Basil plant: growing and care, ALL beneficial properties

Basil - planting and care in the open field, properties

Content:

The Basil plant is an annual crop, appreciated for its specific aroma and taste. Basil blooms in the second half of July. If the sowing is late, accordingly the basil blooms in August. During flowering, a huge amount of essential oils accumulate, from where a fragrant, bright aroma comes from. This indicator gives a start for harvesting. In a darkened place, cut plants are laid out in a thin layer. Strong light and high humidity are strictly not allowed. With proper drying, the plant is quite brittle, easily turns into powder, color, individual aroma is not lost. Valuable substances in basil, if properly dried, can be stored for up to four years. For storage, an airtight lid and glass container are required.

Types and varieties of basil

Basil plant: photo

The color of the leaves allows you to highlight the types of basil, purple and green. The first is popular in the culinary arts of Central Asia and the Caucasus, the second is preferred by the culinary experts of the Mediterranean. Green, small bushes in shape. Cinnamon grows up to 50-60 cm, bright green color, with a pronounced cinnamon odor. Lemon grows in small bushes no higher than 35 cm, original lemon aroma. Pepper (black), purple, dark, rarely reaching almost black. Intense flavoring feature - peppery aroma. Some specimens are up to 60 cm in height. After drying, it retains all its qualities. Red-red color of foliage with lilac blotches. The aroma is a rolling vanilla-clove.

Basil plant: outdoor cultivation

Basil plant: photo

The most important point when growing a basil plant is the planting time outdoors. The culture is very thermophilic, and therefore the soil temperature at the time of planting should be at least 25 degrees. If there is a threat of return frost, you can wait a little, but as an option, you can use a shelter in the form of a small greenhouse, which is easy to disassemble later. Even a slight frost will damage the delicate plant easily. The beginning of June, the third decade of May, is the optimal time for planting basil.

It is necessary to take into account when choosing a place for planting, basil is a light-loving culture, prefers light soils, with a sufficient amount of peat, humus, compost. Gardeners recommend to irrigate the soil with a solution of potassium chloride, urea and potassium sulfate in equal parts before planting. Seedlings are determined on the beds, at a distance of about 20 cm. It is advisable to carry out the work in the evening, when there is no longer any danger of sunburn of immature leaves. The weather outside should be warm.

Watering and pruning

The settled water, preferably soft, is perfect for watering. No constant watering is required, once or twice a week. Increased moisture will lead to the development of diseases. Once every 30 days, fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers can be carried out.
Pruning is not an unimportant factor when leaving. It is necessary to remove the flowers and tops of the leaves, it will help the formation of the splendor of the bush, respectively, there will be more fragrant leaves.

Growing basil from seeds

Basil plant: video about growing from seeds

Seed cultivation of basil is the method chosen as the main one. The seeds should be soaked in a stimulant (any solution, Epin, for example). Soaking lasts up to 10 hours.Then we dry it, laying it on a cloth, then sow the seeds in a prepared container or soil. It is advisable in both cases to create a shelter made of polyethylene. Strictly monitor the state of moisture, as necessary, using a spray bottle, water. In about two weeks, the first shoots will hatch.

Basil: propagation by cuttings

With this method, 2 branches of a strengthened, not sick plant are needed. Determine the cuttings in water, where, again, stimulants are added. On the 13-14th day, roots are formed, therefore, the plant can already be identified in pots or soil.

Basil diseases and pests

For the safety of the culture, one of the important rules must be observed; in one place you can grow only once every five years. We change the sowing site every year. Among the common diseases, the greatest harm is caused by fungal diseases - fusarium, gray and black leg rot. Education occurs as a result of non-observance of the technology of care. First, waterlogging of the soil leads to stagnation of water. Again growing in the same place the next season. Drainage of the soil does not meet the requirements of a capricious plant, mandatory weeding, loosening (the appearance of a crust is unacceptable) was not carried out in a timely manner, forming a weed.

If the disease is found, the affected bush, along with the root and soil around, must be urgently removed. In the event that the disease is at an early stage, you can use daily spraying. For example, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water on onion peels (100-150 g), leave for 24 hours. Do you have copper sulphate at hand? You can also use it in a ratio of 1 teaspoon to 2 liters of water.

Basil plant: useful properties and contraindications

Basil plant is a very enriched plant in terms of its beneficial properties. It contains ascorbic acid, carotene, vitamins B2, PP, C, phytoncides. Essential oils contained in the leaves in large quantities, necessary constituents for the human body, camphor, cineole, estragole, saponin. The beneficial properties of basil are an immunostimulant that helps the human body in the fight against viral, fungal diseases, and respiratory infections. It helps to relieve symptoms for asthma and bronchitis sufferers. Diaphoretic and antipyretic properties, cleaning of the mucous membrane in the nose and lungs is one of the properties. Nervous system support (memory, healthy sleep, stimulation of mental activity), promotes good digestion (burns fats).

However, with such a composition of useful properties, basil also has contraindications. Because of the mercury that is part of, eating is unacceptable for children under the age of seven, pregnant women should also exclude basil from the diet. Large doses of basil use harm even a healthy adult body. May lead to poisoning. Therefore, in order to get the full range of usefulness, you need a moderate use of basil.

You can also use infusions from the culture: pour about 10 g with boiling water in an amount of 200 g, leave for about 5 hours, strain using a sieve or gauze, drink like tea.

You can use oil: about 5 drops of essential oil (can be purchased at a pharmacy or specialty store) drip on a piece of refined sugar. Take orally no more than twice a day, strictly after meals.

Take a bath with basil infusion (pour a little herb with boiling water, insist, use a sieve and add to the bath), has a beneficial effect on the general condition. The procedure lasts no more than 20-25 minutes. If swelling occurs, you can apply basil powder (a dry plant is pounded in a container), attaching it to problem areas. You can strengthen the nervous system and mental clarity by collecting herbs in equal proportions of basil, lemon balm, sage. After being poured with boiling water, leave for about 6 hours. Adding honey just before drinking is encouraged.