In this case, sowing seeds can be done:

• peat tablets, cassettes and pots;
• paper honeycomb;
• cassettes and trays made of PVC and polystyrene;
• containers made from scrap materials, etc.

Photo gallery: individual planting containers for growing seedlings

Peat tablets are disposable, since plants are planted in the ground directly in these containers. The disadvantage of seedling pots is that they take up a lot of space. Due to the small size of the containers, the soil in the trays and cassettes dries out quickly, and if the plants are not watered on time, they may die When planting seedlings grown in peat cups in the ground, they do not need to be removed from the planting container. The main advantage of homemade containers is that they do not require any financial costs and are made from available materials

Step 3: select and prepare the soil

To grow healthy, full-fledged seedlings, you should carefully select the soil. It should be light, nutritious, and have good breathability. Do not fill containers with soil mixed with clay. Such soil does not allow air to pass through well, quickly becomes dense and begins to squeeze the delicate roots. In such conditions, seedlings may become sick and grow weak and poorly developed.

Here are several options for suitable soil mixtures for growing basil seedlings:

1. Humus, peat, sand in a ratio of 2:4:1.
2. Garden soil, peat, humus in equal parts.

You should not use very fertile soil: it is useless for germinating seeds, and can even cause harm - slow down the emergence of seedlings and their growth, and provoke diseases

Note! You can use a nutritious soil mixture sold in specialized stores. To disinfect it, use a saturated solution of potassium permanganate or Fitosporin.

If necessary, the mixed and disinfected soil mixture is spilled with a nutrient composition. To do this, urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate (0.5 teaspoon each) are added to the settled water. After the fertilizer has dissolved, moisten the prepared substrate with it. Such watering will make the soil more nutritious and provide the emerging seedlings with all the necessary elements.

Step 4: process the planting material

Basil seeds will be active only in the presence of heat and sunlight, because their natural habitat is the hot climate of India. Therefore, before planting, it is recommended to warm them up to a temperature of +40 degrees. This can be done on a sunny windowsill or on radiators. After warming up, it is recommended to soak the seeds for a day in warm water (approximately +40 degrees), and then dry them slightly.

Helpful advice! For soaking, you can use solutions of growth stimulants Zircon, Albit, etc.

Be prepared for the basil seeds to become very slimy when soaked.

Important! High-quality, heated and moisture-saturated seeds will sprout approximately 7–10 days after sowing.

Step 5: planting correctly

Sowing basil is absolutely simple. This procedure includes the following steps:

1. A drainage layer of expanded clay or pebbles is placed at the bottom of the planting container. Its thickness should be 2–3 cm.
2. The planting container is filled with the prepared substrate so that at least 1 cm remains to the edges of the planting container.

   

   When filling the container, keep in mind that the moistened soil will settle slightly

3. The soil is slightly compacted and moistened.

   

4. Warmed up, saturated with moisture and slightly dried seeds are evenly laid out on the surface of the soil.

   

   To prevent seedlings from competing for a place in the sun, it is better to immediately lay out the seeds at a distance of 2–3 cm from each other

5. They are sprinkled with a layer of soil mixture of about 0.5 cm on top. When planting several varieties, labels with names are installed so that you can then navigate through the varieties you like.

   

   Fill the cassettes with the remaining soil so that the basil seeds are at a depth of 0.5–1 cm

6. The ground is carefully sprayed (preferably with a spray bottle) so that the seeds are not washed to the surface. Do not use a strong stream of water. It is fraught with the fact that the seeds along with the water can go deeper. Because of this, they will take a long time to germinate or will not sprout at all.

   

   The best way to moisten the soil is by spraying with a spray bottle.

7. The containers are covered with film or glass and placed in a well-lit and warm place.

   

   As soon as planting has been done, the container is covered with glass or polyethylene film to create a greenhouse effect.

Video: basil seedlings in a snail

Seedling care

The optimal temperature for keeping boxes with planted seeds will be +20–25 degrees. After emergence of seedlings, the covering material is removed and the containers are placed in a room with a temperature of +16–20 degrees. In such conditions, the seedlings will not stretch.

After removing the film, basil needs to be provided with regular and timely care.

It is necessary to provide the seedlings with sufficient light. Poor lighting will lead to weakening and stretching of crops. Therefore, place containers with seedlings in well-lit places, protected from bright sunlight.

Note! Direct sunlight on young leaves can cause burns.

Watering

The top layer of soil in the planting container should not dry out. Without moisture, small plants will begin to wither and stop growing. Overmoistening of the soil also harms hatching seeds. It can cause the roots to die off, rot, and develop a disease such as black leg.

Important! If, when examining the seedlings, you notice that a dark constriction has appeared in the lower part of the stem, and the root collar has darkened, these are signs of the black leg disease. It is urgent to treat the seedlings with a solution of copper sulfate: 1 teaspoon of copper sulfate per 2 liters of warm water.

Basil seedlings love to be watered with settled, warm (at least +22 degrees) water. Watering directly from the tap can cause the roots to die. Water the seedlings with caution; try to moisten the soil rather than water the leaves. If moisture gets on the green parts of the plant, it can lead to the spread of fungal diseases.

Basil seedlings should be watered carefully, making sure they do not fall

Helpful information! There is a misconception that before transporting seedlings to the planting site, they must be well watered. This is incorrect, because succulent stems and leaves are more fragile, they are more likely to break than slightly wilted.

Picking seedlings

Picking seedlings is an optional process. If the seeds were sown in individual containers, or the sowing was carried out in a sufficiently large tray and the seedlings were not thickened, then it is quite possible to do without picking. It is enough to further thin out the seedlings and add soil to the container to strengthen the plant stems.

If necessary, picking is carried out in the phase of two true leaves. The composition of the soil mixture can be the same as when sowing basil seeds. Picking is carried out as follows:

7–10 days after picking, the seedlings can be fed with urea (1 teaspoon) and superphosphate (0.5 teaspoon) dissolved in water (1 liter). It is recommended to periodically pollinate the soil in containers with wood ash. It will not only provide the seedlings with additional nutrition, but will also be an excellent prevention of fungal diseases.

Video: how to pick basil seedlings

When growing basil seedlings, they try to create comfortable conditions for it. If there is a sudden change in the artificially created environment - for example, when transplanting into open ground - the plant will experience stress and may take a long time to recover and get sick. It is recommended to gradually accustom and prepare seedlings for a new mode of existence. For this purpose it is hardened. Hardening begins approximately 2 weeks before planting the plant in a permanent place. It is taken out into the fresh air or into a film greenhouse. The main condition: the temperature of the seedlings during hardening should not be lower than +5 degrees.

Important! The optimal hardening regime is to create a daytime temperature within the range of +15–17 degrees, and a nighttime temperature of +12–15. During hardening, limit watering of seedlings.

First, the plants are taken out into the fresh air for no more than 2–3 hours, when the air temperature rises to the level required for basil

Transplanting seedlings into open ground

Basil seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground at the age of 50–60 days. By this time, it should have at least 5 true leaves, be healthy and strong. When determining the timing of transplantation, you should focus on weather conditions: the danger of night frosts must pass, and the soil must warm up to a temperature of at least +10 degrees. For planting, choose a sunny place, protected from the north wind, carefully loosen the area and fill it well with organic matter (1 bucket of rotted manure per square meter). The transplant is carried out as follows:

Note! If the transplant is carried out in compliance with the specified rules, then in just a few days the basil seedlings will come into force and the bush will begin to actively grow.

Video: transplanting basil seedlings into a garden bed

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

Compatibility of basil with other plants

Basil is one of the companion plants, that is, those herbs that secrete specific substances that have a beneficial effect on other crops: enhancing their growth, disinfecting the air, repelling pests. Therefore, basil bushes are often used in joint plantings. Basil goes well with the following plants:

The only plants whose proximity to basil is not recommended are rue, as well as cucumbers, which do not like combined planting with any aromatic herbs. Basil itself grows well after those crops for which a large amount of organic matter was added: legumes, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, onions, cabbage and carrots, as well as green manure. Given the rules of crop rotation, you cannot plant basil in one place for several years in a row. The culture can be returned to its original place no sooner than after 4–5 years.

Considering the huge number of advantages of basil, its benefits, including for garden crops, you should always have this plant in open ground beds and in greenhouses. All you have to do is choose your favorite variety - and you can start planting it.

Basil is a whimsical plant. It is quite demanding on soil quality and temperature conditions. The plant also dies when frost occurs. Therefore, it is advisable to grow basil in a greenhouse rather than in open ground.

Preparing the growing site

Before planting seed, it is necessary to make a drainage system. After all, basil can get sick if water stagnates in the soil. It is also necessary to take a responsible approach to the choice of land, since the plant loves fertilized and light soil.

The following factors are important in the technology of growing basil in a greenhouse:

• good lighting;
• stable temperature conditions;
• regular watering;
• breathable soil.

It is also necessary to ensure good ventilation of the room and regularly remove condensation from glass or polyethylene.

Before sowing, the basil is prepared. For better germination, seeds must be soaked in water overnight. This will remove the thick layer of essential oil that is preventing germination. Afterwards, they need to be dried a little so that the seed does not stick together.

Seeds are sown in grooves 1-2 cm deep. The distance between each row should not exceed 5 cm. During the germination process, regular watering is necessary. The soil temperature should not be lower than 22 degrees. In this case, the first shoots can be expected within 10 days.

If the soil quality is poor, it is necessary to feed the plants. The first procedure can be carried out after the formation of two leaves on the stem. For this purpose, use saltpeter or nitrogen fertilizer.

Seedlings are planted when they are stronger, at a distance of 30 cm from each other. After the sixth leaf appears, it is necessary to attach the top of the plant, which will prevent the stem from stretching and contribute to the formation of beautiful branches with wide leaves.

Diseases

Growing basil in a greenhouse involves regularly loosening the soil, which will help avoid stagnation of moisture. Otherwise, the root system will begin to rot. Also, a similar phenomenon can occur in the presence of cool weather.

When such a disease occurs, the plant is treated with a fungicide or foundationazole. If the lesion is severe, it must be removed.

Basil is often susceptible to pest damage. They are attracted by the rich aroma that comes from the plant. Mulching the soil will help correct the situation.

How to grow basil in a greenhouse in winter? To do this, it is necessary to provide the plants with artificial light. An important point is the presence of heating and ventilation systems. When growing basil in a greenhouse in winter, it is necessary to supplement the soil with coarse sand.

The rules for caring for plants that ripen in artificial conditions are very different from crops planted in open ground. Therefore, its preparation, selection of seeds, and planting of seed must be carried out in strict compliance with existing rules.

But careful care of plants will not bring the expected result if you choose low-quality seeds. The Lucky Seed company sells seed products in Ukraine, which are characterized by increased germination and good harvest.