Basil: outdoor cultivation and care, diseases and pests.

Basil is rightfully considered one of the most popular herbs in our garden. This plant is a rich source of useful trace elements and has a unique aroma. Basil is unpretentious in leaving culture and grows in almost every garden. In addition to taste, basil can be used to perfectly decorate the site.

General information about the plant.

There are about seventy types of basil. Each plant differs from each other in appearance and life period. Many species have been bred for the new flavor of this herb, as well as for the creation of an aesthetic decorative plant.

Basil foliage reaches a length of fifteen to eighty-five centimeters. The plant looks like small bushes. Basil leaves differ in shape, texture and color. The scent of the plant can resemble a citrus or floral scent.

Basil is a thermophilic plant. In a region with temperatures below twenty degrees, this crop is unlikely to give a good harvest.

What time to plant basil.

It is necessary to start planting in an open area in warm, settled weather. Usually this period occurs in late spring and early summer. The main factor for this plant is a well-warmed soil and an air temperature above fifteen degrees. If the weather turns bad after planting the basil, use a greenhouse structure to preserve the culture.

Basil planting rules on the site.

Since basil needs warmth, you need to plant it in an open, sun-drenched area. The soil for the plant must pass moisture well. It is necessary to build a protective structure against strong gusts of wind.

It is recommended to leave gaps between the plants about twenty-five centimeters. In a greenhouse, this distance may be shorter.

Interestingly, basil does not have to be planted in a separate bed. A place next to tomatoes or peppers is perfect. This neighborhood will give the vegetables a piquant smell.

For personal consumption, it is enough to plant a few basil bushes and water them regularly. For a seasonal dacha spice, this will be enough.

You will have to go another way if the plant is grown in heavy soil for sale. Such a goal requires a rich harvest, so it is necessary to feed the plant.

Organic fertilizer will do. During composting, the soil is dug up, which makes it loose and porous. Basil roots are weak and should be planted close to the soil surface. After planting, you need to water the plant. It will not be superfluous to introduce specialized feeding for spicy crops.

Basil care.

If you have found a separate bed for the basil, then it is good if you have grown on it before:

-beans;

- pumpkin;

- butchery.

Watering the basil.

It is advisable to water the basil with not very cool water. However, this is not so critical. It is not always possible to find a way to heat the water for irrigation. Cold water is often used. In this case, it is important to do this in the early hours. At this time, the soil is still cold and the plant will not be affected by a strong temperature drop.

The summer resident needs to decide on the regularity of watering himself. Abundant moisture makes the grass less aromatic, and severe drought can cause damage to the roots of the plant.

During the sultry heat, it is worth increasing the frequency of watering, and during the cool period, reduce. An important factor in resolving this issue will be the condition of the soil. Usually the culture is watered weekly, more often as the soil dries up.

In the intervals between watering, do not forget to loosen the soil, this contributes to the rapid and high-quality growth of the plant.

How to water basil immediately after planting in the area.

While the plant is young and fragile, it must be watered every two days with water heated by sunlight. If there is a sultry heat, you can carry out the procedure daily. The root system of a young plant is close to the surface of the soil, moisture evaporates quickly here.

With the appearance of new leaves on the plant, you can reduce the frequency of watering.

Does basil need fertilization?

This question arises before any summer resident who strives to get a good harvest. Overly moist soil will make the basil less aromatic. Although even in this case, the plant will decorate any dish with its presence.

However, with fertilizers, things are not so simple. Most of the basil varieties are perennials. Therefore, in the first year of life, this culture directs all its forces to the formation of seed ovaries. Summer residents pick the buds, and the plant increases the volume of greenery on the bush.

Thanks to such an event, the basil gives an excellent harvest, which is enough for seasonal consumption and harvesting, without the introduction of any fertilizers.

But if the crop is grown commercially, then fertilization has a number of benefits.

If fertilizer is applied several times under the basil, then the plant will give a much richer harvest. The volume of the harvested greenery will triple. The aroma of such a herb will be spicy, but still give way to basil grown without feeding.

In this case, it is also necessary to free the plant from flower ovaries, preserving nutrients in the soil for foliage.

Accumulating in the plant, mineral fertilizers become nitrates. A small amount of this substance will not harm. However, basil does not require a lot of nitrogen fertilization. The plant begins to actively grow, increasing the volume of the green mass. Why should this scare us? The plant has a hard time getting rid of nitrates. The use of such a herb in small quantities will not have a detrimental effect. But using such a plant for medicinal purposes is contraindicated. You should also limit your intake of fresh basil grown under these conditions.

Growing herbs for sale without the use of fertilizers is not economically viable. For personal consumption, it is enough to pick a few leaves from the bush. On an industrial scale, the first harvest is carried out two to three months after planting.

Organic fertilizer can be added during planting. So basil will delight the summer resident with an early harvest.

Despite the effect of mineral fertilizers on herbal crops, basil will not be able to have a detrimental effect on human health. The spice is used in small quantities in cooking, which is not capable of causing harm.

Fertile soil.

Basil thrives in loose, porous soil. If you conduct this activity regularly several times a week, then the frequency of watering can be reduced. For eating, pluck the lower foliage of the plant, so it will be convenient for you to loosen the soil without fear of damaging the bush.

We get rid of the buds.

If you need basil seeds, then the flowers must be kept. You should also not get rid of the buds on ornamental plants. On the remaining bushes, it is necessary to collect flowers, immediately after their ovary.

Pruning basil.

Pruning basil branches will have a beneficial effect on the growth of the basil. You can cut off the top and a little from the sides of the plant. After a while, it is worth repeating this procedure.

Every time you collect greens for food, tear off the elongated branches that are different from the main mass.

How to propagate a plant.

In order to plant basil, you can use seedlings or seeds. The root system can develop well in liquid or sandy soil.

When to harvest basil.

To begin with, determine the intended purpose of the crop. Bushes up to fifteen centimeters long can be harvested up to five times during a warm period. After such a procedure, it is necessary to feed the plant.

To create a dry seasoning, you need the most aromatic basil. This is how the plant becomes in the early periods of flowering. It is important not to miss the moment and collect the buds so that all the nutritional power of the soil goes into the foliage.

It is recommended to dry the grass in a warm place, protected from direct sunlight. It is best to hang basil bushes on a rope, but you can also spread them out on a flat surface. In the second case, it is necessary to regularly change the position of the leaves for complete drying. If you have properly dried the basil, the grass will not change its original color.

What insects and diseases can harm the basil.

Due to its bright aroma, basil is not subject to serious attacks from harmful insects. On the contrary, the plant can serve as a protection against pests, settling in the same garden with vegetables. This property of basil has found widespread use among summer residents seeking to minimize the use of chemicals.

If the herb grows under normal conditions, then the likelihood of being affected by the disease is insignificant. In greenhouse conditions, the soil can accumulate excess moisture. A large amount of rainfall will have a detrimental effect on basil. In this case, the plant is susceptible to the following diseases:

Fusarium... The bushes of the plant will gradually begin to dry out and wither.

Gray rot... The fungal disease will spread to the damaged surface of the greenery. This can happen in case of inaccurate harvesting. The disease is characterized by the appearance of a gray-green mold.

It is necessary to remove the affected basil bush from the garden.

Conclusion.

As the article suggests, growing basil is not at all difficult. And the pleasure of its bright aroma will be experienced by all guests of your site!