Basil or basil is a popular herb with a distinctive aroma and is often used in various types of cuisine. There are actually more than 100 varieties of basil with slightly different flavors, from sweet Italian basil to spicy Thai basil. Most basil can be grown easily outdoors, and if you make a few minor changes, basil can be grown easily indoors too. Exposure to sufficient amounts of sunlight and water is the main requirement for basil to thrive, whether you grow it indoors or outdoors.
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Part 1 of 3: Planting Seeds
Step 1. Buy basil seeds from a trusted place
Visit the farm shop to buy the basil seeds you want to plant. You can also buy it over the internet. Basil seeds are usually sold in packs of more than 100 seeds at a very cheap price.
If you bought them online, do some research and comparison to find the online store that sells the best seeds
Step 2. Use coarse, well-draining soil to plant seeds
Basil needs fertile soil that drains water well for plants to grow healthily. You can buy growing media that drains water well at farm stores or the internet.
Step 3. Fill the container with soil as much as part
The container must be able to drain water well, and can be made of plastic, clay, stone, or concrete. Spray the soil with a spray bottle to make it slightly wet before placing it in the container. Do not fill the container to the brim.
- Whatever the material, look for drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Good drainage is very important for healthy plants. Be sure to place a mat under the pot so the water doesn't run all over the place.
- You can use clay pots or plastic nursery containers.
Step 4. Spread the seeds into a container that has been given the soil
If you are using small nursery containers, place about 3 seeds in each container. In a large container, you can place 5-7 seeds in the top layer of soil. Spread the seeds separately and evenly.
- You should place more than 1 seed in each container in case any seeds don't sprout.
- Try to spread it with a distance of 2.5 cm between seeds.
- Do not press the seeds into the soil.
Step 5. Cover the seeds with dry soil
Don't coat it too thickly, but just enough to cover the newly planted seeds (about half a centimeter thick). This is thick enough to protect the seed and help it grow.
Do not compact the soil you put in the container
Step 6. Wet the soil using a spray bottle
Use a spray bottle filled with water to moisten the soil (especially in the newly added top layer). If you don't have a spray bottle, run your hand under the faucet or dip it in the water and splash the water on the ground with your fingers.
- Place a container or pot on a pedestal to catch the water that drains out.
- You can place plastic on top of a pot or container to keep moisture in.
Step 7. Place the container in a sunny location
Basil will grow well and fertile if it gets full sun for at least 6 hours. The best location for placing this plant is near a warm window that gets sunlight.
- Be careful when placing basil directly on the windowsill. Window panes can make basil too hot or too cold more quickly than usual.
- If the sun is in the south, the best place is a south-facing window. If there's no room in your house that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, try using an additional light source.
Step 8. Watch as the basil seeds germinate within 5-10 days
The time it takes for basil seeds to germinate depends on the amount of sunlight you get, the temperature of the soil, and the available humidity. Be patient and always keep the seeds moist and warm.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Basil
Step 1. Water the basil at the bottom twice a week so that the plant gets enough water
Sprinkle water on the planting medium, not directly on the leaves and stems. This way, the roots can absorb water from the underside and the leaves don't get wet.
Test the humidity of the planting medium by sticking your finger into the soil to a depth of about 2.5 cm. If the soil feels dry at this depth, water the plant lightly
Step 2. Install an artificial light source for additional maintenance
If the bacilli can't get enough sunlight, you can use fluorescent lamps or specially designed high-intensity lamps. Basil that does not get sunlight should be given artificial light for 10-12 hours.
- If using a standard fluorescent lamp, place the lamp about 5 cm above the plant. Place the lamp about 30 cm above the plant if you are using a compact fluorescent lamp.
- If using a high-intensity lamp, place the lamp about half to 1 meter above the plant.
Step 3. Check the pH level of the plant once a month
A good pH level ranges from 6 to 7.5. You can keep the pH in this range by applying organic fertilizer that can be purchased at a farm store or online. Mix organic fertilizer into the planting medium, then test the soil using a pH strip.
Since the basil will be used in cooking, do not overuse chemical fertilizers (not organic) to avoid potential hazards
Step 4. Imitate the natural environment of the plant by turning on the fan
Direct the wind from an electric fan at the basil leaves for at least 2 hours a day to mimic the breeze in its natural environment. This action causes the air around the plant to move like a breeze.
Set the fan on the lowest speed
Step 5. Squash the plant after the basil seed has 2 pairs of leaves
The distance between the plants should be between 15 and 30 cm so that the plants have enough room to grow. You can space them apart by cutting the plant to the soil line or pulling the seedling along with the roots.
- Use your fingers, a wooden ice cream stick, or a tongue depressor to carefully dig up the planting medium from the bottom of the seedling.
- Slide the ice cream stick under the growing roots, or gently "wiggle" the seeds, roots, and parts around them with your fingers after the seedlings are removed from the soil.
- Replant the removed seedlings in another pot or the same pot at a distance of about 15-30 cm from other plants, if desired.
Step 6. Prune the top of the plant when it reaches 15 cm
If the plant has 3 pairs of leaves, you are ready to prune it. You can use sharp scissors to cut the plant just above the leaf.
- Trimming the top of the plant can promote good leaf growth and prevent the basil from growing upwards.
- Prune the basil every few weeks. Focus on pruning weak, damaged, or stunted leaves. Pruning basil leaves can still be eaten.
Step 7. Water the basil plant if it starts to look wilted
A wilted plant indicates that the basil is deprived of water. So, water the soil and let the water soak in before you water it again. It's also a good idea to take the plant outdoors to get some sun exposure while it recovers after it wilts.
- Once the plant is watered and taken outdoors to get some sun, it will look healthier after about 4 hours.
- If necessary, trim dead leaves using clean garden shears.
Part 3 of 3: Harvesting Basil Daun
Step 1. Harvest the basil before the plant produces flowers
Under these conditions, you can get the freshest and widest leaves. If the basil begins to flower, prune the flowers to give the plant new energy to grow leaves.
The flowers can be seen clearly so you can easily identify them when the plant begins to flower
Step 2. Pick a few leaves if you only need a few basil
Use your fingers to pluck the leaves, or use sharp scissors to cut them. Plucking a few leaves does no harm to the plant.
Don't take up to a third of the plant's leaves, unless you really want to harvest everything. By not doing so, the plant will have enough energy to continue growing
Step 3. Cut just above a large pair of leaves if you want to take a lot of leaves
This way, you can get the equivalent of one basil leaf. If the plant is cut above the leaves, it will continue to grow and can live for a long time.
If you cut the stem just below a pair of leaves, the stem may not grow again
Tips
- When the plant has grown, rotate the container so that the growth of the basil is evenly distributed on all sides.
- If you placed the plastic on top of the soil after sowing basil seeds, remove the plastic once the seeds have started to sprout.
