Easily and simply pick basil according to step-by-step instructions

The basil harvest depends on the quality of care and environmental conditions. The initial stages of plant development are among the most important. Correctly carried out picking allows you to save seedlings and select the strongest and healthiest among them for planting in the ground. How to dive, whether it is necessary and whether it is possible to bury basil, you will learn from the article.

Why pick basil?

Picking is transplanting plants from a common box with densely sown seedlings into separate trays.

Important! Picking is carried out after the appearance of two true leaves.

You need to pick basil to:

• pinch the main root - this promotes the development of lateral and adventitious roots;
• prevent seedling diseases - changing the soil reduces this likelihood;
• slow down the stretching of plant stems;
• select strong, resilient seedlings;
• harden off plants before landing into open ground.

When to pick basil after germination

Dive basil 20 days after germination with a plant height of 8 cm and the presence of 2-3 leaves.

According to the lunar calendar, every day has its own strength and energy. For a good harvest in 2021, it is recommended to pick basil in certain numbers:

• in May - 18-20;
• in June - 15-16.

When to plant seedlings in 2022:

• in March - 3, 6-8, 10-13, 15-17, 21-23, 25-26, 29-30;
• in April - 3-9, 12-16, 18, 20-22, 26-27;
• in May - 1-6, 10-15, 17, 19, 23-24, 27, 31;
• in June - 1-3, 6-14, 16, 19-20, 24-30.

Preparing the soil and container

When picking basil, a special soil is used: humus, peat and sand are mixed in proportions 2:4:1. You can take equal parts of peat, humus and soil from the garden.

Important! Steam the prepared soil in a water bath or heat in the oven for 1 hour. This destroys weed seeds and harmful bacteria.

When transplanting, use ceramic pots or 0.5 liter plastic glasses. A drainage layer is placed at the bottom of the containers so that moisture does not stagnate when watering the transplanted plants.

Correct selection of basil

Before picking, the seedlings are watered generously with water. The roots are treated with a solution of “Fitosporin” to protect against fungal diseases. Basil is planted under a peg, finger or plank. The distance between the holes is 10x10 cm.

Picking under a peg

Work order:

1. Make a hole in the ground with a peg.
2. In a common box, a peg is used to make a hole next to the seedling.
3. Tilting the peg, pry up the seedling along with the soil.
4. Pinch the root by 1/3 and transfer the plant to the prepared hole.
5. Bury the plant in the soil until the first leaves.
6. Straighten the roots and fill the hole with soil.
7. Lightly compact the soil near the main stem.

The plant cannot be held by the stem, only by the cotyledon leaves.

Finger pick

Finger picking differs in that the index finger is used instead of a peg. The holes are made along its length. Picking goes faster.

Picking under the bar

This method allows you to transplant 20 seedlings at the same time. A furrow is made in the ground, which is watered abundantly. Plants with already pinched roots are placed in the furrow at a distance of 10 cm from each other. They are covered with earth using a wooden plank. The distance between the furrows is 10-12 cm.

Common mistakes

When picking basil seedlings, mistakes are often made:

1. Improper root shortening. Leads to inhibition of seedling development.
2. Premature transplant. If the main leaves have not yet formed, this will increase the development time of the plant.
3. Late transplant. If the roots are mixed up in a common box, they are damaged and the seedlings lag behind in development.

Pulling of seedlings: causes and methods of regulation

Basil is an unpretentious plant, but sometimes the sprouts stretch out, the seedlings wither and fall.

There may be several reasons:

• insufficient lighting when sowing seeds in winter;
• high temperature in the room, while the root system develops weaker, and the above-ground part develops stronger;
• excessive watering provokes rotting of the roots;
• sowing density - small sprouts strive for light and vigorously stretch upward;
• irregular fertilizing - nitrogen fertilizers accelerate the growth of greenery, which leads to overgrowth.

To prevent seedlings from overgrowing, you must:

1. Place the seedlings in a cool place. This will slow down the growth of the aboveground part.
2. Make a pick in a certain way: bury the stem up to the cotyledon leaves, while laying it in a spiral in the hole.
3. Add soil to the boxes with seedlings.
4. Use chemicals to enhance root growth.
5. Remove cotyledon leaves on seedlings. This will strengthen the root system and slow down growth in height.

Care after picking

When the picking is finished, the plants are watered with warm water.. You can add a growth regulator to it: “Zircon”, “Epin” or “Kornevin”.

Within 5-7 days after transplantation, the seedlings adapt and get used to the new environment. At this time, the sun should not hit the plants.It is necessary to ensure daily watering in moderation.

To stimulate growth, seedlings are fed. First time - 14 days after landings in the ground special solution: 2 tbsp. l. nitrophoska per 12 liters of water. Then - once a month.

After 1.5 months, when the plants have 4-6 true leaves, pinch off 2 leaves from the tops.

Important! When flowering, it is necessary to cut off the bud and 2 leaves under it so that the greenery does not spoil.

At one place basil is grown 2-3 years, again - after 5 years. After it, carrots, zucchini, tomatoes, legumes and potatoes are planted.

Conclusion

Picking promotes the development of a system of lateral and adventitious roots, hardens plants before transplanting into open ground. Proper implementation of the procedure increases the yield of basil.