Basil - Notes on planting, care and use

Basil refines various dishes and also has a healing effect. Here's how to properly plant and care for this universal herb.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of the most popular kitchen herbs. The small, aromatic leaves are indispensable in Mediterranean cuisine. For many, the spicy herb is the epitome of a southern vacation.

How the warmth-loving plant can also be successfully cultivated in our latitudes and which valuable ingredients are in the taste-intensive culinary herb can be found out below.

Herbology

Basil is one of the lamiaceae and is also called basil. The plants release intense aromas that attract insects. The content of essential oils is particularly high because the active ingredients are found throughout the shoot.

The basil plant genus includes around 30 species, which are native to warm to tropical regions around the world. In the following we discuss the annual basil, which is widespread in our latitudes and is often sold in herb pots in supermarkets.

Ingredients

Immediately before and during the flowering period, the content of valuable ingredients is highest.

The following ingredients give the plant flavor and aroma:

• Linalol
• Methylchavicol
• Eugenol
• tannins
• Flavonoids
• Caffeic Acid

Basil gives off a fresh smell. The taste is strong and spicy and reminiscent of tarragon, thyme or cloves.

Origin

The origin of the plant is to be found in India. Basil was sacred to the Indians and has been cultivated there for about 1,000 years. Basil was already known in the Mediterranean region in ancient times. In ancient Rome, the plant was considered a synonym for hate. The Romans believed the leaves would turn into scorpions. In contrast, German popular belief values basil as a transmitter of sympathy.

Today, basil is grown in both the tropics and temperate climates. The leading growing areas are in Italy and France. Outdoor cultivation is in Germanygenerally difficult. Yields are of little concern to commercial growers. Plants from the Netherlands are often offered on the German market. These come from greenhouse cultivation.

Basil in the kitchen

Basil can be used fresh or dried. Dried basil largely retains its flavor and has a long shelf life. Chopped cabbage will keep for several days in the refrigerator and wrapped in foil. Even when frozen, the aromas are largely retained. Leaves and shoots can be used. The herb is cleaned and chopped up and keeps in the freezer for several months.

Basil is used in both cold and warm dishes. Tomato dishes are most often refined with basil. Tomatoes with mozzarella or tomato soup are the most well-known dishes that cannot do without a touch of basil. Meat dishes or fish can also be seasoned with basil.

The spice is used sparingly and, if possible, only added to the food at the end of the cooking time. An exception is greasy dishes. These are easier to digest if you cook basil with them.

Basil in Medicine

Basil owes its he alth importance to its high content of essential oils. The healing and protective properties of the flavonoids it contains also play a role. Basil has a general strengthening, antispasmodic, calming and appetite-stimulating effect.

In natural medicine, basil is recommended for:

• Indigestion
• Fever
• migraine
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Biliary disorders

Decoctions can be used as a gargle for mouth and throat infections. When used externally, the herb can help soothe insect bites.

Warning: Anyone who is allergic to mint plants such as peppermint, marjoram or thyme must expect cross-reactions when eating basil.

Some pretty strains

Various varieties have been bred from basil. These differ in the shape of the foliage as in the aroma.

Type	Special feature
Mammoth	• strong, compact growth • large leaves
Chianti	• particularly aromatic • red leaves
Lemon Basil	• strong taste • typical lemon aroma
African Blue	• robust • ideal for outdoor cultivation • leaveshave red cores
Aristotle	• classic foliage color • aroma reminiscent of cloves
Wild Purple	• robust • ideal for outdoor cultivation • purple leaves
Italian Star	• large leaves • intense aroma

Planting basil

Find the right location

Basil needs a warm and sunny spot. Plants will not thrive in the shade as they are sensitive to a damp and cool environment. Cultivation is possible in the plant pot as well as outdoors.

Tip: If the ambient temperature falls below twelve degrees, growth problems are the result and growth often even stops completely.

Given the right climatic conditions, outdoor cultivation is preferable to keeping on the windowsill.

Coming soon:

• • light
  • warm
  • sunny
  • protected

Selecting the ideal substrate

Choose loose, well-drained soil. The soil of the plants offered in the herb pot should be replaced after purchase if possible, because it is often of inferior quality.

Basil needs sufficient nutrients and is sensitive to waterlogging. In a heavy and moist soil, the plants are easily attacked by disease and wither.

It makes sense to use special herbal soil. The substrate is more permeable and ensures better drainage. However, hardly any nutrients are included. Therefore, herb soil should be enriched with fertilizer before use.

Coming soon:

• • loose
  • permeable
  • humus rich
  • nutrient rich
  • heats up quickly

Planting Instructions

A distinction needs to be made here as to whether basil should be cultivated outdoors or in plant pots.

Annual basil can be sown directly outdoors after the ice saints, from mid-May. Preculture in the cold frame is possible from mid-April. When sowing, make sure to keep an appropriate planting distance. For this purpose, the young plants are pricked out after germination. Planting too close together can lead to fungal attack in humid climates and destroy the plants.

Basil can also be sown directly into planters. This is already possible if the danger of frost has not yet been completely averted, because thePlant pots can be brought into the house when there is a risk of night frost.

SOS for potted basil

If basil is bought in a plant pot in the supermarket and placed on the windowsill, plant lovers often experience a nasty surprise. The herb wilts, loses its leaves, and is a sad sight.

The plants were grown in the greenhouse and mostly suffered irreparable damage during transport. This is especially the case in winter. Another problem is that the stalks in the plant pot are usually much too close together and inhibit each other's growth and deprive them of nutrients.

The following measures can ensure the survival of potted basil:

1. Unpot the plant
2. Divide the plant into four equal parts
3. Remove the old substrate
4. Prepare a suitable substrate
5. Prepare four planters6. Repot plants
7. Water plants
8. Fertilize plants
9. Cut off shoot tips to encourage branching

An overview of the most important planting tips

Activity	Explanation
Select Location	• bright • sunny • warm • sheltered
Select substrate	• loose • permeable • nutrient-rich
planting	• Sow outdoors from mid-May • Preculture from April in a planter • Observe planting distance

Caring for basil

Water the basil correctly

Pouring requires a bit of finesse. Basil doesn't like to get its feet wet. Too much moisture in the root area can damage the plants. There is a risk of fungal attack. The fungus means that the plant can no longer absorb water. With this, basil withers despite moist soil. The gardener calls this damping-off. The plants visually give the impression of a lack of water, so more water is poured. The basil is dying and cannot be saved.

Provide moderate but regular watering. Before watering, it is advisable to feel with your finger whether the soil feels damp or has already dried out. Depending on the weather, the watering behavior must be adjusted. Plants need less water when the weather is damp and more moisture when the weather is sunny.

Tip: If basil is planted in a larger planter, the substrate dries out less quickly and accordingly less watering is required.

Coming soon:

• • water regularly
  • only water when the substrate is dry
  • Soil must not dry out completely
  • Avoid waterlogging
  • Leaves must not come into contact with moisture

Fertilize basil correctly

When fertilizing, it is important to consider the requirements of the spice plant. Basil is counted among the heavy consumers and differs from chives, thyme, parsley and other conventional herbs. Normal herb fertilizers are therefore not suitable.

Tip: Basil has a high nutrient requirement and needs a sufficient amount of nitrogen, for example.

For fertilization, a distinction must be made between outdoor and potted plants:

➛ Outdoor plant:

• Nutrient requirements slightly lower than in the planter
• regular fertilization necessary
• Apply compost or horn shavings between May and September
• occasional cattle manure or coffee grounds

➛ Potted plant:

• high nutritional needs
• organic liquid fertilizer once a week
• Coffee grounds every four weeks

Although there is a high nutrient requirement, fertilization should not be overdone. Blue grain, for example, is unsuitable. The fertilizer contains more potassium than nitrogen and there is a risk of over-fertilization.

Coffee grounds have proven themselves as a natural fertilizer and are placed directly on the substrate. In this way, basil can be sustainably supplied with nitrogen. Furthermore, coffee grounds serve as a natural and environmentally friendly defense against snails in the herb bed.

Propagating basil

The following options are given for the propagation of basil:

• Sowing
• Cuttings

Propagation by seed - step by step

1. Prepare the seed pot
2. Mix the seed soil with one third of the sand
3. Place up to ten seeds in a plant container
4. Do not cover the seeds with soil5. Press the substrate gently
6. Cover the planter with foil or glass
7. Set up the planter in a bright place
8. Avoid direct sunlight
9. Temperatures between 20 and 25 Degree
10. Moisten seeds slightly

Germination takes place after just a few days. The cover of the planter must be aired regularly so that no mold can develop inside. If the cotyledons touch the cover, it should be removed. If the plants have formed several cotyledons, they can be repotted in individual plantersbecome.

Propagation by cuttings - step by step

1. Cut cutting
2. Remove lower leaves
3. Leave one or two pairs of leaves on cutting
4. Place cutting in a glass of water
5. Wait for roots to develop6. Plant cutting

Stems about ten centimeters long are suitable for cuttings. To prevent mold from forming, the lower pairs of leaves should be removed. After about two weeks, the cuttings begin to root in the water glass. Once sufficient roots have developed, the cutting can be placed in a planter.

Tip: Use a larger planter and do not use more than ten cuttings.

Recognize and combat pests and diseases on basil

Basil is often affected by fungal diseases. Humidity and moisture create the ideal environment for fungal infestation. If a fungal disease is detected in time, the affected parts of the plant can be removed. By adapting the watering behavior, the herb can still be saved under certain circumstances. Fungicides cannot be used for control as the plant is intended for consumption.

In the wild, basil is often soughtimge by snails. The plants should be checked regularly. Snails can be collected when darkness falls or driven away with special biological preparations.

An overview of other possible diseases:

• Damping-off
  ➛ Infestation with soil fungi causes root death.
• alfalfa mosaic virus
  ➛ Disease is mostly transmitted by aphids. Yellowing mosaics form on the leaves.
• Leaf spot disease
  ➛ This is a fungal infestation that is favored by cool and damp weather. This causes the leaves to turn yellowish to reddish brown.
• Fusarium wilt
  ➛ In this disease, the leaves wilt while the roots are intact. It cannot be controlled, so you must discard affected plants.

Overwinter basil

The life cycle of the annual basil described here ends with the formation of the seeds. Cultivation over the winter is not possible. Perennial species cannot be brought over the winter outdoors because they need warmth all the time. A year-round culture in closed rooms is possible. A bright, warm location should be chosen. Irrigation requires a lot of finesse.

Cut and harvest basil

Basil should be cut regularly to prevent flowers from forming. After the flowering period, the plants lose a large part of their aroma. The cut shoot tips are used for consumption.

A regular cut ensures a compact and dense growth. Only the upper shoots are shortened. New shoots develop from the lower pair of leaves.