Ocimum basilicum
DESCRIPTION
Fresh green foliage that smells and tastes like citrus. Adds a fresh tartness to a vinaigrette or to your fish and seafood dishes. Also good in tea. Grow in a pot outdoors in a sheltered and sunny location or indoors all year round - with a grow light during the dark months.
LIFE CYCLE: ONE YEAR
HEIGHT: APPROX. 30-40 CM
COLOR: GREEN
GROWING POSITION: SUN
SEEDS/BAG: APPROX. 100 PCS
PRE-CULTIVATION
SOWING TIME: FEB-JUNE/YEAR-ROUND WITH GROW LAMP
SOWING DEPTH: 0.2CM
GROOMING TIME: 5-20 DGR
FINAL PLANTING IN POT: 10-20 CM Ø
FINAL PLANTING GARDEN
PLANT SPACING: 25 CM
ROW SPACING: 30 CM
HARVEST FESTIVAL: APPROX. 3-4 MONTHS AFTER SOWING
SOWING AND HARVESTING BASIL
Growing location : Pallet collar or in a larger pot in a warm, sunny and wind-protected place. Can also be grown indoors in a sunny window.
AT SOWING
Sow indoors from the end of February to June. Can also be sown indoors all year round with a grow lamp. Place the briquette in lukewarm water and let it swell. Place on a dish or growing tray. Scrape off about 2 mm of coconut fiber from the briquette and distribute 5-10 seeds evenly over the growing briquette. Cover with the coconut fiber. The seeds germinate in light, so cover the seeds max. 2 mm. Basil can also be sown in a pot filled with seed soil.
Mark the sowing with markers. Specify the variety and date.
Cover the seeds with transparent covering with air holes. Tip – use a greenhouse and place a capillary mat in the bottom to provide an even and good water supply. Place on a heating floor/heating mat for extra fast germination.
Water regularly - never let the seeds dry out!
1-2 WEEKS AFTER SOWING
Provide light. As soon as the seed has germinated and emerged, usually after 5-20 days, it needs light. Remove the cover and place the pot in a bright and warm place. Basil loves heat! In a sunny window (about 6 hours of sun/day). Or under a grow light (about 13-15 hours of light/day).
RETRAINING
Replant when the plants are about 5 cm tall in nutrient-rich potting soil. Carefully divide the briquette - 1-2 plants per part. Water before dividing to reduce the risk of damaging the roots. Plant in pots about 7x7 cm in size. Place on a plate or in a trough. Water thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Fertilize with liquid plant nutrients mixed into the water about once a week. Basil needs more nutrients than many other leafy herbs. Fertilize on the soil and not on the leaves.
Top. Cut off the top just above the second pair of leaves. New shoots will form there and you will get a bushier plant. You can put the top in water and let it get roots before planting it in its own pot with potting soil. 1 plant becomes 2!
FINAL PLANTING
Harden off the plant when the risk of frost is over, to accustom it to the outdoor environment. Start with 1 hour/day and gradually increase the time outside. Avoid direct sunlight which is too strong for the tender leaves. After a week or so it is ready for a permanent life outdoors.
Plant the plant in its growing location. Plant at the same depth as before with 25 cm between each plant. Plant in well-fertilized soil. Unfortunately, snails love basil so growing in a pot is our best tip.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
Harvest and enjoy. You can harvest a few leaves when the plants are small. But the real harvest party will be about 3-5 months after sowing. Harvest leaves as you go. Pinch off any flower buds, this promotes leaf growth and the basil will taste better. But if you want to grow it as a decoration, you can let it bloom and let it adorn the kitchen garden.
