Basil is one of the most important aromatic herbs that we can grow in our garden, along with a few others such as sage and rosemary, it is one of those plants that should never be missing.
Basil is an annual herbaceous plant of the Lamiaceae family, native to Asia. It is easy to cultivate and can be planted both in the ground and in pots, the main care to be taken is to avoid too low temperatures, in fact, with the arrival of winter the plant dies. of the year fresh leaves ready to eat, excellent as a seasoning in recipes.
Widely used in cooking, especially to flavor red sauce on pasta and pizza, it is the main ingredient of pesto, but there are also many other possibilities and recipes to sublimate its fragrant leaves. Basil is also considered an officinal plant, with beneficial properties against arthritis and bronchitis.
Contents [Esconder]
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Suitable soil and climate
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Planting and transplanting basil
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transplanting seedlings
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Growing basil in the garden
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Cimare and fiori
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Basil Diseases and Problems
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raking leaves
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varieties of basil
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Uses and properties of basil
Contents
Adapted train and climate
Weather. Basil fears the cold and this is the main limit of this aromatic: temperatures below 10 degrees are fatal for the crop, so it is maintained from spring to autumn. The garden loves sunny beds.
Ground . Suitable soil for basil should remain fairly moist and rich in organic matter. If the soil tends to dry out, it is important to water often and possibly use mulch. Any stagnation of water can make the plant sick, which is why good tillage is necessary for the preparation of the plot.
Planting and transplanting basil
To start growing basil, you can choose between starting from seed or transplanting an already formed plant purchased from a nursery. Basil plants can be found everywhere, even in supermarkets, starting from seed takes a little more work but gives a lot of satisfaction. Some interesting seeds, from classic sponge cake to special varieties like lemon basil or red basil, can be found here.
planting basil
Basil can be sown from March in the nursery and from April in the open field, obviously depending on the climate of the area where it grows, the right time can vary, anticipate or postpone. When the weather is cold and the temperatures rise slowly, it is better to use the seedbed to start sowing in the spring and not to delay the planting period too much.
To learn more, read the article dedicated to planting basil.
transplanting seedlings
In addition, when choosing the time for transplanting, it should be taken into account that the basil plant is afraid of cold weather, so it is better to transplant in late spring, in May.
Whether the basil plants were born in the nursery or purchased in the nursery, they can be transplanted into the field when the temperatures, even at night, are permanently above 15/20 degrees. Basil seedlings should be planted 20-30 cm apart.
Growing basil in the garden
the basilisk requires frequent watering because it does not like drought, but without exaggerating the amount of water (it is better to water little and often). Then it is necessary to control the weeds by periodically removing the weeds. These two precautions, together with the pruning of the inflorescences, are sufficient for a good cultivation of this aromatic plant. Then it is necessary to keep any adversity under control.
Cimare and fiori
To encourage continued leaf production and maintain tender, aromatic vegetation, the inflorescences of the basil plant should be cut frequently, preventing the flowers from sowing. When the flowers ripen and go to seed, the basil leaves lose their smell and begin to dry out, but if the plant is pruned well, this does not happen.
Diseases and problems with basil
The worst disease that can attack basil is downy mildew. , is manifested by yellowing of the leaves and grayish mold on the underside of the leaf. Late blight usually appears in conditions of standing water or frequent rains and can be prevented with copper, which however prevents harvesting during the entire grace period.
The other frequent pathology is “black stem” or basil fusarium, which we studied in depth by responding to a user.
Another fungal disease that can attack this grass is pity Where root rot . In general, good soil management prevents these problems without having to deal with them.
Among insects, snails they are formidable enemies, especially when the basil plants are still small: be careful not to eat them immediately after transplanting.
raking leaves
Basil leaves are still edible and therefore it is still possible to take them. Seedlings are often saved so fresh leaves are always available when needed, picking only what is needed as you walk through the kitchen.
To harvest basil leaves, you can either sprout seedlings or even harvest more vigorously, the important thing being never to strip the plant completely. When the seedling is particularly young, it is best not to overdo the defoliation.
In a season more than one harvest can be made, basil is usually harvested from May to October, with more production in September. If desired, basil flowers are also edible.
varieties of basil
There are different varieties of basil, the most common is sponge cake, which is usually used in pesto and is also the most popular. Among the particular varieties, we remember those with large leaves (lettuce leaf basil) and those with small and thick leaves (Greek basil).
An original variety is the red basil, with its red leaves, an unusual aroma that is decorative in the kitchen, although it is a little less tasty than the traditional Ligurian variety. You can decide to put plants also for ornamental purposes, to color your garden or windowsill in a different way.