Reasons why basil grows poorly and what to do about it

Basil is a fastidious plant, so many gardeners encounter problems growing it. This herb has a number of features that are important to consider at each stage of cultivation. Let's look at the possible reasons for poor basil growth.

Why does basil grow poorly?

Basil is a herb that has been known since ancient times and is popular all over the world.. There are many varieties of the plant, they differ in the height of the bush, the size and color of the leaves, aroma and properties.

When growing the herb, problems are often encountered because basil requires proper care. Poor quality seeds are rare; the most common reason for poor crop growth is agricultural errors.

Bad Seeds

Often gardeners growing basil from seeds. A possible reason that the seeds did not germinate is their poor quality.

Important! Do not use seeds that have expired.

If the seeds have not sprouted within 2 weeks, you can sow new ones: the previous ones were expired or stored incorrectly.

Unfavorable environmental conditions

When planting basil It is important to take into account the weather conditions in the region. The plant is not adapted to cold temperatures and lack of sunlight.

Spice Features:

1. Basil is a heat-loving plant. Even slight temperature fluctuations cause harm to it. Optimal indicators for its cultivation are from +25°C. Low values ​​cause growth problems.The maximum temperature that basil can withstand is +40°C.
2. Lack of sunlight is bad for grass growth. She requires up to 16 hours of light per day.
3. Unsuitable soil is often the cause of poor growth. The soil should be light, loose and fertile. Places where vegetables used to grow are suitable on the site.
4. Frequent rains and excessive soil moisture are detrimental to the spice.

If environmental conditions are not suitable for growing spice bushes, they are created artificially using additional lighting or growing seedlings in greenhouses.

Agrotechnical errors

In order for the spice to grow and delight you with the harvest, it is important to carry out all the planting steps correctly.

Mistakes that gardeners often make when growing basil:

1. Use of expired seeds. They won't give shoots, as well as those that were stored incorrectly.
2. Early planting in cold soil.
3. Improper care of the plant: untimely or excessive moisture, lack of heat, light and nutrients.
4. Sowing too deep. Tender sprouts will not break through the layer of soil. Seeds are planted at a depth of 0.5–1 cm.

It is important not to allow water to stagnate after watering. Excess moisture often leads to the appearance of blackleg.

Diseases and pests

Basil is resistant to various pathogens, but under unfavorable conditions it is affected by infections or insects.

The most common fungal diseases that affect spices are:

1. Blackleg. It develops in conditions of high acidity, poor soil air exchange and excessive soil moisture. The root collar of seedlings is susceptible to the disease. The vessels that feed the plant become clogged. The stem becomes soft and thin, darkens, the leaves turn yellow, and the plant dies.
2. Fusarium. Fungi release toxins into the plant’s nutritious juices, damaging its blood vessels. The stems become thin and acquire a brown tint. In adult plants, the tops gradually dry out, first they wither, then die.
3. Gray rot. Most often it affects plants in greenhouses and greenhouses. It first appears on the lower leaves, then affects the entire bush. The affected areas are covered with gray-brown dry spots, which become watery, and a gray fluff is formed.

The most dangerous pests for basil are the field bug and aphid.

Aphids suck juice from stems and leaves. The stems stop developing, the leaves curl, and the plant dries out. Insects leave sugary secretions, which become a favorable environment for the development of sooty fungus, which covers the plant with a dark coating.

Reference. Aphids carry viral diseases that cannot be treated.

The field bug feeds on basil juice. As a result of the damage, the leaves of the plant become deformed, become covered with light spots, acquire a brown tint and die. Harm is caused by both adults and larvae.

Other plants will help reduce the likelihood of pests. Basil goes well with cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, onions, zucchini, corn, beans, fennel, leaf and head lettuce. It is not recommended to plant the spice next to dill and marjoram.

Why do basil seedlings not grow?

At first, basil seedlings grow slowly. You should be wary if growth is not noticed at all.

Slow growth is often due to:

• the plant lacks heat and light;
• cold soil;
• insufficient or excessive watering;
• the soil is heavy and acidified;
• lacks nutrients.

If these reasons are eliminated, basil will delight you with lush greenery.

What to do to make basil grow well

There are few reasons for poor plant growth. It is important to correctly identify them and eliminate them before the crop is destroyed. When problems just begin, it is easier to correct them while preserving the harvest. If there are no visible reasons for poor growth, the plant needs feeding.

Eliminating the causes of poor growth

To correct the situation with poor spice growth, it is important to eliminate its causes:

1. The lack of heat and sunlight is compensated by phytolamps, extending daylight hours to 12–16 hours. For seedlings, it is important to additionally create comfortable conditions if there are not enough of them outside.
2. Only light neutral soil is suitable for spices. It is important to insulate the soil on the site, especially in the first time after planting the sprouts. To do this, plants are covered with plastic wrap.
3. Basil needs timely watering. Do not allow the soil to dry out and flood the roots. Moisten the plants only with settled warm water.

The spice is fertilized several times during growth. The first fertilizing is applied 10 days after planting in open ground. To do this, use a solution of bird droppings. The second time, the crop is fertilized after 2 weeks, for example, with a nitrophoska solution.

Attention! To get rid of pests, bushes are treated with soapy water or insecticides if the damage is significant.

Fungal diseases are difficult to treat. The black leg cannot be cured, so the bushes affected by it are immediately removed, and the soil is spilled with a saturated solution of potassium permanganate. As a preventive measure, the soil is limed, the watering regime is observed, and the plantings are ventilated in the greenhouse and greenhouse.

At the first signs of fusarium, do not immediately use chemicals.First, spray a solution of onion peels on the plants (4 parts peels to 1 part water, leave for 24 hours). The same remedy will help with gray rot, but only at the initial stage. In advanced cases, fungicides are used.

Feeding

The following is used as fertilizing:

1. Organic fertilizers: vermicompost, vermihumate, vermigrunt for seedlings or universal. They are bought in special stores. The products nourish the plants well and are harmless for their further consumption.
2. Manure or compost. As a top dressing, gardeners recommend adding urea to the water for watering basil.
3. Ash, which repels pests.
4. Mineral fertilizers. Pokon strengthens leaves, promotes root development and rapid growth; YORKEY increases stem conductivity and accelerates growth; "Soyuzkhim" protects against external harmful influences and promotes rapid development.

It is believed that the plant absorbs chemicals contained in mineral fertilizers. The result is a product that is not entirely environmentally friendly.

What to do if basil grows poorly

Although the spice is most often grown in Asian countries and the Caucasus, it can also be grown in central Russia.

They plant it in a greenhouse, open ground And at home. The main thing is to create the right conditions for the bushes, then they will grow both indoors and outdoors.

In the greenhouse

Greenhouse growing has several advantages:

• yield is better than in open ground;
• no dependence on weather conditions and the environment;
• The harvest is obtained all year round.

In a greenhouse for basil, it is important to create the right conditions:

1. The greenhouse should be ventilated and constructed of materials that retain heat well and transmit light. Seedlings in shelter should withstand even the most severe frosts.
2. When planting in spring, the top layer of soil is mixed with manure, as it retains heat.
3. The greenhouse should be located in a place that is well lit by the sun.
4. Sandy soil rich in nutrients is suitable for the plant. Before planting, prepare the soil: remove the top layer, dig it with peat and sand.
5. When planting, it is important to maintain a distance of 25–30 cm between bushes and 20–30 cm between rows.
6. The soil needs loosening and timely watering. It is important to remove weeds.

For winter growing, the greenhouse is heated. It is expensive, so in cold weather basil is often grown at home.

In the open ground

The plant is planted in open ground taking into account environmental conditions. If the region has less sun and more rainfall, it is better to think about greenhouse cultivation.

Features of cultivation in open ground:

1. The landing site should be illuminated by the sun. It is not recommended to plant basil in the shade of trees, as it requires a lot of heat and light.
2. The soil must be nutritious. Places where potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and legumes grew are suitable for this.
3. To maintain the optimal temperature, the seedlings are covered with film and left for 2 weeks after the plants are transferred to the site. It is important to monitor the air temperature during the day: if it is above +20°C, the shelter is removed for a day.
4. The bed is prepared in the fall. The soil is dug up, weeds are removed, organic matter, potash fertilizers and superphosphate granules are added.
5. It is better to water the plants in the evening, avoiding excessive moisture and drying out of the soil.

The soil is covered with sawdust or mowed grass - then it will be difficult for weeds to grow, and the soil will remain loose for a long time.

At home

When growing at home, it is important to provide the spices with good lighting, warmth (at least +25°C) and light, breathable soil.

There should be no drafts or sudden temperature changes in the room. Do not allow water to stagnate in the pot and shade the seedlings.

Important! If possible, grow basil on windowsills that are located on the south or southeast side. A loggia is suitable for growing seedlings. When ventilating the room, remove the plants to another place or cover them with plastic.

Growing container requirements:

• capacious pots or containers with holes in the bottom with a depth of 10 cm;
• drainage layer - 2-3 cm (expanded clay, pebbles, broken brick, crushed stone).

You can buy soil at the store or make it yourself. Blend options:

• garden soil + humus + peat soil (equal proportions);
• 1 part coconut substrate + 2 parts earth + 2 parts humus;
• 2 parts earth + 1 part humus.

Home-made soil is disinfected with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or “Fitosporin”. Other methods of disinfection are freezing for 1 week or roasting in the oven at +180°C for 2 hours.

To thicken the basil, be sure to pinch off the top 2 leaves (starting with 6 permanent leaves). The same is done when the plant is about to bloom. If you do not remove the top leaves and flowers, the bush will quickly wither.

Conclusion

Basil will delight you with its freshness and aroma if you follow the agricultural techniques for growing it. Sunlight, warmth and timely watering are important for the spice. The place in the dacha or in the apartment should be well lit.It is desirable to avoid drafts. To speed up growth, the plant is fed.