Content
Growing basil from seeds on a windowsill is quite an exciting experience for both experienced and novice gardeners. This plant can be used not only as a condiment, but also as a component in many natural cosmetics recipes. It grows well in greenhouse conditions, so getting a good harvest right in the apartment is not such a difficult task.
Is it possible to grow basil on a windowsill
Basil is a well-known and popular herb used as an aromatic spice in many foods. Basil is believed to have been introduced to Europe for the first time from India, where it was used as a culinary condiment. Later, this plant was used for therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. Basil contains a large amount of essential oils, which explains its unique aroma.
It is possible to grow basil at home on a windowsill, but not all varieties are suitable for this. There are many species of this plant with large leaves. In an apartment, due to a lack of sunlight, they will receive less of the substances necessary for growth, so they can be grown only to experienced gardeners who know how to make up for this deficiency. Beginners should pay attention to small-leaved varieties that are not so demanding on growing conditions.
Which variety to choose for growing basil at home
The following varieties are suitable for growing basil on a windowsill in winter:
- Baku;
- Clove scent;
- Yerevan;
- Marquis.
After the first experiments on growing basil at home are successful, you can move on to more demanding varieties.
How to grow basil at home
There are several ways to grow basil at home. It is best to use a window sill or balcony for this. You can grow a plant from:
- seeds;
- cuttings;
- by transplanting an adult plant.
The latter method is suitable for those who are engaged in the cultivation of this plant in their country house. For transplantation, choose young shoots that have not yet bloomed. They are transplanted into separate pots and subsequently grown at home, placing them on the windowsills or on the balcony. Cuttings can be taken from an adult plant, rooted and then renewed regularly. The seed method is the longest, it may take 7–8 months to grow a full-fledged bush.
Selection and preparation of containers
For planting, you can use any containers, however, when planting in shallow dishes, the seedlings will then have to dive, which is undesirable. Therefore, to grow basil on a windowsill, it is more advisable to immediately use large-sized containers, such as large flower pots or plastic containers. This will save you from unnecessary work in the future, and the plants from stress.
Soil preparation
A drainage layer (expanded clay, large pebbles) is laid on the bottom of the container or pot in which the basil bush will grow, and the containers themselves are filled with a nutrient substrate. You can buy it or make it yourself by mixing turf soil with humus in a 1: 1 ratio.Sometimes the substrate is prepared from a mixture of peat and humus, mixing the components in a 2: 1 ratio.
Seed preparation
Cuttings or seeds can be used as seed material. Cuttings are obtained from an adult plant by cutting off its upper and lateral shoots. Then they are placed in water for 1.5-2 weeks. After the roots appear, the cuttings are planted in containers for permanent cultivation.
Seeds must be disinfected before planting. To do this, they are kept for 2 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate. It is preferable to plant seeds that have already sprouted. To do this, they are laid in wet gauze (or placed between two wet cotton pads) and kept for several days in a place with an elevated air temperature, for example, next to a water heating radiator. Great care should be taken when planting such seeds.
Landing rules
The nutrient soil is moistened before planting, and then the seeds are planted, deepening them by no more than 1 cm. After planting, the container is covered with plastic wrap or glass. Sprouted cuttings do not need to be closed after planting.
Care after landing
In order to grow and develop properly, basil needs moisture, light and heat. In the summertime, problems usually do not arise. When grown in winter on the windowsill, the plants must be supplemented with artificial lighting devices, thereby increasing the daylight hours by 3-4 hours. The room temperature must be maintained within + 20-28 ° С.
Basil grown both in the open field and on the windowsill needs regular watering, but the soil should not be overmoistened. It is better to do this in the morning, using settled warm water. On hot days, you can add extra watering in the evening. In addition, the plant itself must be regularly sprayed with water. Do not forget about loosening the soil, which must be done constantly.
If the soil is poor, then the plants need to be fed from time to time using liquid fertilizers based on humates. As soon as the bush grows up, you need to pin the top of it. This promotes the formation of side shoots and the growth of the bush in breadth.
Features of growing basil on the balcony
When using a balcony to grow basil, the first step is to ensure a constant temperature. Therefore, in winter, artificial heating is necessary, and in summer you need to make sure that the plants do not overheat. Basil can be grown on the balcony along with other plants. Neighbors for it can be, for example, pepper or asparagus.
Optimal conditions for growing basil at home
Basil belongs to subtropical plants, and this region is characterized by high temperature and humidity. Providing such conditions in a city apartment is not easy. Therefore, often the pots in which the basil is grown at home are additionally insulated by wrapping them with heat-insulating material.
A huge plus will be the installation of additional lighting, for example, phytolamps for seedlings or at least just fluorescent lamps. With their help, you can provide an optimal light regime. To constantly maintain the required moisture level, basil bushes are sprayed with warm water using a spray bottle. In winter, when the air humidity in the apartment is at a very low level, this is especially true.
Disease protection
At home, basil gets sick much less often than when grown in a garden. However, if care is disrupted, gray mold or fusarium can form on the bushes.The reason for the appearance is considered to be waterlogging of the soil. Therefore, you need to try to avoid excessive waterlogging and stagnation of water in the roots. Affected leaves and shoots must be removed immediately to prevent the spread of the disease.
Harvesting
Basil leaves are used for culinary and cosmetic purposes. Already after 1.5-2 months after planting seedlings in a permanent place, you can begin to cut them off. Leaves are cut from the top and side of the plant, while always leaving at least 5-6 leaves on the stem. You cannot pinch off the basil near the root, this can destroy the entire bush.
Conclusion
Growing basil from seeds on a windowsill is an opportunity to provide for yourself not only a fragrant seasoning, but also an effective component for cosmetics all year round. There is nothing complicated in this process. You just need to follow certain rules and regularly take care of plants.
