Easiest Way of Basil Germination and Care

Basil is a wonderful herb with aromatic leaves. It is a member of the Lamiaceae family. Sweet basil plants tend to dominate the supermarket shelves, but there are many other exciting types to try when you grow your own. Give it warmth and sunshine, in containers or in the ground, for harvests of aromatic leaves all summer. You may start seeds indoors or grow from small pots. Learn the secrets of basil germination and care.

Basil Germination

Sow basil seed successionally from spring to summer so you have a continuous crop. Make sure that the soil is moist. Basil plants like moisture. If you live in a hot area, use mulch around the plants. During the dry periods in summer, water the plants freely. Sow seeds several into a larger pot 7.5cm apart if you’re intending to grow a group in a container.

After the seedlings have produced their first six leaves, prune above the second set. Every time a branch has six to eight leaves, repeat pruning the branches back to their first set of leaves. Fertilize sparingly throughout the season with a 5-10-5 fertilizer. After about 6 weeks, pinch off the center shoot to prevent early flowering. If flowers do grow, just cut them off.

Basil Care

When growing basil, one of the most important things to remember is to water – if the soil becomes too dry, they’ll quickly wilt. Don’t let the plants sit in water though, as this can cause the roots to rot. Always water with care, ideally before midday and avoid splashing the leaves. This should help prevent botrytis. It is a half-hardy annual, new plants will be needed each year. However, in autumn, when temperatures start to dip, bring a few plants back indoors to provide a fresh supply of leaves over winter.

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