Lemon basil: description, cultivation, application

Lemon basil is a hybrid of sweet and American basil, bred by breeders specifically for use in cooking. In this article we will tell you in detail about the most popular recipes using this spice, the beneficial properties of lemon basil and the features of growing it at home.

Description of Lemon Basil

Lemon basil is an annual spicy plant of the Lamiaceae family with a straight branched stem reaching a height of 30-40 cm, and a moderately developed, compact root system, which is represented by a single thin white root with multiple branches.

The leaves are small, light green, oblong-oval in shape with sharp tips and jagged edges, covered with short hairs and characterized by a pronounced lemon flavor and aroma, in which notes of lemon balm and camphor are felt.

During flowering, which lasts 14-45 days, two-lipped white or pale yellow flowers appear in the axils of the apical leaves. After this, a fruit is formed on the plant, consisting of 4 nuts with small brown-brown seeds.

Seeds remain viable for 4-5 years. The yield of lemon basil is 200-300 g of leaf mass per bush.

Useful properties and contraindications

100 g of lemon basil contains:

• water – 91 g;
• carbohydrates – 4 g;
• proteins – 3.7 g;
• fats – 0.3 g;
• unsaturated fatty acids – 0.04 g;
• dietary fiber – 0.6 g;
• sodium – 4 mg;
• potassium – 278 mg;
• calcium – 16 mg;
• phosphorus – 54 mg;
• manganese – 0.89 mg;
• iron – 3.4 mg;
• selenium – 0.3 mg;
• copper – 237 mcg;
• vitamin B1 – 0.03 mg;
• vitamin B2 – 0.076 mg;
• vitamin B9 – 76 mcg;
• vitamin C – 17 mg;
• vitamin E – 0.7 mg;
• vitamin K – 414 mcg;
• vitamin PP – 0.9 mg;
• vitamin A – 265 mcg;
• vitamin B5 – 0.3 mg.

Basil with lemon aroma is useful for colds and flu, helps normalize the functioning of the cardiovascular system, stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and speeds up metabolism, has a tonic effect, reduces cholesterol levels in the blood, and strengthens the immune system.

The plant is able to relieve muscle spasms, remove toxins, and strengthen cartilage tissue. Consuming lemon basil stimulates collagen production, which has a beneficial effect on skin elasticity and firmness.

Important! The main disadvantage of basil is its ability to accumulate mercury.

Except in cases of individual intolerance, basil should not be used if:

• hypotension;
• blood clotting disorders;
• diabetes mellitus;
• cardiovascular diseases;
• fever.

Uses of Lemon Basil

Lemon basil is used fresh, dried and canned. It gives dishes an unusual aroma and enhances the taste of the products.

Thanks to their lemon aroma, basil leaves are used to create perfume compositions and as a flavoring agent for wines and liqueurs.

The plant is used in cosmetology, making face masks based on it, which eliminate redness and irritation, help normalize the functioning of the sebaceous glands, and help fight acne and blackheads.

Read also:

Fine-flowered basil - uses and beneficial properties

Is it necessary to soak basil seeds before planting and how to do it correctly

How many days after sowing does basil sprout and what should the sprouts look like?

Lemon Basil Recipes

Lemon basil is popular in cooking. Most often it is added to salads, tea, sauces and tonic drinks.

Salad

Using finely chopped lemon basil leaves, you can add a new flavor to the famous Caesar salad.

Ingredients:

• French baguette – 1 pc.;
• olive oil – 0.5 tbsp;
• garlic – 1 clove;
• chicken egg – 1 pc.;
• lemon juice – 2 tbsp. l.;
• anchovy paste – 1 tbsp. l.;
• basil leaves - 1 tbsp.;
• parsley – 35 g;
• romaine lettuce – 450 g;
• Parmesan cheese – 120 g.

Pieces of baguette are sprinkled with salt and pepper, sprinkled with olive oil and baked in the oven for 12-15 minutes. at a temperature of 190°C. In a blender, mix chopped garlic, egg, lemon juice, anchovy paste and black pepper to taste. Add olive oil and finely chopped herbs. In a bowl, mix lettuce leaves with dressing and cheese, garnish with croutons.

Fresh lemon basil leaves are combined with arugula, parsley, rosemary, tarragon and coriander, making these herbs often the base for vegetarian salads.

Thanks to basil, salads based on tomatoes, cabbage, cucumbers and legumes acquire an unusual taste.

Basil is used to make salad dressing. To do this, clean and dry leaves are poured with vinegar and placed in a dark place for 14 days. After this, the greens are taken out, finely chopped and poured into a container with olive oil.

Sauce

One of the most famous and popular pesto sauces consists of only 2 ingredients - fresh basil minced through a meat grinder and extra virgin olive oil. In the original recipe, a fragrant variety is used to prepare the sauce, but with the help of lemon you can diversify the usual taste.

The so-called red pesto has a more complex recipe.In addition to basil and olive oil, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic and nuts, such as pine, are added to it. If desired, you can also add cheese, lemon juice and black pepper.

Tea

The easiest way to use basil is add its leaves to tea or make a decoction of them. In the first case, brew black or green tea and after 5 minutes. add a few basil leaves.

A spice-based decoction allows you to get maximum benefits. To do this, pour 50 g of basil into 1 liter of boiling water and leave for 10-15 minutes.

Seeds for drinks

Delicious refreshing drinks are prepared from basil seeds. One of the popular recipes:

• French rose buds – 3 pcs.;
• stevia leaves – 2 pcs.;
• lemon – 0.5 pcs.;
• basil seeds – 1 tbsp. l.

Stevia leaves and rose buds are poured into 0.5 liters of hot water and removed to cool. The resulting infusion is poured over basil seeds and lemon juice is added.

To prepare pinole from basil seeds you will need:

• honey – 25 ml;
• lime – 1 pc.;
• water – 225 ml;
• mint – 15 g;
• basil seeds – 40 g.

The seeds are soaked in 125 ml of water for 5-6 hours. Mint leaves are poured into 100 ml of hot water, honey is added to the same container and after the water has cooled, lime juice is added. The drink is ready immediately after mixing the two liquids.

Lemon Basil Varieties

There are several varieties of lemon basil. The most popular varieties are Limonchik, Limoncello, Lemon Miracle, Lemon Aroma and Lemon Slices.

lemon

Vegetable basil Lemon is an early ripening variety with a ripening period of 45 days. This is a medium-sized plant weighing 450-530 g with green elliptical leaves. The yield of greens when growing Lemon at home is 2.1-2.7 kg/m².

Limoncello

A medium-ripening variety - greens are harvested 40-42 days after emergence. The plant reaches a height of 30-40 cm, weighs 120-145 g, and has green, ovate leaves of medium size.

Lemon miracle

An early ripening variety with a ripening period of 45-53 days. The plant is 22-26 cm high and weighs 300-350 g, yield is 2.3-2.5 kg/m².

Lemon flavor

Between the appearance of full shoots and harvesting of leaves, 55-60 days pass. The plant is a densely leafy bush 40 cm high with large, rich green leaves. Productivity – 1.6-2 kg/m².

Lemon wedges

Mid-season variety - from the emergence of seedlings to the beginning of economic suitability, 46-51 days pass. A plant weighing 200-220 g with a semi-raised leaf rosette. The leaves are green, ovate, with a slightly bubbly surface and a slightly wavy edge. Productivity – 0.9-1 kg/m².

Growing Lemon Basil from Seeds at Home

Lemon basil is grown not only in open and closed ground seedlings or using the seedless method, but also at home.

Preparing the container and soil

The most suitable containers for sowing basil seeds are special peat tablets or pots. It is also acceptable to use plastic flowerpots or boxes with drainage holes.

To grow spices, use ready-made soil, which is purchased in a specialized store, or a self-prepared substrate from humus, peat and sand. In this case, before use, the soil mixture is watered with a solution of potassium permanganate or calcined in the oven for disinfection.

Place and conditions for growth

Basil is a light-loving crop. It should grow in a place where daylight hours last at least 3-4, ideally 7 hours.

Optimal temperatures are +25…+28°C during the day and +20…+22°C at night.

Reference. At an air temperature of +12°C, the growth and development of the plant stops.

Planting seeds

Seeds are sown from late February to early April. Before sowing, they are soaked for 2-3 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate.

Algorithm of actions:

1. Pour the nutrient soil mixture into the prepared container.
2. Water it with water with added mineral fertilizers.
3. Place seeds on the surface every 5-6 cm, deepening them by 0.5-1 cm.
4. Lightly compact the substrate.
5. Cover the container with glass or plastic film to create a greenhouse effect and maintain optimal levels of humidity and temperature.

Seedling care

The film or glass is removed daily for 2-3 hours to ensure access of oxygen to the plantings and to carry out watering. The soil is moistened moderately, focusing on its condition - it should not dry out or be swampy. After watering, the soil is carefully loosened.

The first shoots appear 7-10 days after sowing the seeds. When they reach 5 cm in height and form 2 leaves, a pick is carried out: the young plants are transplanted into a larger container filled with the same soil mixture with the addition of wood ash and complex mineral fertilizers, and buried 1 cm.

When the seedlings get stronger and form 6-8 leaves, pinch the tops of the plants - this helps the bush grow not only in height, but also in width.

Caring for mature lemon basil

Caring for lemon basil involves following standard agrotechnical requirements: watering, weeding, fertilizing, loosening the soil and protecting plants from diseases and pests.

Watering

Watering is carried out as needed, on average every 2 days.The main thing is not to allow the soil to become waterlogged or its top layer to dry out. For irrigation, use settled water heated to +28…+30°C.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing is applied twice during the growth period - at the emergence of seedlings and at the beginning of flowering. Use potassium-phosphorus fertilizers (superphosphate - 20 g per 10 liters of water), wood ash or compost.

Weeding and loosening

After each watering, loosen the soil to eliminate the possibility of acidification and improve access of oxygen, moisture and nutrients to plant roots.

If weeds appear, weeding is carried out. In open ground, the procedure is required on average every 5 days.

Reference. To make basil branch better, fresh flower stalks are carefully broken off.

Prevention of diseases and pests

Among the diseases and pests that pose a danger to lemon basil are:

• fusarium;
• gray rot;
• blackleg;
• aphid;
• field bug

Insects suck the juice from the leaves and shoots, and in case of disease, the roots and leaves of the plants rot and gradually dry out.

To prevent diseases and pest attacks, they follow the rules of crop rotation and regularly carry out weeding and loosening. When the first signs of disease appear, plants are treated with onion peel infusion or fungicides “Abiga-Pik”, “Baktofit”, “Vectra”, “Gamair”, “Quadris”, “Mikosan”, “Oksikhom”, “Planriz”, “Raek”, “Strobi”, “Trichodermin”, “Fitolavin”, “Chorus”.

Conclusion

Lemon basil is a unique plant with a rich chemical composition, which is used not only in cooking, but also in cosmetology. This basil does not have any special requirements for cultivation and care, so even novice gardeners can get a rich harvest of greenery.