Is it possible to grow basil at home in a pot. Growing basil on a windowsill. Unique properties of basil

Basil is a fragrant herb common today, which is often used as a spice. Most often, the plant is used in cooking. The crop can be harvested all year round and constantly enjoy its taste and aroma. To do this, you can grow basil on the windowsill.

Basil is a spice that perfectly complements the taste of fish and meat. Greens give a specific flavor to salads, sauces and a variety of marinades. The grass is quite unpretentious, so growing it will not be difficult even for a beginner.

How to grow basil on a windowsill? It should be borne in mind that you can “breed” the spice not only in the soil purchased in a specialized store. It is also possible to grow a crop in ordinary garden soil. True, the use of soil from the site provides for the introduction of mineral fertilizers into it. Growing basil at home involves the use of:

If the cultivation of greenery in an apartment is carried out in a ready-made earth mixture, then preparation of such soil is not required. You just need to put a little drainage on the bottom of the growing container and fill it with soil.

If you use the land directly from the garden, it is worth adding mineral dressings to it. After all, the ideal land for spices is light, prolific, and most importantly, airy, perfectly permeable to air and water.

You can prepare a mixture for growing yourself:

Mix peat, humus and soil in equal quantities.
Mix coconut fibers and humus in double quantity.
Mix humus and peat in a ratio of 1:2. And then add urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate to them.
Mix part of fresh compost with double the amount of soil.

Some gardeners advise calcining the earth from the garden in the oven on a metal baking sheet, and then adding minerals to it. Seed germination will only be successful if drainage is used. Otherwise, the culture will develop poorly due to the constantly moistened habitat.

Planting material preparation

Would you like to enjoy basil? all year round? In conditions home growing necessary Special attention to prepare the seeds for planting.

Proper seed preparation involves soaking them in a solution of potassium permanganate. After that, the seeds are planted in the prepared and moistened soil mixture to a depth of 1 centimeter. In this case, it is necessary to observe a distance between plantings of up to 10 centimeters. "Seedlings" must be carefully covered with cling film or ordinary cellophane and not removed until the first shoots appear.

The most comfortable temperature for seed germination is between 22° and 28°. In such conditions, sprouts begin to appear within a week.

Landing technology

Germination of seeds of almost all spices is very long and slow. This is usually explained by the fact that a film of essential oils forms on the seed. Because of it, moisture enters worse, and the germination process is delayed.

Therefore, planting basil should be carried out only after the seed has warmed up. To carry out this procedure, it is enough to leave the seed for a couple of weeks in a warm place. And then soak it warm water for a day.

Sowing allows more than one seed to be placed in one hole. If they all germinate, the weakest plants will need to be eliminated.

Video “How to grow basil at home”

The video shows how easy it is to grow basil in the city.

Care

In order for basil seeds to germinate, they need a lot of light and heat. Therefore, care is considered one of the main components successful cultivation culture. First of all, containers with sowing must be covered with a film or cellophane and in this form leave the basil on the windowsill. At the same time, caring for the plant provides for maintaining a constant temperature of at least 23 ° - 24 °. Every day, it is necessary to briefly remove the film from the crops to ventilate the sprouts.

7-10 days after planting, sprouts of the culture begin to appear. During this period, the film is removed, and the temperature is reduced to 20 °. It should be borne in mind that drafts are terrible for greenery, especially in winter. Therefore, with balcony cultivation of culture, you need to be especially careful.

Caring for the spice involves providing it with the maximum amount of heat and light. This is more difficult to organize if the culture grows on the windowsill on the north side of the room. In this case, you will need additional sources of artificial lighting: fluorescent or LED lamps. The plant needs to provide 15-hour daylight hours. If such conditions cannot be organized, then sowing should be carried out in February and later.

Subsequent care of the plant includes regular watering and loosening the soil. You need to moisten the spice in the morning every day, in the hot season you can carry out the procedure in the evening. It is necessary to water the culture only with warm water. After the formation of lateral processes, they must be fed with an organic complex.

Basil is a plant that is ideal for growing at home. The culture grows at any time of the year and is not whimsical. Therefore, even a beginner will cope with its cultivation. In our article we want to talk about how to grow basil on the windowsill.

What is basil?

Basil is an irreplaceable spice used by people since ancient times. The plant is rich essential oils, therefore, in addition to cooking, it is also used in natural cosmetics. AT good conditions it grows in greenhouses, in gardens, so you should not even doubt whether it is possible to grow basil on a windowsill.

The culture originated from India. Presumably the name of the plant goes back to the Greek basileus , which in translation means king or king. There are two different versions regarding the origin of culture. According to one of them, the basil was found near the place where Queen Elena once discovered the True Cross. According to another version, the plant was used to treat persons of royal families.

Basil has long been used for religious rituals in Orthodoxy (in the Balkans and Greece) and Hinduism. Ayurveda values culture not only for cosmetic, but also medicinal properties. There are many varieties of basil. In cooking, fragrant varieties are often used. All of them differ not only in appearance but also in smell and taste.

Which variety do you prefer?

Basil attracts not only as a culinary supplement, but also as medicinal plant. At home, it can be used as an interior decoration. Recently, the popularity of the plant has been increasing more and more. Therefore, thinking about how to grow basil on the windowsill, you should decide which variety you prefer to see on your balcony. We have already said that the plant is unpretentious. However, it should be understood that not every variety is suitable for growing at home. The most acceptable options may be the following types: spoon-shaped, Yerevan, Baku, marquis, clove aroma. These varieties are small-leaved, and therefore easier to cultivate at home. Large-leaved ones need enough in large numbers microelements that need to be applied to the ground. Such care can only be handled experienced gardeners. Therefore, novice housewives should pay attention to small-leaved varieties.

When a gardener already has experience regarding the care of more simple views, and understands how to grow basil on the windowsill, you can move on to other varieties.

Culture methods

How to grow basil on a windowsill? There are three ways:

An adult plant can be transplanted from the ground into a pot. This is what summer residents do, who grow crops in their garden plots in the summer. Young bushes that have not yet bloomed can be transplanted together with an earthen clod into a pot. However, the growing season of the plant is short, so it will bloom soon. And then you have to cut the shoots for planting young plants.
Growing a plant from cuttings. For this crown or side shoots cut off and placed in water. This is necessary for them to take root. Next, the basil is transplanted into a pot, the first greens can be cut in two to three weeks. Such bushes can serve you for about three to four months, after which it is again necessary to renew the plant.
Growing basil from seeds is the longest way. good greens will not be available soon. If you need a faster result, then it is better to use the second method.

Best time to grow basil

How to grow basil on a windowsill in winter? In principle, basil can be grown at any time of the year, including in winter. However, it should be understood that the plant belongs to light-loving and heat-loving crops, and therefore more effort will be required to maintain it during cold periods.

Some housewives wrap basil pots with polyethylene in winter to protect them from drafts and increase temperature regime. In addition, from October to March, in our climate, the basilica is not enough sunlight, so the plants will have to be highlighted. This will help to increase daylight hours artificially. To simplify plant care, many housewives prefer to sow seeds in February, then the main period active growth crops will have just for a period with a sufficient length of daylight hours. And in the summer, basil will feel great on the window in the apartment.

How to grow basil from seeds on a windowsill?

Before you start planting, you need to prepare the ground. You can get good soil from suburban area, or you can purchase a ready-made substrate. A little peat can be added to the soil from the garden to facilitate it.

Sometimes basil is planted in a mixture of peat and humus (humus can be replaced with coconut fiber) in a ratio of 2:1. Before sowing, the seeds should be held for a couple of hours in a raspberry-colored potassium permanganate solution.

When talking about how to grow basil on a windowsill in an apartment, it is worth remembering that you need to pick up pots for plants for planting. There are two options here. You can sow the seeds in small containers (200 g), and later transplant the plants into larger pots. But in general, you can immediately use large boxes, this will save you from unnecessary trouble. Expanded clay should be placed at the bottom of the vessels as drainage. Seeds are sown in moist soil to a depth of no more than one centimeter at a distance of 7-10 centimeters from each other. After that, the pots should be tightened with cling film and not removed until shoots appear. Further, in order to quickly grow basil at home on the windowsill, you should create optimal conditions. At a temperature of + 22-28 degrees, the first shoots will appear in five to eight days.

Care of young shoots

As soon as young sprouts appear, it is immediately necessary to rearrange the pots in a well-lit and warm place. Plants need to be watered regularly. This should be done once a day, on the hottest summer days, you can moisten the soil in the morning and evening with water. room temperature. Periodically, basil can be sprayed with water, especially useful in summer.

To understand how to grow basil in a pot on a windowsill, you need to know that the plant is native to the subtropics. That is why culture needs an abundance of heat and light. In order for the plant to develop well and grow quickly on the windowsill, the air temperature should be at least +20 degrees, but +25 degrees is better, and the sun should shine for at least 4 hours a day.

Basil is very afraid of drafts. Adult bushes can loosen the soil once every three days. If the soil in pots is not very fertile, then periodically (no more than once a month) it should be fertilized. Any universal fertilizer based on gummates or organic compost is suitable as top dressing.

The first leaves can be cut off from the plant after 1.5 months. In the future, cutting off the greens, you need to leave at least three leaves on the stems. This is necessary so that new branches begin to form in the sinuses. When the basil grows up, it will be possible to pinch the top of it, then the bush will grow in breadth.

How to grow basil at home on a windowsill in winter?

If you decide to sow seeds in winter, then you will need more careful care in order to grow good plant. On the one hand, the culture needs good watering, and on the other hand, excessive waterlogging can lead to diseases. Therefore, you need to be careful with water.

The most comfortable temperature for basil is + 20-25 degrees. In winter, for a plant, daylight hours are not long enough for normal development, so it must be additionally highlighted. To do this, in the evening, you can turn on the lamp for 3-4 hours. Basil does not tolerate temperature extremes and drafts.

Given these points, the culture can be grown at home and in the winter cold.

Diseases to which the plant is susceptible

Basil, like many other crops, is susceptible to various diseases. Of course, indoor plants get sick less than outdoor plants, but it’s still worth protecting yourself. The most common diseases that affect basil are fusarium and gray mold. So that your bushes are not struck by such ailments, you need to avoid overflow, since excessive moisture provokes an ailment. If the plant is still sick, then it is necessary to remove the affected stems in a timely manner so that they do not infect healthy shoots.

How to harvest properly?

In order for the plant to grow well and continue to develop in the future, you need to be able to properly harvest. You should never pinch off the basil at the very root, this can harm the plant. In order to increase the life of the plant, it is necessary to remove flower stalks as soon as they appear. Basil should not be pinched at the root, as this can kill the entire plant. In general, you can remove the leaves, but at the same time, 4-5 leaves should be left, in the future, new branches will begin to appear from their sinuses.

In order to less injure the bushes, it is better not to pinch off the foliage, but to cut it with scissors. Greens are easily removed by them, and the stems are not injured.

Knowing all the intricacies of the process, growing basil at home on the windowsill is quite simple. Therefore, every hostess can try her hand.

It is widely known that you can grow basil in a pot on the windowsill all year round. However, practice often diverges from theory, and once again, without waiting for shoots or pulling out “long-legged” wilted seedlings, the gardener gives up - no luck.

The fact is that basil is a light and heat-loving plant, and for its full growth it is necessary: enough heat(20-25°C), long daylight hours, fertilized soil with drainage and regular " water procedures»: watering and spraying.

- Transfer of an adult plant from open ground to a pot. This method is used by summer residents who grow basil in the beds in the summer. In this case, the youngest bushes that did not have time to bloom are dug out along with a clod of earth and transplanted into a pot. The growing season of these plants is short - pretty soon they will bloom, and you will need to cut off the flower stalks or cut the shoots into cuttings to plant a new plant.

– Growing basil from a cutting from a previous bush. Side shoots or tops from an existing basil bush (or from a market-bought one) are placed in water for 1-2 weeks to give roots, and then planted in pots. After about half a month, it will be possible to cut the first greens. Such a bush will serve you 3-4 months.

– Growing a new basil bush from seeds. When planting seeds basil bush it will take 8-12 months to fully develop, but it will also provide you with fresh herbs much longer than basil grown from cuttings.

Growing basil from seeds: the main steps

In principle, any variety of basil is suitable for growing in pots, but, as a rule, low-growing bunch-forming varieties are chosen.

As a container for the first initial stage small pots, plastic buckets or cups can serve. Then, some time after the basil has several true leaves, the plants will need to be carefully transplanted into large containers without damaging the roots. To avoid this procedure, it is better to immediately plant the seeds in liter pots.

The soil should be fertile, light, with high water permeability. You can use humus mixed with coconut fiber in a ratio of 1: 2, you can take a mixture of garden soil with ready-made fully decomposed compost, you can prepare soil from 1 part of humus and 2 parts of peat, which is then shed with a solution of mineral fertilizers (1/8 teaspoon of urea , potassium sulfate and superphosphate per 1 liter of water). And do not forget about drainage - it is mandatory for basil. Therefore, before filling the containers with soil, pour a layer of expanded clay to the bottom, broken brick or polystyrene 2-3 centimeters high.

Before planting, basil seeds are soaked for two hours in a raspberry solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are planted in prepared moist soil to a depth of 1 centimeter at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other and covered with cling film or a bag that is not removed until the shoots.

The optimum temperature for germination of basil seeds is from 22°C to 28°C, in such conditions the first shoots will appear in 5-8 days.

Pots with young plants are immediately placed in a warm, bright place and provide them with regular watering. It is recommended to water the basil in the morning once a day (on very hot summer days you can water it twice - in the morning and in the afternoon) with water at room temperature. It will not be superfluous to spray the plants with water from time to time (in the summer you can do this daily).

The homeland of the basil is the subtropics, so it cannot survive without heat and light. In order for the basil to grow, bush and branch, the air temperature on your windowsill must be at least 20 ° C (or even better 25 ° C), and the sun should shine at least 3-4 hours a day. Basil is afraid of drafts.

In pots with adult plants, the soil is loosened every two to three days to enrich it with oxygen. If the soil for growing basil was not particularly fertile, once a month the bushes need to be fed. Universal fertilizers based on organic compost or gummates are excellent for top dressing.

After 1.5 months, you will begin to pick off the first spicy leaves from the side shoots. Subsequently, cutting off the greens, leave at least three leaves on the stem - new side shoots will begin to develop in their axils. When the bush has grown enough, it will be possible to pinch the top so that it grows in breadth.

Best time to grow basil in pots

Basil can, of course, be grown at home year-round, but its increased sensitivity to heat and light will require you to make extra efforts in the fall. winter period.

To protect against drafts and create optimal temperatures in autumn and winter, you may have to wrap the pots in transparent plastic wrap.

In addition, from October to February, plants need additional illumination in evening hours(about 3-4 hours) to extend daylight hours. On cloudy days, additional light is needed throughout the day.

For this reason, basil is usually planted in late February - early March, so that the period of active growth passes with increasing daylight hours. And in the summer, natural heat and light will be quite enough for a grown bush.

We wish you success and great harvests!

It is far from a secret that you can grow basil in a pot on a windowsill. whole year. Still, practice often diverges from theory, and once again, without waiting for shoots or pulling out “long-legged” shrunken seedlings, the gardener gives up - no luck.

The fact is that basil is a light and heat-loving plant, and for its full growth you need: a long daylight hours, a fairly high temperature (20-25 ° C), fertilized soil with drainage and regular “water procedures”: watering and spraying.

3 ways to grow basil in pots:

- Transfer of a mature plant from open ground to a pot. This method is used by gardeners who grow basil in their beds in the summer. In this case, the youngest bushes that did not have time to bloom are dug up together with a clod of earth and transplanted into a pot. The growing season of these plants is short - they will bloom soon enough, and you will need to cut off the shoots or cut off the flower stalks for cuttings to plant a new plant.

- Growing basil from a cutting from a previous bush. The tops from an existing bush or lateral shoots of basil (or from those bought on the market) are put into water for 1-2 weeks so that they give roots, and then they are planted in pots. After about half a month, it will be possible to cut the first greens. Such a bush will serve you 3-4 months.

- Growing a new basil bush from seed. When planted from seeds, a basil bush will take 8-12 months to fully develop, but it will also provide you with fresh herbs much longer than basil grown from a cutting.

Growing basil from seeds: the main steps

In principle, any variety of basil is suitable for growing in pots, but, as a rule, low-growing bunch-forming varieties are chosen.

Small pots, plastic cups or buckets can serve as containers at the initial stage. Then, some time after the formation of several true leaves in the basil, the plants will need to be carefully transplanted into large containers without damaging the roots. In order to bypass this procedure, it is better to immediately plant the seeds in liter containers.

The soil must be fertile, light, with high water permeability. You can use humus mixed with coconut fiber in a ratio of 1: 2, you can take a mixture garden soil with fully decomposed compost ready, you can prepare soil from 2 parts of peat and 1 part of humus, which is then poured with a solution of mineral fertilizers (1/8 teaspoon of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate per 1 liter of water). And do not forget about drainage - it is required for basil. Therefore, before filling the containers with soil, lay a layer of expanded clay, broken polystyrene or broken brick 2-3 centimeters high on the bottom.

Before planting, basil seeds are soaked for two hours in a saturated solution of potassium permanganate. Then they are planted in prepared moist soil to a depth of 1 centimeter at a distance of 7-10 cm from each other and covered with a bag or cling film, which is not removed until the shoots.

The best temperature for germination of basil seeds is from 22°C to 28°C, in such conditions the first shoots will appear in 5-8 days.

Containers with young plants are immediately exposed to a bright, warm place and they are supplied with systematic watering. It is recommended to water the basil in the morning once a day (on very hot summer days you need to water it twice - in the morning and in the afternoon) with water at room temperature. It will not be superfluous to sprinkle the plants with water from time to time (in the summer you can do this daily).

The homeland of the basil is the subtropics, therefore it cannot survive without heat and light. In order for the basil to grow, branch and bush, on our windowsill the air temperature must be at least 20 ° C (or even better 25 ° C), and the sun should shine no more than 3-4 hours a day. Basil is afraid of drafts.

In containers with adult plants, the soil is loosened every two to three days to enrich it with oxygen. If the soil for growing basil is not very fertile, the bushes need to be fertilized once a month. Universal fertilizers based on organic gummates or compost are perfect for top dressing.

After 1.5 months, you will begin to pick off the first spicy leaves from the side shoots. When trimming the greens later, keep at least three leaves on the stem - new side shoots will begin to form in their axils. When the bush has grown enough, it will be possible to pinch the top so that it grows in breadth.

Best time to grow basil in pots

Basil can, of course, be grown at home all year round, but its increased sensitivity to light and heat requires extra effort from you in the autumn-winter period.

To protect against drafts and create the optimal temperature in autumn and winter, you will probably have to wrap the pots with transparent plastic wrap.

In addition, from October to February, plants need additional illumination in the evening hours (about 3-4 hours) in order to lengthen daylight hours. On gloomy days, additional light is needed throughout the day.

For this reason, basil is usually planted in late February - early March, so that the period of intensive growth passes with increasing daylight hours. And in the summer, natural heat and light will be quite enough for a grown bush.

We wish you success and good harvests!

Basil is an indispensable spice in many dishes. And also it is used for cosmetic purposes for rinsing hair and in infusions for baths. If you decide to master the cultivation of greenery on the windowsill, you can safely start training on the basil. It grows all year round and does not require much care.

How to grow basil at home

Basil is grown from seeds, cuttings or transplanted for the winter into flowerpots young, not yet flowering plants from the garden bed.

Which basil is suitable for a window

For growing on the windowsill, choose undersized varieties that form a bush: cinnamon basil (plant up to 50 cm in height with a bright cinnamon taste), small-leaved basil (has a sweet, delicate taste), anise basil, bush basil. Pay special attention to purple basil, or regan - it is very good for Caucasian cuisine.

Photo gallery: types of basil for growing at home

Transplanting a plant from open ground

For transplanting basil, choose young bushes that have not yet tied buds.

Transplant process:

The plant is dug up along with a clod of earth.
Expanded clay or pebbles for drainage are placed at the bottom of a container chosen according to the size of the earth coma.
They put the bush in a pot, sprinkle the earth on the sides of the pot.
They check to root neck remained no more buried than it was.
Keep the plant on the windowsill sunny place at a temperature of 20–25°C.

With this method of growing, the basil will soon bloom, and you will have to use it as a cutting donor for new plants. To get as much "green" as possible and delay the moment of flowering, the bushes must be pinched and watered well.

Basil should be grown in a sunny location.

Reproduction by cuttings

Cuttings are the fastest and convenient way basil breeding. This process includes the following steps:

The soil for basil should be fertile, but light. You can take the land from the garden and add humus or soil for indoor plants. Do not forget about drainage: excess water should not stagnate, otherwise the roots will begin to rot. Keep the flowerpot in a warm, bright place. The first greens can be cut after 3 weeks. When cuttings, the basil bush will delight you for 3-4 months. Then you have to start over.

Growing aromatic herbs from seeds

If you want the plant to serve as long as possible, then choose this method. Seeds are bought at any garden store or ordered by mail. Before sowing, they should be prepared:

In order not to injure the future bush with transplants, sow the seeds immediately in a permanent pot. The optimal volume is about a liter.

To prevent diseases, before planting, calcine the earth in the oven for about an hour at a temperature of 110–120 ° C.

In addition, complex fertilizer must be applied to the soil. Seed sowing process:

Some lovers do not consider it necessary to do drainage when planting and transplanting basil, since there are holes in the flowerpot. This carelessness can cost you the loss of plants, because stagnant water is the main cause of almost all fungal diseases.

Periodically loosen the soil, regularly water and spray a young bush from a spray bottle. In summer, this should be done every day so that the earth is moist, but not wet, and in winter it is enough to water 2 times a week. Regardless of the time of year, the temperature in the room should be at least 20°C. Protect basil from drafts. As soon as the daylight hours begin to wane, you need to start highlighting your bush - the basil should have a 12-hour daylight hours.

In the autumn-winter season, the basil needs highlighting

Pinch off the top periodically to keep the basil fluffier and produce new side branches. The first real pruning can be done in 1–1.5 months. When pruning, always leave 4 lower leaves so that the plant does not stretch upwards. As soon as you notice the first buds, immediately cut off them and the two leaves that follow them, otherwise the taste of basil will begin to deteriorate.

Video: the nuances of growing basil at home

Diseases and pests of basil

Basilica threatened fungal diseases: black leg and fusarium. The black leg affects the plant when hyperacidity soil or over watering. Air does not enter the root system, and it begins to rot, the stem becomes soft, turns yellow, and then blackens. If a disease is detected, immediately remove the affected sprout, and pour a strong dark raspberry solution of potassium permanganate on the place where it sat. If the disease is still transmitted to other plants, Fitosporin or Topaz will have to be applied.

Basil sprouts affected by blackleg should be removed.

The development of fusarium contributes fever air and excess moisture. In the affected bushes, the stem gradually thins and turns brown, they become lethargic and die. At the initial stage of the disease, an infusion of onion peel will help (it is poured with water in a ratio of 1: 4 and insisted for a day). Strain the infusion and spray it on the damaged plant.

Fusarium can lead to the death of basil

The aphid sucks the juices out of the plant

As soon as you notice this pest, you need to take urgent measures to combat it. Can be used natural remedies- decoctions:

wormwood,
tansy,
hot pepper,
dandelion,
yarrow,
Luke,
garlic,
mustard,
tops of a tomato or potato.

Spray basil 2-3 times a week. If necessary, repeat the course of treatment.

Basil is unpretentious and grows well at home. In addition, the cost of growing it is negligible compared to the price in the supermarket. For seasoning, a couple of basil leaves are usually enough, and so that the rest do not deteriorate, it is recommended to dry them.

Hello! My name is Olga. I am 41. Area of interest - everything related to agriculture.

Basil of any variety and type can be grown on the windowsill. This plant has purple or green hues, small or large leaves and a pleasant smell. In order for it to be accepted at home, it must be placed in a warm and sunny place, provided with good watering, fertile soil and good drainage. In the article we will tell you how to grow basil on the windowsill, give advice on care, watering.

To grow basil on a windowsill, provide it with all necessary conditions for full growth.

If you decide to grow given plant at home, then start doing it from seeds, not from cuttings. In this case, the plant is well received and less sick, but it will take longer to wait for the harvest. You can start sowing at any time of the year. If you grow from shoots, then make every effort so that the basil takes root. The leaf is cut off from the top or middle of the stem. We put the leaf in water, and after 4-6 days it gives a root. After that, proceed to planting in the ground. Read also the article: → "Spicy herbs - we grow ourselves."

Before this procedure, take into account the following points:

Pick up suitable variety basilica;
Prepare the ground;
Soak the seeds;
Choose containers for growing plants.

The best varieties of basil to grow on the windowsill

There are hundreds of types of basil in nature, but only a few of them are used for food. For home growing, give preference to undersized and decorative varieties. Choose the best option for you, depending on the qualities of the plant.

Popular varieties include:

Clove aroma - basil with a spicy and strong aroma. Such basil is used everywhere: in conservation, in the form of seasonings for meat dish, use fresh. Plant height - 20-25 centimeters, but there is dense foliage. It is found on the balconies and window sills of the hostesses.
Thai queen - dark green leaves. In growth goes up to fifty centimeters. Grow both indoors and in the garden. Read also the article: → “How to grow spices in the country".
Osmin - plant small size, bronze color. It is dried or consumed fresh.
Marquis is a plant with small foliage and small size.
Dwarf - the lowest among the varieties of basil. Reaches a maximum of twenty centimeters in length. It has a sharp and spicy taste and rounded leaves. Colors range from green to purple.

Basil "Dwarf" - a good option, for growing on the windowsill.

Preparing soil and seeds for sowing

Soil from the garden is suitable for basil, but it should be fertilized mineral fertilizers. It should be light and fertile. Remove all roots and weeds from it. If possible, buy special land for planting ornamental crops- this is amazing.

Tip #1 Such soil does not need to be fertilized. An earthen substrate is perfect - a mixture of biohumus with coconut fiber.

If you have the time and desire to create a fertile and light soil, then pay attention to the following components.

As for seeds, they should be bought in a special store. A prerequisite is soaking the seeds in a solution of manganese before planting. You need to keep them there for 4-6 hours.

Soak the seeds in a weak manganese solution before sowing.

Container for planting basil

In order for basil to grow comfortably on your windowsill, find for it wooden box, plastic container or flower pot. Depending on the amount of planting material, the amount is also selected landing tanks. Take care of the holes through which excess moisture will escape.

The process of sowing basil

After all this, you can start sowing basil. Plant the plant in a large container, if you plant it in a small one, you will have to, then dive. Do not plant seeds deeper than two centimeters. there should be a distance of 8-10 cm between the seeds. The earth should be moist and pass through the drainage. Expanded clay, pebbles, bricks can lie at the bottom white color or shards. Keep a distance of at least fifteen centimeters between each seed.

Tip #2 After sowing, cover the containers with oilcloth until sprouts appear. This will happen within five days, at a temperature of +23 to +26 degrees.

Plant care and watering

Seedlings should be carefully looked after so that they grow and form faster. Important milestones are:

watering;
temperature maintenance;
top dressing;
pruning;
correct lighting.

The plant should be watered every day, and the best is in the morning. If the days are hot and the soil dries out quickly, then evening watering can be added. Daily watering - not recommended, due to the risk of burns. Watering is carried out only with settled and warm water. So that an earthen crust does not appear from frequent watering, loosen the soil once every seven days. Through this manipulation root system enriched with oxygen.

The temperature regime, as mentioned earlier, should be conducive to the development of the plant. With more low temperatures the plant stops growing and loses taste qualities. At higher levels, it fades, dries out and disappears. If the room air is dry, then spray the plant with water several times a day. Also put a jar of water next to it to humidify the air. Read also the article: → "How to grow onions and other herbs in an apartment."

Tip #3 Ensure the optimum allowable temperature conditions on the balcony, for good growth basilica is +22 - +26 degrees.

As for top dressing, once every two weeks, basil should be fertilized with complex mineral fertilizers. Complexes for vegetables are suitable for this plant. Complex mineral fertilizers contain:

Phosphorus;
Potassium;
Nitrogen;
Calcium.

You can use the following complexes:

Nitrophoska;
Ammophos;
Nitroammophoska;
calcium nitrate;
Diammophos;
Potassium monophosphate.

Application rates are indicated in the table.

They also use Agrolife or Rostom as top dressing. Agrolife is poured onto the top layer of soil, in the amount of one teaspoon, Growth is diluted in water in the proportions of 1 cap: 2 liters. If there is biohumus, then it is added to the soil. When transplanting, the plant is fed with the following composition: 3 g wood ash, superphosphate 3 g, ammonium nitrate 2 g. It is recommended to dilute everything in one liter of water.

Tip #4 Cut off the first basil greens in a month, this will promote the growth and strengthening of the plant. If you pinch off the top, the basil will bush.

Lighting and additional illumination of the basil

The plant loves light and warmth. If you decide to start growing basil in the autumn-winter period, then provide it with additional lighting. In winter and autumn, the days are short, and these hours are not enough for the plant to grow, so if you want to get good harvest, should make an effort. Get a special lighting fixture, lamp. Light the plant from 15 to 20 hours a day, if this is not possible, then your crop is at risk. In this case, start sowing in early March, when daylight hours increase. There should be no draft, because the basil can not stand it.

If there is not enough sunlight in winter, use additional lighting.

Harvest and use

When harvesting, pick only the tops, and the plant will not produce color and will continue to branch. If the plant blooms, then it will have to be pulled out. It remains in the case when you need to collect the seeds. Basil can be dried or used fresh. It is added to pickles and to various dishes. In a glass container, the dried plant can lie up to 5 years. It is not recommended to store in plastic and metal. If you want to keep it fresh, then use the refrigerator for this.

Choose a spacious and wide container for planting basil.

Plant your plants in large pots.

Keep an eye on watering. Avoid excessive soil moisture and dryness.
Place the plant boxes on the sunny side.
Do a splitting of the top, for the growth of the plant.
Feed your basil every two weeks to improve the quality and growth of the plant.

Answers to questions about growing basil at home

Question number 1. Does basil get sick if you grow it on a windowsill and how to prevent these diseases?

Yes, the plant is sick, both in open ground and when grown on a balcony or windowsill. It is affected by Fusarium and gray mold.

Fusarium is dangerous fungal disease that affects the plant at any age. Basil leaves turn yellow and the stem is thin. The root system is rotting. The plant dies instantly, if appropriate measures are not taken, the disease will spread further. Fusarium appears due to excessively humid air and soil. Also, the infection could already be present in the soil or seeds. To prevent disease, it is advised to treat the seeds before sowing and do not water the plant excessively. If the disease manifests itself, then the affected plant is pulled out, and the rest are treated with Fundazol.
Gray mold is a microscopic fungus that infects the plant when waterlogged. In this case, the plant withers, fades, and spots appear on the leaves, in the form of burns. For preventive purposes, monitor the ratio of moisture, light and heat. Spray the plant with special preparations. At the first signs of illness, remove damaged leaves, stems and burn them.

Question number 2. What varieties of basil, besides "Osmin", "Thai Queen", "Clove Aroma", "Marquis" and "Dwarf", are grown on the windowsill?

Popular varieties of basil:

"Anise aroma" - such a name because of the bright anise flavor. It flaunts with its branched stems and spreading crown. It grows up to 50-60 centimeters.
"Broad-leaved" - basil with large green leaves. Used fresh and dried.
'Yerevan' has purple leaves and matures quickly. Twenty days later they are already eaten.
"Lemon flavor" - thanks to its citrus aroma, it is widely used to flavor dishes, but the variety is rare.
"Basilisk" - peppery-clove smell and taste. Early maturing. Grows up to 25 cm in height.
"Philosopher" - purple foliage and clove aroma. Grows up to 30cm.
"Troll" - small purple-green foliage. Grows up to 40 cm.

Question number 3. How to care for rooted basil?

With sprouts up to 6 cm, they do not loosen, but only water the plant. Then once every four days the soil is loosened. Water once a day, but if the soil is too wet, do it less often. Remember that with an excess of moisture, diseases appear: Gray mold and Fusarium. Feed with complex mineral fertilizers every 3-4 weeks.

Question number 4. How is basil divided by ripening time?

There are early, middle, late and transitional varieties.

The early ones include: "Yerevan", "Basilisk", "Clove aroma".
To the middle - "Anise aroma", "Lemon aroma", "Marquis".
To the later ones - "Broad-leaved".

Question number 5. Why cover the basil with a film before germination?

For fast shoots, should be provided maximum warmth and light. By covering with a film, you will provide good heating for the seeds, which will sprout within 4-5 days.

For faster germination, cover the seed pots with plastic wrap.

4 Common Grower Mistakes

When growing basil on a windowsill, choose ornamental and undersized varieties. Tall people should not be preferred. They will take up a lot of space and will obscure each other. You will not be able to provide them with full-fledged conditions for growth and development on a balcony or windowsill.
Immediately plant the plant in large containers. They need enough space to grow. If this is done in small pots, then they will have to be transplanted. A transplant for a plant is a stress from which not all seedlings survive.
Do not sow seeds close to each other. In the future, they will have to be seated again or thinned out.
Do not pluck basil at the root. This should be done from the top. With such a break, the plant will not bloom, and this will improve its growth.

In the article we tell you how to grow basil at home. You will learn about preparing seeds and soil, how to plant and care for it, and what to do to make basil grow healthy, juicy, beautiful and give a good harvest on the windowsill even in winter.

How to grow basil from seeds

Basil can be grown at any time of the year at home

Growing basil on a windowsill differs little from the more familiar way of planting seeds in a garden. open ground on the homestead. If you decide to grow a plant at home, take the advice of experienced gardeners.

To successfully grow basil on a windowsill, you need to find out what optimal conditions the plant needs for growth and development.

For good growth, a warm and light-loving basil requires:

light structural soil;
scope for the development of a voluminous root system;
heat (optimal temperature +25 degrees);
a lot of sunlight;
regular watering.

Basil doesn't like:

moisture stagnation;
draft;
sudden changes in temperature;
shading.

Growing basil on a windowsill is possible both by sowing seeds and planting cuttings. Although with the first method of harvesting it will take longer to wait, and more effort will be required, but you will get a strong plant with delicate foliage and rich aroma.

Seed selection

For planting basil at home on the windowsill, you should choose small-leaved species, the height of which does not exceed 50 cm. Experienced gardeners recommend paying attention to the following varieties of basil:

marquis- medium early, height up to 25 cm, green mass in the form of a ball or pyramid, bright peppery-clove aroma;
Baskuro- dark green leaves form into a lush hat, the variety is great for planting in pots;
Dwarf- leaves of green or purple, height from 10 to 18 cm, rich spicy aroma;
Osmin– original bronze foliage, undersized variety;
Basilisk- early ripening, height up to 25 cm, spicy pepper-clove aroma;
Troll – small leaves purple-green, bush height up to 40 cm;
Philosopher- purple leaves with a strong clove aroma, height up to 30 cm;
Minette- a series of dwarf varieties no more than 30 cm high, ideal for growing in containers, small leaves create a dense mass.

Be sure to check that the expiration date indicated on the package has not expired.

Seed preparation

It is a mistake to believe that basil seeds require special preparation. From inexperience, it can be assumed that for better growth, the seeds must first be soaked. So it will be easier for them to hatch, the basil in a pot at home will grow faster. Such a procedure is really necessary for the seeds of some plant species, for example, cucumbers. However, basil is not one of them.

Never soak the seed if you want to grow basil on a windowsill in winter or in your garden in summer. After lying even for several hours in water, the seeds will be covered with mucus, this will negatively affect their growth.

Seed preparation is reduced to selection the best seeds from the packaging and screening out small, with a broken shell, blackened. To prevent fungal diseases, seeds can be treated with fungicides ("Fitosporin-M", "Vitaros", etc.).

Soil preparation

The voluminous root system determines the choice of container for growing basil at home. You can use a large flower pot (ceramic is best), a wooden box, or a special seedling container. In all cases, containers must have drainage holes. They will provide drainage of excess water after watering.

Before filling the ground, do not forget to lay a drainage 2-3 cm high on the bottom of 2-3 cm - fine expanded clay, pebbles or crushed brick.

The easiest way is to buy ready-made soil mixture, it is enriched essential trace elements for good plant growth. Choose a universal soil for seedlings - it has a structural composition.

If there is no opportunity to purchase a ready-made mixture, then it is easy to prepare it yourself. In order for basil in a pot or container to grow strong and healthy, one of the following compositions will do:

peat, earth and humus in equal proportions;
2 parts of humus and earth and 1 part of coconut fibers (you can buy special pots made of coconut fiber for seedlings, and when the plant gets stronger, transplant it into a permanent container together with the coconut pot);
1 part of humus, 2 parts of peat and earth with the addition of a tablespoon of urea, superphosphate and potassium sulfate;
2 parts earth and 1 part fresh compost.

Before using ordinary land from a personal plot, it must be subjected to heat treatment for disinfection. To do this, pour required amount soil in a metal bowl (on a baking sheet) and place in the oven for 20 minutes at maximum temperature.

It is also possible to destroy pests and disease vectors that can destroy a plant with a solution of potassium permanganate. Dissolve a few granules in a liter of boiled water and carefully spill the soil brought from the dacha.

Sowing basil seeds

For those who are learning how to grow basil on a windowsill in winter, it will be helpful to be reminded that best time for sowing seeds - March-April. If you plant a plant in early spring, then during the period of active growth and development, it will receive the maximum amount of sunlight. Nobody forbids you to grow a fragrant spice at other times of the year. You just need to remember that success will require more effort.

To successfully grow basil on a windowsill in winter, follow the following sequence when planting seeds:

thoroughly moisten the soil so that flowing water appears on the pallet;
after half an hour, make holes in the soil at a distance of 2 cm with a diameter of 1-1.5 cm and a depth of not more than 2 cm;
moisten them with a little water from a spray bottle;
carefully place one or two seeds in each (in the second case, the seeds should not lie close to each other);
sprinkle the seeds with a small amount of earth, kneading it thoroughly in your hands (any lumps with which you cover the seeds will inhibit their germination).

Cover the container with plastic wrap, creating the effect of a greenhouse, and place in a warm and dark place. The sun's rays will be required for the basil when it sprouts, but in the meantime, excessive heating will lead to the accumulation of excess condensation.

Every day for 1-2 weeks, until the first shoots appear, the film must be lifted to remove excess condensate and ventilate. If the soil is dry, spray it with room temperature filtered water from a spray bottle.

Do not water unsprouted seeds from a watering can, so as not to nail the ground and complicate the growth of basil. If the soil is moist due to condensation, it does not need to be watered additionally.

As soon as the seeds hatch and the plant appears above the ground, remove the film and place the pot or box in sunlight.

When the third leaf appears, carefully add no more than 5 centimeters of earth - this will help the shoots gain strength. Do not forget to water the seedlings daily, directing a thin stream of water at the roots, but not at the leaves. Many gardeners use a medical syringe (without a needle) for watering.

When learning how to grow basil from seed on a windowsill, don't forget to pick. The procedure consists in transplanting three-four-week-old plants to a permanent place. You can plant a few sprouts in a beautiful flower pot, or plant them at least 10 cm apart in a box. For better development of the root system during picking, use a root formation stimulator (Kornevin, Root, Zircon, etc.).

plant care

It is important to properly care for basil at home

In order for the basil bush to grow well, it is necessary to maintain optimal conditions for its growth:

lighting - at least 12 hours;
the optimum temperature is 20-25 degrees (at a lower temperature, the plant will slow down growth, and its leaves will lose their taste);
absence of drafts - make sure that from the cracks in window frames does not blow, and the air from the open window passes by the plant;
regular watering - if the container is large, then water more often, the main thing is that the water does not stagnate on the surface.

How to care for basil in winter

Dreams of growing basil on your own windowsill are easy to make a reality, because the plant is unpretentious, it grows quickly both in summer and in winter. Although in the cold season he needs special care:

It is not necessary to water the basil too often in winter - twice a week will be enough. Make sure that the soil does not dry out and at the same time does not turn into porridge.
A big problem of winter growth will be the lack of natural light. To make up for it, install phyto or LED lamps with white light at a distance of no closer than 20 cm from the plant.
Once a month, feed the plant with organic fertilizers ("Biogumus" or "Agrolife" - 1 tsp each).
Loosen the soil regularly without deepening the tines garden tool so as not to damage the root system.

For more information on how to plant basil at home, see this video:

Other ways to plant basil at home

How to grow basil at home in winter from cuttings? Choose one of the ways:

Buy potted basil from the grocery store and transplant it into a larger container at home.
Cut a few branches from a growing basil bush, carefully remove the lower leaves, put the cutting in water - in a few days the branch will take root (to speed up the process, add a root stimulant to the water). After the root system is strong, transplant the cutting into the ground.

For information on how to grow basil in a summer cottage and in a greenhouse, read the article basil - planting and care in the open field.

Basil grown at home can be planted outdoors

How to harvest properly

In order not to damage the fragile plant and force the basil growing in the apartment to form a dense mass of leaves, pinching should be done a month and a half after germination. Check that the plant already has 6 true leaves. You can pinch off two of them and try the first harvest. After another week, cut off the top of each stem with scissors, leaving small leaves growing in the axils. This procedure can be carried out once every 2 weeks.

To add to food or drinks, choose older leaves growing on the central stem from above on the bush. If you cut off only the lower leaves, then the basil will begin to stretch. Leave at least 4 leaves on the plant.

When growing basil on a windowsill from seeds or cuttings, as soon as you notice the first flowers, immediately remove them, along with two lower leaves. If this is not done, the plant will wither after a while.

Diseases to which basil is susceptible

Being resistant to most diseases, basil most often dies due to fungal infection.

Blackleg

Features of the disease:

softening and blackening of the basal part of the stem;
seedlings are more susceptible;
causes: excessive watering and insufficient soil aeration (stagnant water);
treatment and prevention: spray the plant with a solution of biological fungicides ("AlirinB", "Gamair") and water - 4 tablets per 10 liters.

Fusarium

Features of the disease:

root rot, yellowing of leaves, thinning of stems;
both young shoots and adult plants fall ill;
causes: infected seeds or soil, sudden changes in temperature and humidity;
treatment and prevention: treat the plant with biopreparations "Fitocide" or "FitosporinM".

Gray rot

Features of the disease:

brown spots and a gray coating of mold appear on the leaves and stems;
the fungus infects adult plants;
reasons: insufficient feeding, high humidity, poor ventilation;
treatment will be successful if at the initial stage the plant is sprayed with an infusion of onion peel ( onion peel pour boiling water in a ratio of 1:4 and insist for 24 hours).

To prevent fungal diseases, after you have planted basil at home, do not forget about the rules of watering, regular ventilation and loosening of the soil, and the application of mineral fertilizers.

What to remember

When learning how to grow basil on a windowsill, remember that you can do this both with seeds and cuttings.
Before planting, it is important to properly prepare the soil - pour drainage and disinfect the soil brought from the dacha using heat treatment.
Soaking basil seeds in water is not necessary, but fungicide treatment will not be superfluous.
Basil should receive at least 12 hours of sunlight per day. It grows well at a temperature of 20-25 degrees, but does not like drafts.
During irrigation, water stagnation is not allowed.
Use the upper large leaves for food so that the bush forms a uniform and lush greenery.

What is basil?

Basil is an indispensable spice used by people since ancient times. The plant is rich in essential oils, therefore, in addition to cooking, it is also used in natural cosmetics. In good conditions, it grows in greenhouses, in vegetable gardens, so you should not even doubt whether it is possible to grow basil on a windowsill.

The culture originated from India. Presumably the name of the plant goes back to the Greek basileus, which means king or king. There are two different versions regarding the origin of culture. According to one of them, the basil was found near the place where Queen Elena once discovered the True Cross. According to another version, the plant was used to treat persons of royal families.

Basil has long been used for religious rituals in Orthodoxy (in the Balkans and Greece) and Hinduism. Ayurveda appreciates culture not only for its cosmetic, but also for its medicinal properties. There are many varieties of basil. In cooking, fragrant varieties are often used. All of them differ not only in appearance, but also in smell and taste.

Which variety do you prefer?

Basil attracts not only as a culinary supplement, but also as a medicinal plant. At home, it can be used as an interior decoration. Recently, the popularity of the plant has been increasing more and more. Therefore, thinking about how to grow basil on the windowsill, you should decide which variety you prefer to see on your balcony. We have already said that the plant is unpretentious. However, it should be understood that not every variety is suitable for growing at home. The most acceptable options may be the following types: spoon-shaped, Yerevan, Baku, marquis, clove aroma. These varieties are small-leaved, and therefore easier to cultivate at home. Large-leaved, on the other hand, need a sufficiently large number of trace elements that must be applied to the ground. Only experienced gardeners can handle such care. Therefore, novice housewives should pay attention to small-leaved varieties.

When a gardener already has experience in caring for simpler species, and understands how to grow basil on a windowsill, you can move on to other varieties.

Culture methods

How to grow basil on a windowsill? There are three ways:

An adult plant can be transplanted from the ground into a pot. This is what summer residents do, who grow crops in their garden plots in the summer. Young bushes that have not yet bloomed can be transplanted together with an earthen clod into a pot. However, the growing season of the plant is short, so it will bloom soon. And then you have to cut the shoots for planting young plants.
Growing a plant from cuttings. To do this, the tops or side shoots are cut off and placed in water. This is necessary for them to take root. Next, the basil is transplanted into a pot, the first greens can be cut in two to three weeks. Such bushes can serve you for about three to four months, after which it is again necessary to renew the plant.
Growing basil from seeds is the longest way. Good greenery will not be available soon. If you need a faster result, then it is better to use the second method.

Best time to grow basil

Some housewives wrap basil pots with polyethylene in winter to protect them from drafts and increase the temperature. In addition, from October to March, in our climate, the basilica does not have enough sunlight, so the plants will have to be highlighted. This will help to increase daylight hours artificially. To simplify the care of the plant, many housewives prefer to sow the seeds in February, then the main period of active growth of the crop will fall just in time for a period with a sufficient length of daylight hours. And in the summer, basil will feel great on the window in the apartment.

How to grow basil from seeds on a windowsill?

Before you start planting, you need to prepare the ground. You can take good soil from your summer cottage, or you can purchase a ready-made substrate. A little peat can be added to the soil from the garden to facilitate it.

Care of young shoots

As soon as young sprouts appear, it is immediately necessary to rearrange the pots in a well-lit and warm place. Plants need to be watered regularly. This should be done once a day, on the hottest summer days, you can moisten the soil in the morning and evening with water at room temperature. Periodically, basil can be sprayed with water, especially useful in summer.

How to grow basil at home on a windowsill in winter?

If you decide to sow seeds in winter, then you will need more careful care in order to grow a good plant. On the one hand, the culture needs good watering, and on the other hand, excessive waterlogging can lead to diseases. Therefore, you need to be careful with water.

Given these points, the culture can be grown at home and in the winter cold.

Diseases to which the plant is susceptible

How to harvest properly?

In order to less injure the bushes, it is better not to pinch off the foliage, but to cut it with scissors. Greens are easily removed by them, and the stems are not injured.

Knowing all the intricacies of the process, growing basil at home on the windowsill is quite simple. Therefore, every hostess can try her hand.