How and when to plant basil seedlings. Practical advice on how and when to plant basil seedlings How and when to plant basil seeds

Planting basil seedlings is one of the ways to propagate a spicy plant. A novice gardener will need knowledge of the main steps - choosing a place and time, preparing the soil and detailed instructions planting seeds and taking care of seedlings. With this information, the grower will be able to grow a crop of tasty and healthy leaves.

Depending on the region, not only the choice of planting dates changes, but also the breeding method. For the southern region, early planting of seeds in open ground, and for the rest of the country, growing basil seedlings is the main option for plant propagation. For residents of the Moscow region and the northern regions, preliminary growing of plants is the only option for planting basil and harvesting fragrant foliage in the middle of summer.

Here is a variant of calculating the timing of planting - in the middle lane, the risk of sudden frost is excluded at the end of May. From the date of the proposed planting, 60 days are subtracted (the time the seedlings grow up before planting) and the exact date of planting the seeds in the seedling boxes is obtained. If diving of sprouts is required, add another 1 week to 60 days.

Seedling soil composition

To plant seeds, you will need to purchase a special nutritious soil in the store or mix the soil yourself. To prepare the mixture, you will need to dig up sod soil in the forest belt in advance or simply remove the layer of earth under garden trees... The earth is brought into the room, pre-dried and warmed up to room temperature.

To prepare the nutrient solution, mix:

• sod land and rotted manure or bird droppings - 2 parts each;
• river sand sifted and washed under running water - 1 part;
• if possible, you will need to add 4 parts of peat, but you can do without it;
• 200-300 grams of sifted wood ash.

All ingredients are mixed and steamed in a water bath or the soil is calcined in the oven. Heat treatment time - at least 20-30 minutes - during this period, fungi or pests wintering in the soil will be destroyed.

Conditions for growing seedlings at home

To provide plants with normal conditions for growth, certain conditions will need to be created:

• boxes with seedlings are not recommended to be installed close to windows, especially on the sunny side of the building. The rays of the sun can burn the delicate foliage, and the seedlings will be stunted;
• but the plant is very demanding on the level of illumination. Therefore, in the first days after germination, it will be necessary to provide lighting for 16 hours, after a week the backlight period is reduced to 12 hours;
• seedlings will need to be fed 7 days after the dive;
• the plant is very demanding for watering, but it does not tolerate wet soil well, therefore, a drainage layer is necessarily poured in the seedling containers, and the soil is kept constantly moist with the help of mulch;
• it is not recommended to tightly install the cups with seedlings. Plants are not ventilated, fungi can develop on them, and a reduced level of illumination will lead to stretching of seedlings.

Important! When purchasing basil seeds, remember that the yield of herb bushes depends on their quality. It is not recommended to purchase seed from spontaneous markets or from unverified “stock” sellers. By saving a few rubles, you run the risk of buying seeds weed or, at best, varietal, but of poor quality.

Sowing

Seed planting is carried out in several stages:

• the seed material is soaked for 24 hours in a container with a manganese solution and a growth stimulator - this is how it is possible to increase the germination of sprouts and immediately reject dried and damaged seeds;
• grooves are drawn in the landing box and watered with a thin stream of water;
• seeds are planted at a short distance from each other and covered with a thin layer of loose and light soil;

• to create a microclimate, the boxes are covered with glass or wrapped in foil and a darkened place with room temperature is removed. If this rule is observed, a warm and humid atmosphere with a protruding layer of condensation is created under the film. It is enough for natural watering of the soil, but if the temperature in the room is high and the soil dries up, it will be enough to moisten the ground from a sprayer with warm water;
• sprouts appear after 7 days; the seedling containers are rearranged on the windowsills, the film or glass is removed and the plants are provided with light for 16 hours using a fluorescent lamp;

Important! Growing basil bushes from seeds by planting them on seedlings is the best option for obtaining a bountiful and quick harvest of spicy leaves.

• after each watering, the soil is loosened and a layer of mulch is added. The first 2 true leaves have grown on the bushes - it's time to dive the seedlings and plant them in separate peat cups;
• during this period, the first feeding of plants with a ready-made complex fertilizer is performed.

Now it is important to provide seedlings good conditions for growth, and then planted in open ground.

Seedling care

Steps for caring for seedlings are simple, but they require careful and responsible attitude to plants. Let's analyze the main work in more detail.

Correct lighting

For the development and growth of bushes, it is important to provide them with sufficient lighting, but protect them from excessive solar radiation. It is recommended to place seedlings on the west side of the house. For evening lighting, fluorescent lamps or special Reflax lighting lamps are used, which are installed at a short distance, above the seating containers.

The minimum lighting period before planting seedlings in open ground is 10-12 hours a day.

Drainage

The plant does not tolerate excessive moisture, therefore, a drainage layer 10-20 millimeters thick is provided in the planting tank. For drainage, you can use river sand or broken building bricks, but it is better to buy hygroscopic expanded clay granules in a hardware store, which perfectly absorb water.

In addition to drainage, there must be holes in the bottoms of the seedling containers for the drainage of excess water, otherwise even drainage will not help.

Watering

Basil bushes need frequent watering with small doses of water. It is imperative to use warm water for irrigation. The first signs of drying out of the soil are a sign for gardeners. A spray bottle is used to water young plants, but it cannot be moistened in sunlight - wet leaves will be covered with burn spots.

Mulching the soil with peat or old sawdust and constant loosening of the soil will reduce the amount of watering. Such treatment reduces the number of waterings by a third.

Advice! Watering the plant correctly means dumping a layer of mulch into the planting boxes and maintaining a constantly loose and moist soil under the basil seedlings.

Top dressing

To nourish the plants, the introduction of complex fertilizer is used after the dive of the seedlings. During this period, it is recommended to apply a ready-made fertilizer based on humate. Prior to this, the plant has enough nutrition from the substances contained in the prepared soil, so no feeding is carried out.

The next plant feeding operation is carried out after 30 days, here it will be necessary to apply organic and mineral fertilizers using a complex composition. It makes no sense to recommend the best - the industry is constantly releasing new formulations.

Dive

2 paired leaves grow on the bushes - it's time to cull the seedlings and plant them in separate cups. The soil is used the same as when planting seeds, so it is harvested for future use. Separating several pieces of healthy and strong shoots, cut the tips of the roots. The glasses are filled with soil, a small depression is made, poured over with warm water and the sprout is placed.

Carefully, with a match or a wooden toothpick, straighten each root and cover the rhizome with loose soil. The earth is slightly compacted and the remaining space is covered with mulch. It is not recommended to deepen the shoots, considering that excessive deepening of the trunk will lead to an increase in the root system.

Pinching

5-6 paired leaves appear on the bushes - the period of pinching the seedlings begins. In the center of the plant there are 2 leaves, they must be carefully pinched or pulled out. Such processing will allow you to get a strong plant with additional lateral leafy shoots.

Without such treatment, the gardener runs the risk of getting a tall seedling with sparse leaves, which will fall. In this case, you will need to bury the stem in the soil, additional roots are formed from the dormant buds, the plant will begin to develop rapidly. But this will take time, so such seedlings lag behind in growth and development.

Possible Basil Seedling Problems

Seeds do not germinate

This can happen for a number of reasons:

• it is possible that low-quality or old seeds were bought that simply cannot germinate;
• the seed material did not pass the procedure of soaking in a nutrient solution and potassium permanganate and culling of damaged grains;
• poor conditions for growth - insufficient nutrition from the soil or an increased acidity in it; improper watering;
• when planting, the seeds are deeply buried, so the timing of the emergence of shoots is shifted.

Seedlings fall

Such a nuisance can happen for a number of reasons:

• the thickening of the planting causes insufficient illumination of the shoots, which stretch towards the light and fall due to excessive length;
• frequent watering and feeding can cause excessive growth of the stem, which cannot stand without support;
• the increased temperature in the room also causes the rapid development and growth of the plant stem.

Advice! The problem can be solved by lowering the temperature in the room and reducing the lighting time to 8-10 hours a day. The duration of such a retarding treatment is 7-8 days.

Does not grow

The seedlings have stopped growing, possible reasons:

• insufficient nutrition for the development of sprouts, complex fertilization will be required;
• if the seeds are untreated, the plant can get sick. Having found traces of damage by fungi or pests, the seedlings are treated with a solution of biological products;
• low room temperature and insufficient period of daily illumination of seedlings.

Pulling

Pulling the stems of the seedlings occurs for similar reasons with cases when the seedlings fall, and when the pinching of the basil bushes is not carried out. The extended stem is laid in a shallow trench and covered with a layer of soil. The plant will lag behind in growth, but will give a high yield of fragrant foliage.

Blackleg

This disease is possible for one reason - excess moisture. Insufficient drainage layer, lack of holes in the cup will lead to flooding of the soil and rotting of the root system, as well as blackening of the stem of the sprout. Healthy cells gradually die off and the seedlings die.

Treating the seedlings with a solution of copper sulfate (1 teaspoon per 2 liters of warm water) and reducing the volume or number of watering will help to cope with the problem. Another way is to dust the soil after each watering with a layer of sifted wood ash.

Yellowing of leaves

This is a symptom of insufficient plant nutrition. At the first signs, root feeding is carried out with a ready-made complex fertilizer or a solution of mineral fertilizers with foliar feeding of seedlings. In such cases, spraying plants with Fitosporin solution helps.

Spots on the leaves

This is a sign of sunburn on the plant. For protection, you will need to install protective blinds that scatter sunlight, or place seedlings on a window on the west side of the house, rearrange containers further from the window.

Landing in open ground

This operation will be performed only when the heat is steady and when the soil warms up to at least 16-18.

The herb got its name from the Greek word which means "king". It has a bitter taste and a peppermint aroma. It is a popular condiment in Mediterranean cuisine. The famous Italian pesto sauce is prepared on the basis of basil. In France, its combination with tomatoes is a culinary canon. Later in this article we will talk about correct cultivation this wonderful herb in the country or in the garden. We will find out how and when to plant seeds in open ground. How to dive, transplant or plant the first shoots.

Basil has been used by people for over 5,000 years. In both cooking and medicine. Basil tea soothes the nerves and tones the body. It is drunk to relieve colic in the stomach. It improves the functioning of the liver and gallbladder.

The homeland of grass is Africa. It appeared in Russia in the 18th century. Then, on its basis, popular tonics and cosmetic masks were made, which are still popular.

Basil in a pot close up

Description of the bush

Basil is an annual plant with oblong, short petiolate leaves. The stem reaches an average length of 60 cm. The root is branching, located close to the surface. The leaves, like the stem, are covered with hairs. The flowers are white, pale pink. The fruits are dark, similar to nuts, ripen in a group of 4 pieces and remain viable for 5 years.

How many varieties can you plant in the country?

There are many varieties of grass, more than a hundred. Sweet basil is the most popular of them. Basil with blue leaves grows in Africa, it is called camphor. In Mexico - cinnamon, and in southeast Asia - lemon. There is a species with purple leaves. Its aroma is weak compared to green, but for its rich color it is often used in decorating dishes.

Preparing seedlings at home in spring

Seeds are planted in seedlings at the end of March. They are not soaked for long before planting. Enough for two hours in warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. For seedlings, containers with a depth of 10 cm or more, pots or flower boxes are suitable. Drainage is laid out on the bottom, sprinkle it on top with soil mixture (proportions 4: 2: 1) from:

• peat
• humus
• sand

In the ground, grooves are made with a depth of 1 cm, in which the seeds are placed... Sprinkle with earth and irrigate from a spray bottle, and then cover with film or glass.

Containers with seeds are removed in a warm place. At this stage, it is important to properly care for the seedlings:

• once a day remove the film or glass and air it for a short time (15 minutes is enough)
• remove condensation from the inside
• easy to moisten the ground

The first shoots will sprout in a week. This is a sign that it is time to open the seedlings. When the sprouts have the first full-fledged leaf, they are seated at a distance of 5 cm from each other. When the fifth leaf appears, pinch the top of the sprouts. This will give the plant more foliage.

At the end of May, sprouts sprouted at home are planted in open ground. It is important that the plants have 5 formed leaves. Until they appear, the landing can be delayed.

Before planting, the seedlings are taken out of the room and left in the open air to harden. They start with 15 minutes and gradually increase the time spent outdoors up to several hours. Hardening begins a week before transplanting.

How to plant seeds or seedlings outdoors

Basil dies from low temperatures ... Therefore, seedlings are planted in a permanent place when there is no morning frost. It is best to plant vegetable seeds in the spring in mid-May. You can choose any scheme for crops.

The soil for the grass needs fertile, air and moisture permeable. Fertilize the soil before planting. For 1 m 2, 2 kg of humus, peat and compost are applied.

The sprouts are planted at a distance of 40 cm from each other, in holes 10 cm deep. Before planting, the pits are watered abundantly.

You cannot plant basil in the same place for two years in a row. This will lead to the appearance of brown spots on the leaves and the death of plantings. The reason for this is the disease fusarium. It is caused by fungi that live in the soil for a long time. The soil "rests" for 5 years between plantings of spicy grass.

Growing and caring for green shoots of basil in the garden

Keg Grown Basil

Basil needs to be watered with warm, settled water. Experienced gardeners they wind up for this a large barrel made of plastic. During the day, the water in the barrel will heat up and settle. By the evening, it is suitable for watering.

It is important not to flood the sprouts with water. The soil should be slightly damp. With an excess of moisture, the plant will be struck by a black leg.

The grass grows well when fed with nitrogen fertilizers.... The first feeding takes place two weeks after planting.

To increase the green mass of the sprouts, in addition to pinching the tops, flowers are cut on them.

The soil around the plants is loosened and weeded out. For the summer season, 6-7 times will be enough. After weeding and loosening, the sprouts are watered abundantly.

Collecting crops in the garden

Basil leaves are harvested before flowering. Then the concentration of essential oils and vitamins in them is peak. An unripe bud is a sign for collecting leaves.

The grass blooms until the first autumn days. Do not forget that this is a thermophilic plant. Before the onset of the first frost, it is transplanted into a greenhouse or house. The grass grows without problems in a pot for indoor flowers. She decorates the house and fills the rooms with a spicy scent.

Correct drying

After harvesting, the crop is dried:

• On open air... The leaves are washed, debris removed and laid out on a towel. When the water drains, they are placed on a baking sheet. A large crop is best tied in bunches and hung on a rope in a warm room without direct sunlight.
• In the oven. The washed and dried leaves are spread on a baking sheet in an oven preheated to 400˚C. Drying will take 2 hours.
• In the microwave. Drying at full power will take 3 minutes.

Readiness is manually determined. Dried greens crumble easily in the hands. It is kept dry glass jars or paper bags.

Basil plant care

Freezing whole leaves

They are washed and dipped in boiling water for 3 seconds. Then they are cooled in cold water. A little dried on a towel and laid out in bags in small portions. Then put in freezer.

Quick freeze chopped leaves

They are washed, chopped finely and filled with water. The water is poured into molds and placed in the freezer. If instead of water you use olive oil, then you get an excellent preparation for frying in a pan.

Basil has long been known to man. It takes pride of place in the cuisine of many countries: Greece, France, Italy and Thailand. In Transcaucasia, it even got its own name - regan.

It contains vitamins:

• C (lowers blood cholesterol)
• B (good for the eyes riboflavin)
• PP (niacin for skin and stomach health)

Due to the presence of mercury compounds in basil, it is dangerous to use it in large quantities... In pregnancy, diabetes and heart disease, the herb can be harmful to your health. Everything is good in moderation, including the use of basil.

Growing red basil on site is easy. The plant is unpretentious and requires little care and attention. You can sow it almost half of May. A plant does not always need a pick. In addition, the plant sprouts quickly and grows quickly. Harvesting and harvesting is easy. It doesn't take much time and effort to diversify the table and pamper yourself with the "king" of herbs.

This spicy plant gives a unique taste to the dishes to which it is added. Pickles and marinades with basil are especially aromatic. It can be used as a seasoning for meat and fish dishes, add to sauces. This spicy plant owes its unusual aroma to essential oils in its composition. Besides them, basil contains vitamins and minerals in a harmonious combination. An unpretentious green culture is available for growing even for novice gardeners, but there are many subtleties of sowing seeds and growing seedlings, knowing which, you can get a guaranteed harvest.

Varieties and varieties of basil

There are several varieties of this green culture.

• Camphor (fragrant) basil - with a tart taste and aroma of cloves, the bush reaches a height of 50 cm.
• Mexican (cinnamon) - with a scent of cinnamon, a bush with purple leaves reaches a height of half a meter.
• Ordinary (regan) - with large fragrant red-purple leaves that have a delicate taste.
• Lemon - a kind of basil with pale green leaves that have a lemon aroma, a strongly leafy bush, gives up to 250 g of spicy herbs.

Fans of this spice prefer to plant several varieties of different ripening periods - with purple and green leaves.

• Varieties early term ripening (from 35 to 65 days of sowing) - "pearl of the Moscow region", "dwarf", "clove", "green fragrant", "lemon".
• Varieties of medium and medium late ripening (from 65 to 90 days) - "sorcerer", "Orion", "caramel", "Moskvoretsky Semko".
• Varieties of medium late ripening (over 90 days) - "table", "charm", "lemon", "marquis", "dreamer", "Moorish".

Choose zoned varieties for your beds, they can show potential only in a climate suitable for them.

For those who prefer growing from basil seeds of a certain color, you can focus on the following varieties:

• With purple leaves - "Moskvoretsky", "purple", "table", "Thai queen", "Moorish", "Yerevan", "Baku".
• With green leaves - "tone", "green cornflower", "dreamer", "smal levels", "stella", "table", "spoon-shaped", "balconystar" (for growing at home).

Soil preparation and sowing seeds

Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in late March - early April. You should not plant them in advance so that the seedlings do not stretch out, but you do not need to be late either. Growing vegetable crops usually start with seed preparation. For basil, this operation can be skipped; its seeds do not require any processing before sowing. But the soil in which the seedlings will grow needs careful preparation. It is advisable to prepare the required amount of soil in the fall, and then only bring it in advance into a warm room.

Growing seedlings - soil composition:

• compost or humus - 2 parts;
• peat - 4 parts;
• coarse washed river sand - 1 part.

Steam the sifted earthen mixture in a water bath for 40-60 minutes, or heat it in the microwave for 5-10 minutes. So you get rid of pests, fungal spores and weed seeds that have overwintered in it. Treat the finished mixture purchased at the store with any fungicide or manganese solution of dark pink color.

In addition to the earthen mixture for growing basil, you will need some tools:

• planting containers or containers, it can be plastic or wooden box with holes at the bottom for the outflow of excess moisture;
• drainage (expanded clay, brick fight);
• sprayer;
• watering can;
• complex mineral.

The soil layer for sowing seeds should be at least 5-7 cm. It is convenient to cultivate several varieties of basil if you stock up on strong labels for the names of the plants in advance. The most practical ones are made of thick foil, on which letters are squeezed out with a sharp object. These labels do not fade in the sun and do not lose their appearance when the seedlings are watered.

The seeds are sown in shallow grooves in damp ground. They are sprinkled with soil with a layer of at least 1 cm, making sure that they do not remain on the surface of the soil. Then the box is covered with glass or foil and sent to a warm, well-lit room.

Seedling care

If the room temperature is not lower than + 20-25⁰С, seed shoots will appear after 10-14 days. Further cultivation of seedlings takes place without shelter. If it is not removed in time, creating a greenhouse microclimate for basil seedlings, you can expose future seedlings to the risk of being hit by a "black leg" - a fungal disease. Its symptoms are blackening of the stem at the level of the soil surface, cessation of nutrition and death of the plant.

It is almost impossible to save basil affected by the "black leg". In order for the cultivation of seedlings to be successful, it is possible to powder the soil surface with sifted furnace ash or add it to the sowing soil for the prevention of fungal diseases.

Water the basil seedlings carefully, with a watering can with a very fine strainer, or spray the soil with a spray bottle.

Seedling picking

A sign that it is time to start picking seedlings is the appearance of a pair of the first true leaves.

Soil composition for basil seedlings:

• humus - 2 parts;
• peat - 3 parts;
• river sand - 1 part;
• - 2 tbsp. l .;
• complete mineral fertilizer- 1 tbsp. l.

The mixture for seedlings is thoroughly mixed, filled with it or cassettes, compacted soil. Seedlings are preliminarily (1-2 hours before the pick) watered with warm water. Each plant is carefully placed in a recess, the roots are straightened, sprinkled with soil, and the soil is compacted.

To grow strong seedlings with a powerful root system, you can pinch the central root of the seedling before picking. Then the roots of the seedlings will be fibrous, and she herself will not stretch.

It is not necessary to bury the unpicked plants to the first leaves. They are planted at the same depth at which the seedlings grew before the dive. Seedlings are carefully watered, trying not to exceed the water norm, and excess moisture is drained from the pallet. If the plants need correction, they are carefully corrected.

Seedling care

Place the pots or cassettes in a cool room with good lighting. The optimum temperature for growing seedlings is + 16–20⁰С. Watering for the prevention of fungal diseases is carried out very moderately, as the soil dries up. 5-7 days after picking, basil seedlings are fed for the first time.

The composition of the dressing per liter of water:

• ammonium nitrate - 2 g;
• superphosphate - 4 g;
• wood ash - 2-3 g.

Top dressing is repeated after 2 weeks. The formation of 5-6 leaves signals that the cultivation of seedlings at home is coming to an end and you can prepare for it. For hardening, pots with plants are taken out for several hours on a balcony or veranda, accustoming to sunlight and low temperatures.

If the right temperature can still be achieved, then adequate lighting is what basil seedlings often require. You can extend daylight hours by additional highlighting of seedlings using special lamps. Daylight hours for this plant should be at least 15 hours. Otherwise, do not rush to sow seedlings until mid-February.

To make a race in time and get spicy greens as early as possible, you need to take care of sowing seeds and cultivating in advance planting material... It is advisable to determine in advance the preferred varieties, ripening periods, selection of zoned varieties.

Healthy strong plants that quickly adapt to open ground can be grown with strict adherence to agricultural technology, soil preparation, temperature control, timely dosed watering and feeding. Excessive waterlogging should be avoided in order to prevent the development of fungal diseases.

Basil is an incredibly fragrant and very thermophilic plant that has been cultivated for many years on the territory of our completely cool country. To accomplish this, summer residents have mastered the seedling growing method. Let's figure out how to sow basil for seedlings.

The birthplace of the basilica is Asia. There they began to cultivate and use it for their own purposes for the first time. Soon the plant gained popularity in Iran, India, as well as in Ceylon, and in Greece it was treated with special respect. But Europe did not immediately accept basil, for a long time it was believed that it only brings harm. There was even a belief that the aroma of this plant can turn the person who inhaled it into a scorpion.

But now everything is different. Basil is successfully cultivated in almost every corner of the world. They love it in our area and are happy to grow it on summer cottages and in the city. For those who first decided to "settle" this fragrant herb in their garden, the actual question is when to plant basil in order to get strong viable seedlings?

Plant features

As we have already said, basil came to us from the south, and there, as you know, it is hot. Therefore, the plant is extremely susceptible to any, even a seemingly insignificant decrease in temperature. Any cold is destructive for him. But the heat and the abundance of the sun, basil is very fond of. Also loves loose soils, where air and water can easily penetrate.

This green belongs to the Lamiaceae family, the scientific name of the plant Ocimum basilicum. Due to the peculiarities of the climate, basil grows like an annual in our territory. It has a fibrous root system that is located shallow in the ground. The stem of the plant is branched. Different varieties of this spice have different characteristics, the height of the bushes ranges from 30 to 90 cm. Each variety differs from its counterparts in color, smell and taste, as well as the contour of the leaves.

The flowering of the Royal Herb, which is exactly what the basil is called, falls on August, The inflorescences are long, consisting of pink or white small flowers. In their place later, small fruits appear, up to 1.5 cm in size, black.

Basil is a honey plant, so it is often planted in gardens in order to attract pollinating insects.

IN wildlife about 70 species of this plant grow, about 10 are cultivated. The most famous of them are: common; fragrant basil; eugenol lemon hybrid; thin-colored; mint-leaved; purple small-leaved.

When to plant

Despite the clear differences in appearance, taste and aroma, the time when sowing is usually carried out is the same for all these species. Small adjustments should be made only based on the weather conditions and the characteristics of the region in which you are going to sow and grow basil.

If you have a greenhouse or greenhouse, you can start planting the plant early.

In the south, planting is carried out directly into the ground. In our territory, the climate is not so warm, so this method does not suit us. After all, the end of May and the beginning of June is the time when the last frosts usually come. And this is death for the gentle heat-loving basil.

If sowed in this way later, for example, after the tenth of June, the greens will go in lush bushes only by the beginning of July. This is acceptable when you are planning to use basil for culinary purposes, and you are not interested in further planting. After all, the seeds in this case do not have time to ripen.

But if you plan to harvest basil already at the beginning of summer, it is best to use the seedling method. The resulting seedlings can be planted in the future on open ground, or in a greenhouse.

You can plant basil not only using sowing or seedlings, there is a third way - cuttings. It is carried out by cutting one shoot. The cut shoot must be dipped in a special composition to improve root formation (it can be purchased at the store) and put in a glass of water. After about 10 days, the shoot begins to sprout roots, and after two weeks it can be planted on open ground.

How to plant

It is necessary to plant basil seedlings in the ground when its age is about 45-60 days. For our territory, you can sow basil at the end of March - beginning of April.

It is necessary to prepare for this event in advance: purchase containers for planting, the soil in which the sowing will be carried out, seeds, transparent plastic wrap or glass.

At the first stage, the container for seedlings must be filled with soil. You need to buy a special soil mixture, or prepare it yourself. To do this, it is best to take equal parts of garden soil, peat and humus. Basil is very sensitive to fertilizers applied to the soil, therefore, before placing the seeds in the soil, you can add a solution of urea, potassium chloride, superphosphate, and potassium sulfate there. Urea should be taken no more than half a teaspoon.

Planting seeds for seedlings is not difficult. Even a beginner can handle it. Shallow holes of about 1 cm are made in the ground, seeds are placed on their bottom. Sprinkle a little damp earth on top. Then the soil needs to be tamped a little by hand. Make sure that the seeds are not on the surface.

After that, it is best to cover the container with seeds with foil or glass and leave in a warm place. In this case, the air temperature should be approximately + 20 + 25 ° С.

The first shoots will appear in about a week. For some varieties, this period is slightly longer. When the future seedlings begin to hatch, the container with it must be placed in a well-lit place, for example, a window sill.

Transfer

Some summer residents believe that the seedlings, as soon as the first leaves appear, should be transplanted. Is it so? Let's figure it out.

If you took a small pot and sowed several seeds there at once, such a measure is necessary, because the grown seedlings will require more space for themselves. And, if you do not provide her with comfortable conditions, she will develop too slowly.

But it should be borne in mind that any transplant is a great stress for the plants, so you should immediately abandon this approach and sow one seed per container or plant the plants in a large container. In the latter case, the container should be such that a distance of 3-5 centimeters is maintained between the seedlings.

If your plant "lives" inside a container in splendid isolation or together with a "friend", then you can do without transplanting.

Do not mix several varieties of basil in one pot; it is better to prepare separate dishes for each.

Care

With the emergence of seedlings, the film must be removed. Now the air temperature in the room with the seedlings should be +16 + 20 ° С. If it is warmer inside the room, the seedlings will quickly stretch out, and instead of lush neat bushes, you will get weak long stems.

Watering and feeding - mandatory conditions the normal development of the basil. In order to fertilize the seedlings, it is necessary to prepare a special solution. You will need 4 grams of superphosphate, the same amount of wood ash, and 2 grams ammonium nitrate... Such a composition should be applied to the soil under the plants approximately 2-3 weeks after germination.

Basil should be watered regularly with warm water. Make sure that there is no waterlogging of the soil, or, conversely, it does not become too dry.

After fertilizing the soil, the seedlings need to be pinched over the seventh leaf.

Two weeks before the planned planting in the ground, the seedlings need to be hardened - carried to Fresh air for a few hours. In this case, the temperature outside the window should not be lower than + 5 ° C, otherwise an unprepared plant may suffer.

Watch your plants closely. If one of them gets sick, he must be isolated from the rest.

When you plant seedlings in the ground, make sure that the ground is warmed up enough, optimally up to + 15 ° С. Remove the seedling carefully from the pot to avoid damaging the roots. The site for the basilica should be sheltered from the winds and well lit. Make sure that throughout the daylight hours the sun's rays illuminate the place you have chosen as much as possible.

Conclusion

Now you know everything about sowing basil different varieties for seedlings, let these simple tips help you get a rich harvest!

Basil is one of the most beloved and popular spices that came to us from distant India. Despite the fact that the homeland of the plant is a country with a warm climate, it can be grown in almost any region. In the southern regions, the spice can be sown directly into open ground, while in the northern and middle lane, it can be planted with seedlings. Growing from seeds, as well as caring for a plant, is quite simple. Let's figure out how basil is planted for seedlings at home.

Description of culture

Basil is known and loved by many for its spicy taste and bright aroma. It grows as a lush, medium-sized bush, sometimes reaching almost a meter in height. Being a southern plant, it loves heat and sun, and does not tolerate cold weather. Loose soil with good drainage properties is best suited for planting so that water does not stagnate. Optimally - black soil and suspensions.

Basil grown in Russia is an annual plant. His root system does not lie deep, and the spice, along with the roots, can be easily removed from the garden and transplanted into a pot. Planting basil seedlings at home will not be difficult even for a novice gardener.

Regardless of the type of basil, the time when to plant basil on seedlings is the same: March.

Flowering occurs in August, in place of white or pink small flowers, small black fruits appear later. During flowering, the plant attracts pollinating insects, being a honey plant. Therefore, it is often also planted in order to attract them.

Planting seeds for seedlings

If you want to get strong plants, you need to know how to plant basil seedlings correctly. It is necessary to sow seeds in the second half of March, two months before planting the plant in the ground. The spice is ready for transplanting to the beds 35-30 days after the shoots have appeared.

Prepare containers for planting seeds, on the bottom of which be sure to place a layer of drainage material. The seeds themselves must be soaked in water for at least three hours before sowing for seedlings to remove essential oil that will prevent them from sprouting. Buy ready-made or make your own earthen mixture for planting basil. It should be loose and consist of:

• rotted compost (2 parts);
• peat (4 parts);
• washed sand (1 part).

Be sure to sift through the resulting composition. Then steam it in a water bath to destroy fungal spores and weed seeds that may have been in the compost or humus. Store-bought seedling mixture can be spilled with potassium permanganate solution or an antifungal agent such as Fitosporin.

How to plant basil seedlings:

• place the earthen mixture in prepared containers;
• compact it so that a centimeter remains to the edge;
• make small grooves and put seeds in them to a depth of no more than one centimeter;
• again lightly compact the soil on top and water gently.

The seeds should not be on the surface of the soil.

After that, cover the containers with foil, plastic bag or glass and put in a warm, lighted place. This is necessary in order to create a greenhouse effect inside, which will allow the seedlings to appear faster. At this, the sowing of basil for seedlings is completed, now it remains to wait for the shoots.

Seedling care and picking

Seedlings sprout ten days later at temperature conditions 20-25 degrees. When the basil has risen, the covering material must be removed. In order to prevent young shoots from stretching, growing basil from seeds for seedlings occurs at a temperature of no more than 20 degrees. Water overmoistening of the soil should not be allowed, the water in the sump after watering should not stagnate. Otherwise, a black leg lesion is likely, due to which all seedlings may die.

After the basil has a couple of real leaves, you can dive it. To do this, use the same mixture as for sowing, with the addition of two tablespoons of ash and a tablespoon per 5 liters of soil. Fill the seedling containers with this composition, make grooves in which you place the seedlings, carefully distributing the roots in the hole. Sprinkle with earth and compact.

The question often arises whether it is possible to deepen the basil when diving. No, this is a mistake, after a dive, the seedlings should remain at the same planting depth as the seedlings.

The main care of the seedlings is regular watering with warm water. When the fifth leaf appears on the seedlings, it is pinched to prevent stretching and provoke the growth of foliage. Then the seedlings are regularly watered with warm water until they are planted in open ground. Basil can be planted in the beds as early as May.

That's all the rules for planting basil seedlings at home, following which you will get strong, healthy seedlings of your favorite spice.

The subtleties of sowing basil seeds for seedlings - video