How and when to sow basil for seedlings - terms, conditions and rules
Basil is a southern and thermophilic culture. To get an early harvest, gardeners resort to growing plants through seedlings. This method allows you to immediately identify non-viable seeds and get the maximum yield in a short period.
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When to sow basil seedlings
In different regions, depending on the climate, the timing of planting basil seedlings differs... On average, the most suitable period is April. In the northern regions with the risk of spring frosts, these periods are postponed until early May, in the southern ones they can begin as early as March.
- middle stripe, Moscow suburbs and the Volga region - the first decade of April;
- south - the first decade of March;
- Siberia, the Urals - the second decade of April, with a long winter - the first decade of May.
How to sow basil at home
To get strong seedlings that can withstand a sudden night chill when planting in the ground, you need to sow seeds correctly and on time, as well as provide proper care for the seedlings.
Sowing stages include:
- seed preparation;
- soil processing;
- direct sowing and provision of greenhouse conditions.
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Preparation of planting material
It is best to purchase seeds in trusted stores, and not spontaneous retail outlets.... The packages always indicate the expiration dates (germination) of seeds - be sure to check them before buying.
Reference. You should not buy seeds from your hands, in a dirty, crumpled package, with traces of moisture, as well as goods with a suspiciously low price or stock.
In general, basil seeds germinate well without pre-sowing treatment.... Industrial seed already goes through all the necessary preparation stages before packing. However, to obtain faster germination or when using your own seeds, you can treat them with growth stimulants ("Zircon", "Espin-Extra").
Important. When using stimulants, strictly follow the instructions on the packaging.
What soil is needed for seedlings
A loose light substrate with good air and water conductivity is most suitable for basil.... Suitable universal soil for vegetable seedlings. It is better to treat the finished soil with a strong solution of potassium permanganate or an antifungal agent, for example, "Fitosporin".
Also you can prepare the substrate yourself... To do this, take in equal proportions:
- garden land;
- compost or humus;
- peat.
The soil mixture can be made with the addition of river sand:
- compost - 2 parts;
- peat - 4 parts;
- river sand - 1 part.
Self-made soil mixtures are sifted and steamed without fail in a water bath for an hour to destroy the spores of pathogenic fungi, weed seeds.
In addition to the soil, the use of peat tablets is allowed... They are convenient because the root structure of the seedlings is not disturbed when transplanted into the soil, and the process is painless. The tablets are soaked in rain or melt water for several hours to swell.
Sowing seeds
For sowing, choose small glasses, a general container or special seedling boxes. The container before sowing seeds for prophylaxis is treated with a slightly boring solution of potassium permanganate. Further adhere to the following algorithm:
- A drainage layer with a thickness of 1 to 1.5 cm is laid on the bottom of the prepared containers. For this, expanded clay, perlite, and brick fragments are suitable.
- The container is 80% filled with the prepared substrate, lightly tamping and leveling.
- The soil is moistened with warm, settled water (melted snow or rainwater is better) using a spray bottle. Direct irrigation is not suitable - it compacts the soil unnecessarily.
- When sowing in a common container, grooves are made in the ground with a depth of 0.5 cm and a distance between two furrows of at least 3 cm.In individual containers, a depression of 0.3-0.5 cm is made.
- In the furrows, the seeds are laid out at a distance of 3-5 cm using tweezers or a toothpick. In containers, two seeds are placed in one recess.
- Sprinkle on top with a thin layer of soil - no more than 5 mm.
- Moisten the poured substrate from a spray bottle.
- The container is covered with a plastic bag, glass or an opaque lid and placed in a dark, warm place with a temperature of at least + 23 ° C.
Read also:
Is it possible to plant basil before winter and how to do it
Growing and caring for seedlings
Until the first leaves appear in the greenhouse, the temperature is maintained at + 23 ... + 25 ° С... Every day the greenhouse is opened for ventilation and condensation removal. This is necessary to avoid mold growth and to provide fresh air to the soil and seedlings respectively. The soil is moistened with a spray gun as the top layer dries. Water for irrigation is used at temperatures of + 28 ... + 30 ° С.
After emergence (after about 10-12 days) the greenhouse is removed... For seedlings, maintain a temperature of + 16 ... + 20 ° С - this reduces the risk of sprouts stretching. For the correct formation of healthy seedlings, the light regime is maintained at 12-14 hours. If there is not enough natural light, phytolamps are used.
7-10 days after the appearance of the first shoots, the soil is fertilized with a solution of wood ash (10 g per 1 liter of water). Top dressing is replaced by one of the waterings. As in a greenhouse, it is watered as the soil dries up by spraying.
Important. When feeding, spraying is carried out almost at the root so that ash does not fall on young leaves.
The pick is carried out when sowing in large containers... After the appearance of the first two leaves, the same soil mixture is introduced into separate containers that was used for planting, additionally adding 1-2 tbsp. l. wood ash and 1 tbsp. l. nitroammophoska per 5 liters of substrate.
What to do if basil seedlings are stretched
Seedlings can be pulled out with a lack of sunlight and excessively high air temperatures... Elongated shoots have a thin, weak stem, an underdeveloped root system. A similar problem arises with an excessive amount of nitrogen in the soil and dense planting.
Do not delay with a pick if the basil seedlings begin to stretch... Nitrogen is not added to the soil for transplanting long shoots. Picked plants are exposed to the south window for better illumination and prolonged daylight hours. At high room temperatures, more frequent ventilation is provided.
When to plant basil seedlings in the ground
The optimal time for planting basil in open ground is when the soil warms up to + 15 ° С and the risks of spring soil frosts are avoided. Depending on the region and annual climatic conditions, the timing can range from mid-May to mid-June.
How to properly plant basil seedlings in open ground
One and a half to two weeks before disembarkation, containers with basil are taken out into fresh air for hardening for 1-2 hours. A few days before the expected planting, watering is stopped and no fertilizing is applied.
Before direct planting in the soil, the soil is thoroughly watered... The transplant is carried out together with an earthen lump or in a peat tablet. The distance between the bushes should be at least 15-20 cm, between the rows - at least 20 cm. Immediately after transplanting, the bed is watered abundantly.
Conclusion
The process of growing basil through seedlings will not be difficult even for novice gardeners. The main problems can occur only at the first stage from sowing to the first shoots and are in maintaining the required temperature. Otherwise, this growing method is simple and gives quick results.