Is it possible to sow basil before winter: how to plant and care

Planting basil before winter is practiced by many gardeners. But in this case, the spice is grown not in the garden plot, but at home. Basil is a tropical herb that loves care. Therefore, planting seeds is only a small part of the growing process.

Can I plant basil before winter?

Of course, growing a crop in winter is possible. But in order to get a good harvest, it is important to properly prepare the seeds for sowing. In order for the essential oils to leave the grains, they are soaked in water for several hours. This is due to the fact that essential oils prevent seed germination.

Pay attention! Since the days are short in winter, growing a crop requires additional lighting. To do this, every evening a lamp is placed near the container.

Winter varieties

There are several varieties of basil for winter growing:

1. Marquis. A cold-resistant variety that matures in about 40 days. The plant is characterized by a strong stem and a height of 20-25 cm. The leaves of this variety are small and smooth, with a bright green color. One plant weighs about 150 grams. Marquis has a pronounced clove-pepper aroma. The variety can be grown in open ground under film cover, but subject to the absence of frost. Otherwise, the crop will not sprout.
2. Small-leaved. Mid-season variety, which is characterized by narrow small leaves. The culture has a sweet taste with a subtle tart taste.
3. Carnation. The variety is characterized by a strong aroma and a pronounced clove-anise flavor. The culture matures on average 40 days. The plant grows up to 40 cm, characterized by large leaves with wrinkled and jagged edges.

Preparing the container and soil for planting

Basil grows best in ready-made mixtures, which can be purchased at specialized stores. If land from the garden is used for planting, it is pre-fertilized with mineral products.

In the containers where the culture will be grown, small holes are made in the bottom, after which a drainage layer is laid out using expanded clay or pebbles. Its presence is necessary to remove excess moisture from the container.

There is another effective way to prepare the soil for basil. It is calcined in the oven at a temperature of 80-90 degrees. This will disinfect the soil and get a good yield.

Podzimny landing rules

Before sowing seeds, they are soaked for several hours in water, after which they are planted in containers with moist soil.The distance between the seeds should be at least 7 cm, planting depth - 1 cm. After planting, the containers are covered with cling film and cleaned in a place where there is no direct sunlight. The air temperature should not be below 23 degrees. When the sprouts sprout, they are transplanted.

Features of care

Basil loves the light. Lighting is necessary for at least 12 hours a day. Since winter days are short, it is important to provide plants with additional lighting. The lamps are hung directly above the plant containers. It is also important to remember that the lack of heat is detrimental to greenery.

To get a good harvest, the temperature in the room where basil is grown must be at least 20 degrees.

Since indoor air is usually dry in winter, the crop needs not only watering, but also regular spraying of the leaves with a spray bottle.Water the culture in the morning with exclusively settled water. After the appearance of the first leaves, pinch the tops of the basil, this contributes to the growth of the bushes in breadth, and not up.

Growing in a greenhouse

Many gardeners prefer greenhouse cultivation of basil. Greenhouses must be well heated. One wall in them is made deaf, this increases the temperature inside the room, which helps to save on heating. A more economical option for covering the greenhouse is a double layer of plastic film. To maintain the optimal temperature for basil indoors, gardeners use rotted manure and straw.

Initially, biofuel is laid out under the film, and after a few days it is determined on the beds and sprinkled on top of the soil prepared for sowing.

They heat the premises with stoves or electric stoves. The soil for cultivation should be loose and light. Before planting, it is fertilized with rotted manure. 10-15 days after planting the seeds, it is fed with urea or droppings.

Greenhouse basil is grown in two ways:

1. From seedlings.
2. Sowing seeds.

In the second case, the seeds are pre-sown in light soil. After 2 leaves appear on the plants, a pick is made. The distance between plants should not be less than 5 cm, only in this way they can develop normally. After 30-40 days, the seedlings are transplanted into the greenhouse. Shallow furrows are made under it, which are at a distance of 15 cm from each other. Every week, the beds need abundant watering with settled water.

Since basil is a heat-loving crop, it is important to maintain the air temperature in the greenhouse, it should be at least 22 degrees. It is important to remember that the plant does not need excessive heat either, so greenhouses are ventilated from time to time.

What to do in spring?

Harvesting basil is fairly easy. The leafy part and the tops of the stem are carefully cut with a knife or scissors. It is important to collect plants before flowering, as during this period their leaves contain the maximum concentration of essential oils.

Greens can be eaten fresh or dried. In the second case, the plants are stored in a warm room. It is optimal if it is an attic, where the air temperature is at least 25 degrees. You can dry the basil in the oven, but it is important not to overdo it with the temperature, otherwise the plant will lose its beneficial properties. After the procedure, the stems and leaves of greenery should break easily. Dried and chopped basil is placed in a glass jar, closed with a lid and stored in a dark, dry place.

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