Basil cultivation methods and precautions

Pot soil selection

Basil is a deep-rooted plant, and its roots can penetrate 50 to 100 centimeters into the soil. Therefore, it is advisable to choose well-drained, fertile and loose sandy loam, and apply sufficient base fertilizer before planting. In home cultivation, it is best to choose a flowerpot that is both deep and wide, so as to meet the root depth requirements of basil.

Seedling selection and germination

Due to the short frost-free period, open-field cultivation production requires seedlings to be grown in a greenhouse or shed in order to harvest seeds. If you just want to eat the tender stems and leaves, you can grow seedlings or sow directly. The seedling period is generally in mid-to-late April.

Put the seeds in a gauze bag, shake off the water, cover it with a wet towel or gauze to keep it warm and moist, and place it at about 25℃ for germination. During the germination process, rinse with clean water once a day and control the seeds. If the amount of seeds is large, turn them over 1 to 2 times a day to ensure a balanced temperature and uniform germination. The temperature can be slightly higher in the early stage of germination to promote germination. When the sprouts are about to emerge (the seeds are about to open), the temperature should be reduced by 3 to 5°C to make the sprouts thick and neat. After all the buds have emerged, if there is special weather, the buds can be moved to a place with a temperature of 5 to 10℃ to control their growth and wait for sowing.

Planting time

The sowing time is March to April in the south and late April to May in the north. The sowing should be done in the morning on a sunny day. Put the nutrient soil into the sowing tray, irrigate it with hot or warm water, and after the water seeps in, sprinkle a layer of medicinal soil. Evenly sow the germinated seeds in the tray, cover them with 1 cm thick medicinal soil, and cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist. After transplanting, water thoroughly to ensure that the soil in the pot is moist.

Precautions

Some flower lovers have larger balconies or flower beds and will plant a lot of basil. At this time, we must pay attention to the maintenance and management of the seedlings. Thinning and replanting should be carried out when the seedlings are 6 to 10 cm tall. Generally, weeding is done twice, the first time is 10 to 20 days after emergence, when the topsoil is shallowly hoeed. The second time is from early May to early June. When weeding, you can turn the soil over to keep it loose. The seedlings are afraid of drought, so pay attention to watering in time. For flower lovers who grow flowers in flower beds, you can apply some chicken manure water to maintain nutrient supply.