Professional cultivation lays the foundation for magnificent basil plants that deliver juicy, aromatic harvests. The following instructions explain step-by-step how tiny seeds transform into royal herb plants.
How to grow basil successfully?
To grow basil successfully, start sowing in April, pay attention to nutrient-poor and permeable substrate and ensure a constant temperature of 20-25 degrees Celsius. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are at least 5 centimeters high and have 2-3 pairs of leaves.
Sowing basil seeds made easy
Choosing the optimal date for sowing sets the stage for strong young plants. If you start the work at the beginning of April, robust royal herbs will be ready in time for the start of the planting season in mid-May. This is how you can grow it behind glass:
- Soak the seeds in water or chamomile tea for a few hours
- fill a shallow bowl or seed pot with nutrient-poor, permeable substrate
- moisten the growing soil with water from the spray bottle
- Sow basil seeds at least 5 centimeters apart
- press the light germinators lightly without covering them with soil
Depending on the variety, the germination time takes 5-14 days at a constant 20-25 degrees Celsius. A cover made of glass or transparent film creates a warm, humid microclimate that has a beneficial effect on germination. Ideally, a heated indoor greenhouse (€89.00 on Amazon) is available for cultivation. During this time, the seeds must neither dry out nor be exposed to direct sunlight.
How to properly prick basil seedlings
If the cotyledons break through the seed coat, growth progresses quickly. Within a short time, the seedlings have reached a height of 5 centimeters and proudly display at least 2-3 pairs of leaves. Now is the time to prick your charges. How to do it professionally:
- Fill pots halfway up with potting soil or a potting soil-sand mix
- press a small depression in it with the pricking rod
- lifting a strong seedling out of the growing soil with a spoon
- insert in the middle of the fresh substrate and plant below the cotyledons
- place the pots in a container with a water level several centimeters high
If the substrate surface feels moist, the seedlings have been sufficiently watered from below. On the bright, warm windowsill, the plants are busy developing their own root system.
Tips & Tricks
Would you like to dry basil to preserve it? Then we strongly recommend tying a cloth around your nose and mouth. Dried kingweed turns into an excellent sneezing powder when processed.