What are the cultivation methods and precautions for basil?
The petite basil is a plant that can be both eaten and used medicinally. Growing basil at home not only serves as a lush green potted plant, but you can also harvest and eat it when it matures - one plant, many uses! Below, we introduce the cultivation methods and precautions for basil.
1. Pot and soil selection
Basil is a deep-rooted plant, and its roots can extend 50-100 cm into the soil, so it is best to choose well-drained, fertile, loose sandy loam and apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting. For home cultivation, the flower pot should preferably be both deep and wide, so as to meet the deep-root needs of basil.
2. Seedling selection and sprouting
Because the frost-free period is relatively short, for open-field cultivation and seed harvesting, seedlings must be raised in a greenhouse or plastic tunnel. If you only want to eat the tender stems and leaves, you can either raise seedlings or sow directly. The seedling period is generally in mid-to-late April for sowing.
Put the seeds into a gauze bag, shake off the water vigorously, cover with a wet towel or gauze, keep warm and moist, and place at about 25°C for sprouting. During the sprouting process, rinse once a day with clean water and drain thoroughly. If the seed quantity is large, turn them 1-2 times a day to keep the temperature even and the sprouting uniform. In the early stage of sprouting, the temperature can be slightly higher to promote sprouting. When the sprouts are about to emerge (the seeds are about to open), the temperature should be lowered by 3-5°C to make the sprouts thick and uniform. After the sprouts have emerged uniformly, if special weather occurs, the sprouts can be moved to a place at 5-10°C to control their growth and wait for sowing.
3. Planting time
In the south, sow in March-April; in the north, sow from late April to May. Sowing should be done on a sunny morning. Put the nutrient soil into the sowing tray, water thoroughly with hot or warm water, and after the water drains, scatter a layer of medicated soil, evenly sow the sprouted seeds in the tray, cover with 1 cm of medicated soil, and cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist. After transplanting, firm the soil and water to ensure the pot soil remains moist.
4. Precautions
Some flower enthusiasts with larger balconies or flower beds will plant a lot of basil. At this time, attention should be paid to the care and management of the planted seedlings. Thin and fill in seedlings when the seedlings are 6-10 cm tall. Generally weed twice: the first time 10-20 days after emergence, shallowly hoeing the surface soil; the second time from early May to early June. While weeding, you can also turn the soil to keep it loose. Seedlings are afraid of drought, so water them in time. Flower enthusiasts growing them in flower beds can appropriately apply some chicken manure water to maintain nutrient supply.
When cultivating basil, choose well-drained, fertile, loose sandy soil. Before planting, sprout the seeds, and sow after the sprouts have emerged uniformly. It is best to plant at noon on a sunny day, water thoroughly once after sowing, and cover with plastic film. In addition, note that during the seedling stage, weeding should be done twice.