Basil is a plant that should not be missing in any home, because with it we can prepare a thousand recipes, all of them really very good and tasty.
The plant is ideal for flavoring any dish, from the simplest to the most complicated, which is why it’s found on every windowsill in homes around the world.
To keep basil healthy, you just need to take a few precautions, nothing special or particularly demanding.
What to pay attention to to ensure a long life for basil
The aromatic plant has an intense scent that changes the flavor of a caprese, regardless of the salad, bruschetta, or pizza with sauce. It’s convenient to have a plant on hand, from which you can pluck a leaf whenever necessary, but if you want to keep it alive in excellent condition, it’s best to be careful because it tends to dry out easily.
The first thing you should pay attention to is sunlight , then you must keep parasites as far away as possible, it requires frequent watering, once you pay attention to all this you move on to reproduction which allows you to have many seedlings without spending a single cent.
How to propagate basil plants
Propagating the seedling is very easy, either by cuttings or by seed. The cutting method is very simple: cut the lateral stems, leaving the branch at least 10 cm long. Then, remove the lower leaves, submerge them in the soil, place the branch in a glass of water, and leave it in a warm, bright place , away from direct sunlight.
After a few days, the cutting develops roots and grows slowly. The water should be changed daily to prevent bacteria buildup. This helps the rooting process begin, and can also be accelerated by using a commercial rooting agent. When the roots become long and thick, you can remove the branch from the water and plant it directly in a pot or in the garden soil.
In both cases, during the first few days, you should do everything possible to protect the plant because, being fragile, it requires care. The roots must be firmly planted in the soil to be secure. After a few weeks, many other basil plants will have grown from that plant, so you can use them in cooking in any way and at any time.
What does basil need to grow well?
Basil requires a lot of light ; it really needs it to grow well. But be careful where you place it in different seasons. For example, in summer the plant grows effortlessly both in the garden and on the balcony, avoiding direct sunlight, which can even kill it. It’s then obviously essential to keep it moist and water it as often as necessary. We must avoid allowing water to stagnate, as stagnation can be lethal.
However, in winter, it must be moved indoors because the temperature here remains between 20 and 25 degrees. Obviously, just as in summer, it needs sun and light, so it’s recommended to keep it on a windowsill, avoiding cold or hot drafts. The soil must always be kept moist, as this is the only way for the plant to germinate.
During the winter , to give basil the proper nutrition, it’s advisable to fertilize the plant. To keep it lush, you must pay attention to how you harvest the leaves . Plants should be cut into whole branches, at the tips, and not just the leaves, as is customary. This method is dangerous because it delays flowering and wastes significant energy.