Basil is an herbaceous plant also known as the Basil. It can be used both medicinally and as a dish. It is also a rare spice used in cooking. It is often used to enhance the flavor of braised products in my country. How to grow basil, which has a strong, pungent and fragrant smell? Let’s learn about it together ~ How to grow basil:

Basil is very sensitive to cold and grows best in hot and dry environments. Basil likes a warm and humid growing environment, is heat-tolerant but not cold-tolerant, drought-tolerant, not waterlogging-tolerant, and is not strict with the soil. To obtain high yield and quality products, it is advisable to choose fertile and well-drained soil for planting.

1. Site selection

Basil is a deep-rooted plant, and its roots can penetrate 50 to 100 centimeters into the soil. Therefore, it is best to choose fertile and loose sandy loam with good drainage. Before planting, apply sufficient base fertilizer, level and rake finely, and make a flat or high border of about 130 cm.

2. Seedling cultivation

Due to the short frost-free period, open field cultivation and production require seed cultivation in a greenhouse or greenhouse. If you only eat the young stems and leaves, you can grow seedlings or conduct direct seeding. The seedling period is usually sown in mid-to-late April.

Put the seeds into a gauze bag, shake off the water vigorously, cover it with a wet towel or gauze, keep it warm and moisturized, and place it at a temperature of about 25°C for germination. During the germination process, rinse with clean water once a day to control the seeds. If the amount of seeds is large, turn them 1 to 2 times a day to balance the temperature and germinate neatly. The temperature in the early stage of germination can be slightly higher to promote budding. When the buds are about to emerge (the seeds will open their mouths), the temperature should be dropped by 3 to 5°C to make the buds strong and neat. After all the buds have sprouted, if you encounter special weather, you can move the buds to a place at 5 to 10°C to control the growth of the buds and wait for sowing.

3. Planting time

Sowing is carried out from March to April in the south and from late April to May in the north. Sowing should be carried out on a sunny day in the morning. Put the nutritious soil into the seeding tray. Pour it thoroughly with hot or warm water. After the water seeps down, sprinkle a layer of medicinal soil, sow the germinated seeds evenly in the tray, cover it with 1cm thick medicinal soil, and cover it with a plastic film to keep it warm and moisturizing. For drill sowing, open shallow trenches with a row spacing of about 35 cm. For hole sowing, open shallow trenches with a spacing of 25 cm. Spread evenly into the ditch or hole, cover with a thin layer of soil, and keep the soil moist. Use 0.2 to 0.3 kg of seeds per acre. . Seedlings can also be transplanted. In the north, seedlings can be raised in the sunny border in March. When the seedlings are 10 to 15 centimeters high, they can be transplanted into the field with soil. Water regularly after transplanting.

4. Field management

Thinning and replenishing seedlings when the seedlings are 6 to 10 centimeters high. Leave 2 to 3 seedlings in each hole for hole sowing, and leave 1 seedling about 10 centimeters for drill sowing. Generally, cultivating and weeding are performed twice. The first time is hoeing the topsoil 10 to 20 days after emergence. The second time is from early May to early June, before the seedlings are closed, and human and animal manure water must be applied after each cultivating. The seedlings are afraid of drought, so pay attention to timely watering.

5. Harvesting and processing

Basil stems and leaves are harvested from July to August. Cut the whole grass, remove the fine roots and impurities, and dry it in the sun. Harvest when the plants are 20cm high and the ridges are sealed. Select the front ends of unbolted young branches with a length of 5~10cm and harvest once every 7~15 days. The essential oil is extracted when all the inflorescences are out. In Hainan, it can generally be harvested 3 to 4 times a year. When harvesting, use a sickle to cut off the plant parts 20 to 25cm above the ground. Avoid shaking the root system to avoid affecting the regeneration ability. Then strengthen fertilizer and water management to promote the re-germination of new stems and leaves. Processing should be carried out as soon as possible after harvesting to prevent wounds and leaves from turning brown and yellow, which will affect the quality of essential oils. Expand knowledge-Effects and functions of basil:

Toxicity: Poisonous (some say non-toxic);

Meridian tropism: Stomach, Lung, Spleen, Large Intestine;

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Properties: Warm;

Taste: pungent;

Efficacy: Dispersing wind and promoting qi, reducing dampness and digestion, activating blood circulation, and detoxifying. Treats external headaches, bloating and gas stagnation, epigastric pain, diarrhea, irregular menstruation, bruises, snake and insect bites, skin eczema, and itching.