How to grow basil

Choosing the type of basil plant

To learn more information about types of basil, you can go to the article Types of basil.

Selection of agricultural land

Selection of a sunny location is an important factor in choosing the land where basil will be grown of any kind, and although basil prefers to grow in solar-exposed land for long periods, it grows well in areas where the sun rises for only six hours, in addition, the pH of the soil in which basil will be grown must be considered to be between 6-6.5, which is suitable for the growth of most vegetables, and to get this, the soil must be examined, tilled, and mixed with the necessary amount of dolomitic limestone.

Processing agricultural land

Basil needs to grow best in organic soil, which is well-drained, so before basil is grown, organic matter is added to the soil and blended well, as organic matter plays an important role in increasing the possibility of sand soil to conserve water, and clay soil to drain them, and organic matter contributes to improving the soil’s ability to conserve and benefit from fertilizers added to them. Examples of these organic materials are manure, compost derived from animal dung, as well as pine tree bark extract.

How to grow basil?

The direct method to grow basil

Ensure that the frost wave that may threaten basil seeds ends if they exist, after which the seed cultivation begins directly in the soil, at an equal depth of about 0.6 cm each, and after five to seven days the seeds germinate, and once the thin seedling grows to form three, or four leaves, then they must be separated by approximately 15 to 30 cm by removing the excess seeds, and to keep the soil hydrated and weed-free, it must be covered with a layer approximately 5 to 8 cm thick, consisting of herbal scraps, or straws.

How to plant basil seedlings

Basil seeds are grown internally at a depth of approximately 0.6 cm to grow, and form seedlings within 3 to 4 weeks, after which these seedlings are grown externally when the soil becomes warm enough for agriculture after the frost wave has ended, as the soil temperature suitable for agriculture must be at least 15°C because cold air and soils below 10°C contribute to hinder the growth of basil, destroy it, and cause the blackness of its leaves.

How to grow basil in pots

Basil can be grown internally at home in pots, by planting several seeds in pots filled with the soil allocated to it, taking into account the maintenance of moisture through irrigation, in addition to having to put the pots in a sunny place, it should be noted that about 4-5 weeks after planting the seeds, the process of picking and harvesting them begins, often in autumn, winter and early spring.

Irrigation and care for basil

Basil should be irrigated periodically, without excess, as basil grown in garden boxes raised from the ground is irrigated every 7 to 10 days according to the rainfall rate in that area, to ensure the moisture needed for the roots, while the plants grown in pots dry more quickly, so it is preferable to irrigate them frequently, and it is recommended to use pots with holes from below, contributing to the proper discharge of water, and Basil irrigation is preferred at the base of the plant to take into account the preservation of wet leaves, in order to reduce the plant’s exposure to diseases and can be irrigated using more than one method, such as hose, drip, or manually.

Basil plants are taken care of by removing terminal growth peaks from it, to stimulate the formation of more branches, which gives greater green growth, and a more intense appearance and floral basil buds are removed as soon as they appear in midsummer to maintain the flavor of the leaves, but these buds may be left to grow if the basil class is used for decoration, or to form seeds, and it should be noted that the process of harvesting basil must be done before the frost period begins, to ensure that it is not destroyed, as the roots of the plant are then extracted from the soil and kept in pots for internal cultivation.

Basil plant overview

Basil belongs to Lamiaceae species, specifically the genus Ocimum, known for its great diversity since antiquity, as the continent of Africa has a very large number of species, while there are more than 30 species in the tropics and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, Central, and South America, and most of the commercial basils traded on the market belong to O. basilicum, it should be noted that dried, or fresh basil is usually used in marinade meat, fish, and can be added to salads and sauces to give it a distinctive taste, as well as tea.

Basil is often an annual plant that lives a short, but may be a perennial plant, and lives longer when taken care of. Basil has thick roots and smooth green oval leaves. Basil leaves grow approximately 3 to 11 cm long, while the plant is approximately 30 to 130 cm high, and basil flowers grow lumpy on top of the plant, and are small in white.

The most famous diseases, and pests affecting basil 

pests

The following table shows the most famous pests affecting basil, the effects they leave, and ways to control them:

Diseases

The following table shows the most common diseases affecting basil, its symptoms, and ways to control them: