Step-by-step instructions for growing basil on the balcony from seeds

Basil prefers warmth. When growing a plant in the cold season, ensuring comfortable temperature conditions is mandatory. This can be done on a balcony or windowsill, following the rules for growing and caring for basil.

Is it possible to grow basil on the balcony?

Basil adapts well to balcony conditions. The main thing is to create a favorable environment - light, warmth, lighting as close as possible to ideal parameters. If you follow the recommendations and rules, basil will grow on the balcony all year round. To get a good harvest, gardeners recommend sowing new seeds several times a year so that old plants are replaced with new, young ones.

Advantages and disadvantages of this method

Cultivating basil on the balcony has several advantages:

• fresh herbs are at hand all year round;
• competent selection of “neighbors” creates a beautiful balcony design;
• no need to fight weeds like in a summer cottage.

There are also disadvantages to growing basil:

• an insulated balcony is required to maintain optimal temperature conditions;
• buying boxes for plants;
• artificial lighting must be turned on and off to create long daylight hours;
• You should not leave home for a long time to avoid freezing, stretching or withering of the basil in the absence of heat, light and watering, respectively.

Landing dates

The absence of natural negative factors (cold, short daylight hours) allows you to sow basil seeds on the balcony all year round.

Important! To grow basil all year round, the balcony must be well insulated.

Planting basil seeds in March - April will ensure quick and friendly shoots. In February, planting is carried out if the balcony is well lit.

Optimal growing conditions

Obtaining a good basil harvest depends on meeting the requirements for growing conditions:

• the growing temperature in winter is +12…+18°С;
• the optimal cultivation temperature is +22…+25°С;
• long daylight hours - 15 hours;
• from October to February, create additional sources of light and heat (halogen lamps cope well with this task);
• protect from direct sunlight to avoid burns on the leaves;
• in the autumn-winter period, insulate the pots and protect them from drafts.

Preparation of containers, soil, planting material

Gardeners recommend sowing basil in specially prepared soil: humus, coconut fibers, peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. The addition of nutrients - superphosphate or potassium sulfate - has a beneficial effect on the plant. Application rates are indicated on the packaging.

Important! Soil from the garden is suitable for planting if it is fertile, light and permeable. All that remains is to enrich it with minerals.

The container for planting is selected according to the following parameters:

• pot volume - 1.5-2 l;
• depth - from 15 cm and above;
• the ability to plant bushes at a distance of 10 cm from each other.

When choosing planting material, you do not need to stop at one variety. The optimal solution would be to land different varieties of basil.

When choosing a variety, they are guided by the size of the plant and the ripening period.Since there is usually little space on the windowsill, compact varieties are chosen. This allows you to create uniform illumination for all bushes. In addition, varieties must have different ripening periods. This will ensure a constant harvest.

The most suitable planting material:

1. "Vanilla aroma" - mid-early variety (50-60 days) with dark purple leaves.
2. "Basilisk". Early ripening (46-50 days). Compact bush 18-20 cm high.
3. "Marquis". Ripening period - 65 days. The leaves are green with a clove-pepper scent.
4. "Dwarf". A bush 15-20 cm high in the shape of a ball with small spicy leaves.

Growing methods

There are three ways to grow basil on the balcony:

1. Transfer from the garden of a young bush.
2. Cuttings.
3. Seeds.

When grown using the first method, the harvest will be short-lived, since the plant will devote part of its energy to growth in the garden.

Harvesting by cuttings takes 2-4 weeks. During this time, the cuttings should take root and gain green mass.

Sowing seeds will ensure harvesting for a long time, compared to the previous two methods. The yield of the harvest will occur almost a year after the start of ripening.

Growing step by step

For home use, growing plants from seeds is popular. Optimal landing time - March, April.

How to plant seeds

Procedure for planting basil from seeds:

1. Soak the seeds in water or a growth-stimulating solution, such as Epine, for 7-10 hours.
2. Dry the planting material on a cloth.
3. Plant in prepared, moist soil. The seeding depth is 1 cm at a distance of 6-8 cm from each other.
4. Pour warm water and cover the crops with film.
5. Place the container with the seeds in a dark place.
6. Maintain the optimal temperature for seed germination +23…+28°C.
7. After the first shoots appear, remove the film. The time from planting to the appearance of sprouts is 7-15 days.

Further care

After the first shoots appear you need to ensure proper care of plants:

• maintaining temperature +22…+25°С;
• choose southern windows for growing or provide additional lighting;
• daily watering with warm, settled water, optimally in the morning;
• loosen the soil every 3-4 days;
• do not allow the bush to grow upward, pinch the top after 3-4 pairs of true leaves appear.

Protection from diseases and pests

Despite its resistance to adverse factors, basil is susceptible to diseases:

1. Fusarium. Characteristic are yellow and brown thinned leaves. The root system is affected.
2. Blackleg. A fungal infection appears on thin stems. The stems turn black and fall off.
3. Gray rot. Affected leaves become covered with gray-brown spots. Subsequently, white fluff appears.

At an advanced stage of the disease, there is no point in saving plants. If there are healthy cuttings, it is better to grow a new bush. To do this, separate healthy shoots from the diseased bush. Soak in any fungicidal solution (Bravo, Acrobat, Quadris, etc.). Plant in calcined sand. It is good to use root system stimulants “Kornevin” and “Zircon”.

Preventive measures against diseases and pests:

• before planting, disinfect seeds, pots, and soil with a pink solution of potassium permanganate;
• pour drainage onto the bottom of the container;
• spray with filtered infusion of ash (20-30 g per 1 liter of hot water);
• thin out frequent shoots;
• moderation of watering;
• provide the roots with air by loosening the soil;
• access to fresh air, periodic ventilation of the room;
• apply fertilizers.

Collection, storage and use of crops

The first harvest can be harvested when the basil is 15 cm high. The central stem at this height has completed its formation and the leaves are ready for cutting. This approach will not harm the further growth of the plant. It is not recommended to break off leaves so as not to harm the bush.

Reference. Use scissors to cut off the upper side leaves without damaging the stem.

Fresh basil greens are used for food. It is good for pizza, salads, soups. Gives fish and meat dishes a rich, rich taste. When canning and pickling vegetables, basil is used as a spice in combination with marjoram, tarragon, rosemary and other herbs.

You can preserve the aroma of fresh leaves according to the following scheme:

• place the cut stems in a container in a bouquet;
• fill the stems with water;
• exclude exposure to sunlight;
• store on the table and in the refrigerator;
• shelf life — 10-15 days.

If you cover the top of the bouquet with a plastic bag, the shelf life will be three weeks.

Useful tips

Small subtleties will help you achieve a good result:

1. The key to a good harvest is a drainage layer. Small pebbles, expanded clay, and broken bricks are suitable for this.
2. Before planting, it is convenient to moisten the soil by sprinkling using a spray bottle.
3. There is a separate pot for each bush. This will allow you to get a bountiful harvest.
4. On northern windows, a biolamp (phytolamp) will save you from the lack of light.

Conclusion

Growing basil will be successful if you maintain a long daylight hours of 15 hours, maintain a temperature of +22...+28°C, and moderate watering. Sowing seeds will provide a harvest throughout the year, and cut stems can be stored fresh for up to three weeks.