An herb called basil has grown to counteract boredom on the plate. The tropical royal herb is well known to gourmets and hobby gardeners. Familiarize yourself with details worth knowing about botany and cultivation via a profile.

Botanical profile provides valuable information on cultivation

If basil celebrates its premiere in the bed or on the balcony, experienced hobby gardeners first take a look at the botanical attributes. Substantial information is hidden here, on which a successful cultivation is based:

  • Lamiaceae plant family
  • Genus basil (Ocium) with more than 60 species
  • Origin India, Africa and Asia
  • perennial or annual herb plant
  • Height of growth from 20 to 60 centimeters
  • white labial flowers from July to September
  • Ovary 1-2 millimeters small with light-germinating seeds
  • Temperature minimum 10-12 degrees Celsius
  • deep rooter
  • heavy feeder
  • rich in essential oils

It is primarily the high essential oil content that defines the worldwide popularity of basil. Above all estragol with up to 90 percent and linalool with up to 85 percent. The former is currently suspected of being carcinogenic. If at all, the health hazard occurs from a quantity of 20 basil leaves. In contrast, linalool is considered a feel-good substance from Mother Nature.

This is how the cultivation benefits from the basil profile

These findings for a successful cultivation of royal herb in the hobby garden result seamlessly from the information in the profile:

  • do not cover the seeds with substrate during sowing
  • germination requires temperatures of 20-25 degrees Celsius
  • Planting out is only possible from mid-May when the temperatures rise
  • the only suitable location is a sunny, warm, sheltered location
  • the soil should be nutrient-rich and well-drained

The botanical attributes suggest that basil relies on a regular supply of fertilizer and water. If the temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, basil is placed in a warm, bright winter quarters. In view of its tropical origin, however, perennial cultivation is associated with considerable risks.

tips and tricks

What the profile doesn't reveal right away is the loss of the wonderful aroma of basil leaves after flowering. To ensure that careful care results in a long-lasting harvest, the tips of the shoots should be cut off consistently.

GTH

Category:

Vegetable garden