How To Grow Basil

Basil is a well known annual herb that has enormous health benefits. The plant is available in many different varieties. Basil has been known for long and is widely used in Asia as a form of alternative medicine for centuries. The plant has immense healing powers. The herb is widely used as common household remedy for cough and cold. Tender basil leaves boiled with tea helps keep away malaria and dengue fever during the monsoon. Chewing the fresh holy basil leaves gives relief from cold and flu. For quick relief from sore throat you can boil ‘Tulsi’ leaves and drink the water or use it as gargle. Basil is quite easy to grow and can also be used in different recipes as the leaves have a unique taste. Basil also helps to keep food fresh. This aromatic plant can be grown both indoors and outdoors. Whether you are a seasoned gardener or a novice, growing basil is quite easy if you follow the basic steps. By growing basil you can have a fresh supply of its leaves throughout the year. Basils don’t take too much space to grow, and so you can grow it in your backyard or even in a pot as an indoor plant. If you are planning to grow basil at home, here are some tips to help you get started.

Growing Basil

• Pots
• Soil
• Fertilizer
• Gardening tools
• Basil seeds
• Water

• If you are planning to grow basil indoor, get a pot with enough drainage space.
• If you are going to plant basil seeds in the garden, dig the soil and make it weed free. Make sure the soil is wet before you sow the seeds.
• Educate yourself about the process of growing basil. You can either visit your nearby nursery to learn about the process of growing basil or you may look up in the internet for information.
• Not all soils are suitable for growing basil. The ideal pH level of soil for growing basil should be between 6.5 and 7.5.
• If you are growing basil in a pot, ensure the correct pH level. Also remember to check the pH level once a month.
• Sow the basil seeds thinly and cover them with 1.2 cm of compost and press it gently. If you are growing basil in pots, add enough seeds to have a few plants in each pot.
• Place the pot in a position where the plants can get sufficient sunlight. You can grow basil indoors beside windows, where good amount of sunlight can reach the plant. Cold winds can hamper growth, so keep the pot in a sheltered spot.
• Once the basil has grown to 4 to 6 cm in height, you can transfer it to a bigger pot or you can replant it in your garden.
• Pinch off the bottom two leaves of the plant and turn the container upside down and tap the bottom surface of the pot gently so that the whole plant comes out of the pot. Handle it gently.
• Next, plant the roots and some portion of the stem below the soil and cover with soil properly so that no air pockets remain in the surrounding.
• As the plant continues to grow, pinch of the top two pairs of leaves. This way the plant will continue to grow into a bush. Otherwise, the plant will start blooming flowers and the taste of the leaves won’t be that good. Flower blooming also reduces the foliage of the plant, due increased hormone activity. This is also known as bolting. This phenomenon is seen when there is more sunlight.