The Latest Basil Planting Methods and Cultivation Techniques Explained in Detail
Basil, also known as nine-story pagoda, jinbuhuan, sweet basil, orchid fragrance, etc., is a medicinal and culinary aromatic plant of the genus Ocimum in the Lamiaceae family. It tastes like fennel, the whole plant is compact, the leaves are emerald green, the flowers are brightly colored, and it is richly fragrant. As medicine it has the functions of dispersing wind and promoting qi flow, resolving dampness and aiding digestion, invigorating blood and removing toxins, and its cultivation value is relatively high. Now let us take a look together at the planting methods for basil!
Basil's Growth Habits
Basil originated in the tropical regions of Africa, the Americas, and Asia. In China it is mainly distributed in Xinjiang, Jilin, Hebei, Henan, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Taiwan, China, Guizhou, Yunnan, Sichuan, and other places, mostly cultivated, and in the southern provinces and regions some have escaped into the wild. It prefers a warm and humid climate, is not cold-tolerant, is drought-tolerant, and is not waterlogging-tolerant. Well-drained, fertile sandy loam or humus loam is best.
Basil's Planting Time
In the south, sow directly from March to April; in the north, sow directly from late April to May. Sowing should be done on a sunny morning. Put nutrient soil into a sowing tray, water it thoroughly with hot or warm water, and after the water seeps down, spread 1 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. For drilling, open shallow furrows at a row spacing of about 35 cm; for hole sowing, open shallow holes at a hole spacing of 25 cm, evenly scatter the seeds into the furrows or holes, cover with a thin layer of soil, and keep the soil moist. Use 0.2-0.3 kg of seed per mu. Seedling raising and transplanting can also be used. In the north, seedlings can be raised in a sunny cold frame in March, and when the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall, they are transplanted with soil into the field. After transplanting, firm the soil and water.
Basil's Seedling Raising Techniques
1. Land selection and fertilization: Basil is a deep-rooted plant, and its roots can penetrate 50-100 cm into the soil, so it is best to choose well-drained, fertile, loose sandy loam. Before planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, level and harrow finely, and make flat beds or raised beds of about 130 cm. Because China's frost-free period is relatively short, for open-field cultivation production, if seeds are to be harvested, seedlings must be raised in a greenhouse or plastic tunnel. If only the tender stems and leaves are to be eaten, seedlings can be raised or direct sowing can be done. The seedling raising period is generally sown in mid-to-late April.
2. Sowing and seedling raising: Put the basil seeds into a gauze bag, shake off the water vigorously, cover well with a wet towel or gauze, keep warm and moist, and place at a temperature of about 25°C for germination. During the germination 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 make the temperature even and the sprouts uniform. In the early stage of germination, 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 sprout growth and wait for sowing.
Basil's Planting Methods
1. Cultivation and topdressing: When basil seedlings are 6-10 cm tall, thin and fill in the seedlings. For hole sowing, keep 2-3 plants per hole; for drilling, keep 1 plant about every 10 cm. Generally, cultivate and weed 2 times. The first time is 10-20 days after emergence, shallowly hoeing the surface soil. The second time is from early May to early June, before the seedlings close the rows. After each cultivation, apply human and livestock manure water. Seedlings are afraid of drought, so pay attention to timely watering.
2. Harvest time: Basil stems and leaves are harvested from July to August. Cut the whole plant, remove fine roots and impurities, and sun-dry it. When the plants are 20 cm tall and have closed the rows, harvest by selecting the front ends of young tender branches that have not bolted, with a length of 5-10 cm, harvesting once every 7-15 days. For extracting essential oil, harvest when the inflorescences have fully emerged.
3. Harvesting and processing: When harvesting basil, use a sickle to cut the plant at 20-25 cm above the ground, avoiding shaking the root system so as not to affect its regenerative capacity, then strengthen fertilizer and water management to promote the regrowth of new stems and leaves. After harvesting, processing should be carried out as soon as possible to avoid the wounds and leaves turning brown and yellow, which affects the quality of the essential oil.
4. Pest control: In terms of insect pests, basil mainly has aphids, Japanese beetles, thrips, leaf miners, snails, and slugs. For organic cultivation, water can be sprayed to drive away aphids, and Japanese beetles can be picked off by hand and thrown into soapy water. As for slugs and snails, small beer containers can be used to trap and kill them, or copper strips can be tied at 5 cm from the base of the plant (10 cm is even better). Because the copper strips react with the slugs' mucus, the invading insects are forced to retreat.
5. Disease control: In terms of diseases, basil is highly susceptible to fungal wilt disease. The pathogen invades from the vascular bundles of the roots, hindering plant growth and causing leaf wilting. In general field cultivation, fungal-resistant F1 hybrid varieties can be selected. In addition, high humidity and poor drainage also make it more susceptible to fungal leaf spot disease.