Basil is a plant often used by chefs in a wide variety of dishes. For example, purple basil is added to meat and seafood, and used as a salad ingredient. Lemon basil goes perfectly with fish. Anyone can grow basil from seed on a windowsill if they're willing. It's quite easy to maintain. And if you follow a few simple rules, this herb will thrive year-round.
Preparing for landing
Basil seeds can be purchased at a flower shop. It can also be grown from seedlings, but the advantage of planting from seeds is that they will be able to establish themselves in the soil. The resulting shoots will be strong and healthy.
If you're not an experienced gardener, buy small-leaf basil seeds. They'll be easier to care for. Before growing basil on a windowsill, soak them in cheesecloth soaked in warm water for two days. Place the cloth with the seeds in a container and place it in a warm place.
Change the water twice a day to prevent mold from forming in the container. Treat the swollen embryos with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Place the seeds in a disinfectant solution for a couple of hours. Then, dry them on a cloth.
You can purchase growing soil at a specialty store or bring it from your garden or the forest. To kill insect eggs and protect the future plant from infestation, preheat the soil in the oven.
Additionally, to plant basil from seeds on a windowsill, prepare an oblong wooden box or pot. Place pebbles or broken brick on the bottom. Next, add expanded clay or crushed polystyrene foam—this will help remove excess moisture from the soil.
Fill the container two-thirds with soil, leaving 3-4 cm to the edges. Before planting, the soil should be well watered.
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Planting and care
It's recommended to plant basil in April or May. The seedlings will need light, and the days are longer at this time. After sowing, cover the pots with plastic wrap. Periodically, remove the plastic wrap to allow the plant to air out. Initially, this should be done for five minutes, then increase the time.
When the first true leaves appear on the seedlings, the water is removed completely. Twice a day, in the morning and around midday, the shoots are sprayed with warm, settled water.
If you want your herb to produce a good harvest, you need to care for it regularly. This is easy:
- Every week, the soil in which the basil is planted needs to be loosened so that oxygen reaches the roots of the plant.
- Fertilize mature shoots every two weeks to help maintain the plant's excellent flavor for a long time. Fertilize for the first time when the bush reaches approximately 45 cm in length. Before fertilizing, thoroughly loosen the soil.
- If the weather outside turns bad, plants should be insulated by wrapping the pots in plastic. This will help retain heat and prevent the sensitive roots from freezing. In freezing temperatures, cover the bushes with plastic. Otherwise, they may simply wilt.
- To prevent mold, avoid overwatering the plant. Twice a day is sufficient. Regularly remove any accumulated liquid from the tray. Wipe it dry with a cloth afterward.
If mold has already appeared in the pot, remove and discard the top layer of soil, and allow the remaining soil to dry thoroughly. Temporarily, until the soil dries completely, stop watering. Remove any leaves and stems with a gray coating to prevent contaminating the rest of the plant.
You can grow basil from seeds on a windowsill in winter (see the video below for a step-by-step guide). However, in this case, you'll need to invest in a grow light. If the plant doesn't receive 15-18 hours of daily light, it may wilt. A grow light can artificially extend the daylight hours.
Please note: if there are cracks in your window frames, don't grow basil near them. Its shoots don't tolerate drafts. For the same reason, don't leave it on the windowsill when airing.
Harvesting
Harvesting can begin 1-1.5 months after planting. By this point, the shoots should have at least four developed leaves. To promote bushiness, you can gently pinch the top of the plant.
Use sharp scissors to cut the leaves from the sides of the bush. Avoid harvesting by hand, as this can damage the fragile shoots, which will slow down their recovery.
And never trim the leaves completely. Always leave 3-4 leaves to prevent the plant from dying.
Store cut basil in a plastic container or glass jar. Dried basil, when stored properly, can retain its flavor for a very long time—up to five years.
Step-by-step photos of planting:
For culinary purposes, the leaves are used; they are cut when the plant reaches 15 cm in height. The lifespan of such a bush is 3–4 months.
Important! Cuttings must be protected from sunlight, as exposure to ultraviolet radiation can cause burns and death of the plants.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGm_yMiZ2Xw
Three benefits of basil: it's easy to grow, it's good for your health, and it makes a stunning interior decoration.
Basil: Growing from seeds in open ground