Common basil is known for its aromatic fragrance. A popular herb used to treat minor ailments, it is also an excellent spice to complement the flavor of many dishes. Wondering how to grow common basil? Here’s a hint!
Common basil – characteristics
Common basilis a herb known mainly from Mediterranean cuisine. It can be found under several names: proper basil, scented basil, garden basil and king herb. However, you will most often encounter the term common basil.
The stem of common basil branches and can reach from 40 to 50 centimeters. Its leaves are light green, egg-shaped and carpeted on the edges. Scented glands are found underneath the underside of the leaves and emit the herb’s characteristic scent. Small, bright basil flowers appear in lateJuly and August.
Common basil likes not too windy, sunny, warm places. It will find itself well in a donument at home and if you take proper care of it, it will delight you for a long time with aroma and interesting taste. It is known and grown all over the world, but most likely originated in India.
Common basil contains many of the vitamins we need among others. A, B2, B3, B6, C, E and K. It is also full of other valuable nutrients for example, iron, magnesium, folic acid or potassium.
Cultivation of common basil
Common basil is an easy to grow herb. It is not demanding when it comes to substrate, fertilization or watering. The beginner gardener can easily handle this plant. Here are some important information about growing this aromatic herb!
Substrate
Basil, like other herbs suitable for growing in pots, likes humid soil but does not have very high requirements for its quality. The most common choice is soil permeable and light. Basil will do well in universal soil for potted plants, which is worth scarifying from time to time.
Position
Common basil is grown in warm places. It likessunny positionsand thrives best in temperatures of 20 to 25 degreesCelsius. Basil in a pot will therefore thrive on a kitchen windowsill if you have a sunny kitchen.
If you grow basil on a balcony, remember to protect the planet from the wind. In summer, this problem occurs less often, but the closer we get to autumn, the more attention should be paid to it.How to do it?
If you have the opportunity, move herbs into the apartment.Some plants can withstand low temperatures, but basil is not one of them.If you are unable to do so,protect the stems of plants with stakes. In this way you will protect them from breaking and allow them to climb higher. Place plants on the floor – this will protect them from falling from a height.
Related: Oregano: how does it grow?
Watering
Maintain in mind regular watering of basil. Its soil should be humid all the time – you’ll check this by sticking your finger into the soil about 1.5 centimeters deep. Don’t pour the plant after the leaves and don’t blow – it may then rot.
Fertilization
herbs are generally not fertilized. However, you can do so before the flowering period by using biohumus. It is a natural fertilizer obtained from the excrement of California earthworms. It can be safely used for fertilization of basil – it will replenish the soil with the necessary minerals.
Propagation
Sowingbasil should take place around May. You can not overdo the number of seeds in one pot – you should put a maximum of 10 seeds in it. Basil will begin to germinate after just a few days if you take good care of it. The sprouts should be covered but they also need to be aired every so often so that mould does not appear. Unlike an already growing herb, the seeds should not be in full sun-they like warmth, but not full sunlight.
Diseases
Basil is unfortunately vulnerable to attack by aphids and worms. When grown in the garden, it can be eaten by snails. There is also a risk that Your basil plant will get sick with fly, in which case you usually have to get rid of the whole plant. Pests are dealt with by chemical specifics or home remedies.
You will get rid of aphids by spraying the plant with a solution of gray soap and warm water at a ratio of 20 grams of soap per liter of water. Using the same ingredients, you can also combat worms. You will need about 16 grams of gray soap per liter of water. Wash this mixture with leavesherbs every day for about a week. After each washing, wash the solution of the leaves of the plant, protecting its soil from it beforehand.
How to dry basil?
Dried basil can be useful for many dishes or infusions. If you want to dry this herb with your own hands, be sure to spend a while separating the leaves from the stem. Arrange the separated leaves at appropriate distances from each other on an air-permeable material – this can be wicker, special drying net or linen sheet. It is best to do this in a room that is airy and does not have high humidity. When choosing this method, be prepared to wait two to four weeks for results. In the meantime, remember not to expose the leaves to moisture and turn them from one side to the other.
You can dry bunch basil just like other herbs, but this doesn’t often make sense, as both cooking and herbal medicine use the leaves. If you care about time, you can dry basil in the oven-but remember that the air temperature must not exceed 40 degrees Celsius.Leave the oven door open so that moisture can easily escape from the leaves.
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How to use common basil?
The ways to use basilare many. Although it is most often used inMediterranean cuisine,it also works well as a seasoning in traditional Polish dishes. The medicinal properties of this herb have been known for centuries and are still used in herbal medicine.
Basil in the kitchen
Basil is a highly aromatic herb known for its match with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. Ideally goes well with meats, especially with poultry and turkey. A popular sauce made from this herb is pesto basil with garlic, olive oil and pine nuts.
It is worth remembering that if you add fresh basil to a dish only at the end of cooking you will retain its excellent flavor. Do not cut the basil with a metal knife – this will deprive it of nutrients. Instead, tear it with your fingers into small particles.
Basil in herbal medicine
Common basil has been used for centuries as a diastolic agent. The herb works well on bloating and indigestion. After dental procedures, you can rinse your mouth with basil infusion – it has analgesic and antiseptic properties. Overuse of this plant is not recommended for people with high blood pressure – it stimulates heart rate. Before using herbs as remedies for minor conditions, one should consult a doctor.
Common basil is an excellent herb for novice gardeners, cooking enthusiasts and herbalists. You can use it to make excellent pesto or serve your guests a delicious caprese salad. Do you have common basil at home? Which of its properties do you think is the most useful? Share in the comments!
