Fresh, fragrant and ally of good Mediterranean cuisine: we are talking about basil. To have it strong, lush and always beautiful, it is best to plant it in an unusual place. That’s where.
The basil plant is an annual plant that loves sunlight and a mild climate. It can be sown during the spring season and wait for it to grow luxuriantly. The leaves of the basil plant love direct light and prefer pleasant temperatures of fifteen degrees and above.
For the successful cultivation of this fragrant plant it is necessary to know all the good secrets of expert nurserymen so that the basil itself grows luxuriantly and is not attacked by parasites and insects. There is an unusual place that not everyone knows where it is possible to plant and let basil sprout.
Basil plant: what you need to know
The aromatic and fragrant herb par excellence, the queen of Ligurian cuisine and the basic ingredient for the preparation of Genoese pesto. We are talking about the basil plant which gives off a truly unique and unmistakable scent. Its scientific name is Ocimum basilicum and it belongs to the Lamiaceae family .
Basil leaves are used to give a touch of flavor and taste to dishes, including pizza. In addition to being used in the kitchen, this cultivar is one of the annual plants preferred by nurserymen and gardening enthusiasts to perfume their vegetable gardens. Furthermore, basil is a plant that helps keep insects away.
There are several varieties of basil to grow, including Genoese basil, purple basil, licorice basil, mint basil and other cultivars. The basil plant can reach up to sixty centimeters and can produce pink or white flowers.
Basil leaves: nutritional properties
Not everyone knows that the use of basil leaves in the kitchen is a real treasure trove of nutritional properties . Basil is rich in mineral salts, vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, has a truly negligible caloric intake and a low glycemic index.
Basil: how to grow it?
The basil plant can be grown both in the vegetable garden and on the balcony in pots. The seeds of the cultivar must be buried and covered with a layer of soil. As anticipated, the basil plant must be sown in spring, particularly at the beginning of April to allow more florid sprouting . The soil where the basil plant is sown must be fertilized with nutrients aimed at stimulating healthy growth. Nurserymen recommend using natural fertilizers, including brewer’s yeast and coffee grounds. Fertilization of the basil plant must occur twice a year: once during the spring season and once during the autumn season.
Basil plant: the location to make it beautiful
There is an unusual place where it is possible to grow the basil plant: we are talking about our balcony or the garden in the area where there is direct sunlight. Yes, basil leaves prefer warm and mild climates . They hate shade and harsh climates. Good advice is to repot the basil plant in a small-medium sized black pot. Water with water so that the soil does not dry out too quickly.
Basil plant: it’s time to harvest it
Once the basil leaves are beautiful and lush, it is a good idea to proceed with harvesting them to prepare pesto or to garnish and flavor dishes.
With these tricks you can grow and harvest basil leaves all year round. Pesto is guaranteed!
