Basil in your garden: cultivation, varieties and care

This herb with a spicy aroma included with all favorite dishes of Italy. Want to feel the atmosphere of the Mediterranean without leaving your own site? Grow Basil!
The Latin name of the plant speaks for itself: basilicum means "king" and OMIM — "flavor." In India, Holy Basil (Ocimum basilicum sanctum) or tulasī, is considered an incarnation of Lakshmi, goddess of happiness and wealth. Revered in Thailand. However, the worldwide fame of a fragrant grass brought her culinary "talents" popularized Italian cuisine. Meanwhile, the spice not only gives the dish a noble taste, but also is a natural antioxidant and antibiotic.



In our area of this heat-loving southerner grown mainly as annuals from seed, seedlings or direct sowing in open ground. To germinate the seeds need light, so they sprinkle a very thin layer of soil or sand. Later the seedlings were thinned, leaving the distance between plants at least 5 cm in order to insure against destruction of blackleg. In open ground the seedlings relocated in early June. Into holes planted 2-3 plants at a distance of 20-25 cm from each other at the same depth at which they grew in the cassette for seedlings.

Tip: if you want to pick fresh leaves all summer, sow Basil every 4-6 weeks.

In summer, the period of active growth Basil often need to be watered every 2-3 weeks to feed. To do this, add liquid organic fertilizer to the water for irrigation or make the land mineral fertilizers (nitrogen increase the growth of green mass, and phosphorus and potassium increases the content of essential oils).

To harvest, pinch the tops of the shoots above the pair of leaves — then from their sinuses will soon have new shoots, the same way plants are better branched. At the annual types this treatment will delay flowering, prolonging the period for collecting aromatic herbs.

Want to green pet delighted you more than one year? Take "the service" perennial Basil! In the autumn dig it out of the beds and settled in the tub. By the way, a Basilica is very decorative. The most beautiful is the perennial ‘African Blue’. In full sun it grows to 1 m in height. Heavy camphor aroma of this plant is not to everyone's liking, but it blooms profusely fantastic.

Shrubby Basil ‘African Blue’planted in a sheltered place like green and purple pillow. Like other members of the genus, in the open ground do not hibernate it — it is grown in the tub and for the period of cold weather and brought into the warm room.



There are dekorativnolistnye the Basilica, such as ‘Fortune Green’, ‘Green Super Globe’ or ‘Harlekin’. They are quite hardy, but winter varieties such as all the Basilica, must in bright room at +12...+18 °C.

Sunny place is suitable for most types of Basil. Exception — the Genoese Basil and a red members of the genus, which are exposed to sunburn. "The kisses of the sun" become a danger to these plants if the clumps are too quickly moved from the window sill or greenhouse for the garden in the height of summer from the leaves evaporate too much moisture.

Tip: plant the seedlings between higher vegetable plants or herbs on the balcony pritenyayut plant.

In balcony box Genoese Basil gets on well with the parsley. Both plants feel well in partial shade, prefer moist fertile land.



From the Basilica, suffer from hunger or drought, the leaves are often rigid and too sharp in taste.

Basil of any variety can be easily propagated by green cuttings. Cut off the tip of the shoot and put in a glass of water. After 1-2 weeks, the rooted plants can be planted in a pot or on a bed.

‘Green Super Globe’, a compact shrub with a height of only 30 cm, is a perfect candidate for growing in balcony box or pot.

‘Lucie Pourpre’ grows to 40cm in height. Dark red leaves of Basil this variety will give a unique flavor and color to any dish.

From‘Green Fortune’ leaves are bright green, in the height of summer appear pink-violet blossoms-candle.

‘Harlekin’ — a plant with dark green purple-veined leaves and sweet-spicy aroma. Basil this variety is resistant to fungal diseases.

‘Pesto Perpetuo’ beautiful leaves with a white border. Does not bloom. It is easily propagated by green cuttings.published
Basil can be pregatiti Delicious pesto sauce
P. S. And remember, only by changing their consumption - together we change the world! © Join us at Facebook , Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki

Source: www.7dach.ru

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