Growing basil in a greenhouse is an easy way to provide yourself and your family with fresh herbs while providing a valuable source of vitamins and minerals. The spice can be grown not only in warm summer conditions, but also in cold winter conditions when planted in a greenhouse. To get a good yield from the harvest, you need to know about the intricacies of planting and caring for the plant.
Advantages of a greenhouse
Basil shows good growth performance in open ground and even in pots. An increasing number of gardeners prefer to plant greens in a greenhouse.The advantages of growing in greenhouse conditions:
- better yield;
- lack of dependence on weather and environmental conditions;
- ability to harvest year-round.
Basil mixes well with other plants, so it can be planted in a greenhouse with tomatoes, eggplants and other types of garden crops. The plant is undemanding in care and is capable of producing fresh greens in large quantities, which makes the crop promising for industrial cultivation.
Greenhouse and soil requirements
Requirements for greenhouse construction depend on the climatic conditions of a particular region and growing purposes. In central regions, when planting greenery early, it is recommended to build a greenhouse made of polycarbonate or glass. Such materials are able to retain heat well and transmit light, so seedlings in such a shelter can withstand even severe frosts.
Manure has a good effect of preserving heat, so when planting in the spring, it is recommended to mix it with the top layer of soil. Gardeners today practice growing basil on shelves, which significantly expands the possibilities for obtaining a larger harvest due to an increase in planting area. Regardless of the methods used, the greenhouse for greenery should be located in a sunny place and have structures that allow the room to be ventilated at any time.
Some people make self-opening windows when the temperature rises above normal, which makes caring for the plantings much easier.
Basil is considered a plant, which is quite demanding on the soil. The soil should be moderately loose and not have a high level of acidity. Sandy soil with a rich composition of organic substances is optimal for the plant.Before planting, the soil is pre-prepared by removing the top layer and digging it together with peat and sand. Such work can be carried out both in spring and autumn.
Variety selection
Today there are about 150 types of basil, differing in color, leaf size, and plant growth. Beginner gardeners are advised to choose proven, undemanding varieties. If desired, you can simultaneously plant several varieties of greenery in one greenhouse.
Yerevan
An annual plant with a spicy taste and a rich content of essential oils, vitamins and carotene. From the moment of sowing until the plant is ready for harvest, an average of 45 days pass. This variety of basil has red-purple leaves. The weight of one shoot varies from 300 to 500 grams. The aroma of the herb contains a hint of tea and allspice. Greens can be used fresh or as a seasoning for various dishes. The plant is often used by landscape designers.
Spoon-shaped
Basil gets its name from the shape of its leaves, which are concave inward and resemble a spoon in appearance. The plant has light green, oblong-shaped leaf blades without teeth. When flowering, white inflorescences are formed. The taste of basil is reminiscent of cloves and bay leaves, so I often replace such seasonings with it when cooking. The spoon-shaped variety is used for stewing and cooking meat dishes; it perfectly complements the taste of tomato.
Baku
The variety was first grown in Azerbaijan. Externally, the shape of the leaves resembles Yerevan basil, but the color of this basil is brownish-purple and therefore it is often called “black.” The greens have an aroma of a mixture of mint and clove notes.The plant is most often used as a seasoning in spicy oriental dishes.
Growing from seeds and seedlings
Seeds are planted in heated soil according to a 30 by 15 cm pattern. The seeds have the ability to germinate deep, so it is correct not to bury them, but to sprinkle them on top with a thin layer of soil. To obtain plants year-round, re-sowing is carried out every 3 weeks.
In Russian regions, planting through seedlings is more often practiced, since basil is heat-loving, this method allows you to grow greens in a shorter time. The soil should be loose and nutritious. When preparing it yourself, mix humus, peat and sand in proportions 2:4:1. It is recommended to pour boiling water over the soil and treat it with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
For sowing, a container 5 cm deep is enough. The seeds are evenly distributed over the surface and sprinkled with earth. As a result, the seeds should be buried at a distance of 0.5 to 1 cm. The temperature recommended for cultivation is from +20 to 25 ° C, the first shoots appear after 10 days. When the sprouts reach 2 weeks of age, they are fed using a mixture of 4 grams of superphosphate, the same amount of ash and 2 grams of ammonium nitrate.
Diving is carried out after the appearance of 2 true leaves. When forming 5 leaves, the bushes must be pinched to form a larger mass of greenery.
When planting in a greenhouse, a distance of 25 to 30 cm is maintained between adjacent bushes when working with tall varieties. For compact plants, make an indent of 15-20 cm. The distance between rows should be from 20 to 30 cm.
Care, watering and fertilizing
Care consists of timely watering, loosening and removing weeds.Moisture should be moderate, otherwise the plant will suffer from black stalk. It is necessary to remove the inflorescences in a timely manner, in this case the basil will form new shoots.
The plant is fed once every 14 days, using nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. To prepare a nutrient solution, it is recommended to carefully read the instructions for the drug. In most cases, the product is diluted in proportions of 10 grams per 1 liter of water. Nitrogen has a stimulating effect on basil and causes it to form more greenery. Potassium and phosphorus contribute to better production of essential oils.
Harvesting
Almost all herbs, including basil, are collected by separating the leaves from the main plant. It is important to prevent damage to the main bush in the form of pulling it out of the ground. Harvesting consists of regularly cutting off the upper part of the shoots along with the leaves.
Diseases and pests
Basil is considered a plant resistant to diseases and pests. The danger of damage to garden crops appears when the rules of agricultural technology are not followed. Typical mistakes:
- excessive watering;
- hypothermia of the plant.
The main diseases of the plant are black leg, fusarium, and gray rot. For prevention it is not recommended plant basil for several years in one place, disinfect the seeds, avoid thickening and waterlogging of the soil.
Features of growing in winter
You can grow basil in winter in a heated greenhouse, but few can afford it. Most gardeners use pots and grow the plant on a windowsill to obtain fresh herbs. Sowing and caring for seedlings in this case are standards.At home, you need to monitor the room temperature; to produce greens, it should be from 20 to 25 °C. At lower temperatures, the formation of bushes is inhibited and the plant begins to lose its aroma.
