How to grow basil from cutting? Basil, aka Tulsi, is a herbaceous medicinal plant, grows in bunches having small, shiny green leaves and is delicious. It is an annual herb, smooth in texture, and flowers are used to make basil flower oil or tea. People consume basil in dried as well as fresh leaves in cooking and for making oils. Basil contains beta carotene, vitamin A, and calcium to take as healthy food. You can propagate it from seeds and cuttings in your home garden to use in your cooking and salads.
| Common name | Basil, sweet basil |
| Scientific name | Ocimum basilicum L. |
| Family | Mint |
| Temperature | 70 ℉ |
| Climate | Warm and sunny |
| pH | Neutral-acidic |
| Irrigation | When the top layer dries |
| Propagation | Through seeds and cuttings |
| Harvesting | Dark green and shiny color |
| Soil requirement | Well-drained and fertile |
| Fertilizer | Natural fertilizers |
| Pruning | No need for excessive pruning |
| Storage | Seal bags for one to two weeks |
In this article:
What are the health benefits of basil leaves and holy basil tea?
- It can maintain diabetes
- It helps in combating stress and depression
- It has anti-inflammatory properties
- Basil is good for food digestion
- It promotes eye condition
- It is antibacterial
- Excellent for skin-related issues
- Relieve mucus in asthma
- Have anti-aging properties
- Supportive in cardiac systems
- It helps in losing weight
Grow at your home garden and be away from a doctor from all diseases by using this sacred herbaceous plant.
What is the taste of the basil plant?
Basil is used in many dishes like pizza, steaks, salads, stews, and kinds of pasta to make sauces. It gives flavor and fresh aroma to the food. The taste of basil is like mint and peppery flavor. Some varieties gave the taste of citrus and spice. People enjoy it in sauces with any main dish at lunch or dinner.
What are other varieties of basil?
- Cinnamon Basil
- Dark Opal Basil
- Holy Basil
- Spicy Bush Basil
- Purple Ruffles Basil
- French Basil
- Lemon Basil
- American Basil
- Licorice Basil
- Lettuce Leaf Basil
- Superbo Basil
- Siam Queen Basil
- Guenette Basil
How to grow basil from seeds?
- Growing basil from seeds is the easiest way for this. You need to follow some given steps.
- Take well-drained and high-quality organic soil but a little moist for seed sowing in a small pot.
- Put the potting media in a pot with a drainage hole at the bottom for proper aeration and avoid waterlogging.
- The seeds you use for growing basil must belong to some grocery store to avoid chemical treatment or moisture due to air conditions in stores.
- Now you need to add or sprinkle seeds in a growing media then cover the seeds with a certain quantity of more soil.
- Keep the soil moist after seed sowing but not damp. Use pop-out pots for self-watering when the plant needs irrigation.
- After all, the steps, place the pot in a direction where it gets sunlight for 14hours a day.
- Seeds take more than a month for proper growth and development of a complete plant.
- You can add liquid fertilizers according to requirement; harvest the leaves when fragrant basil grows.
- You have to add seeds every week for the regular harvesting of leaves.
How to develop basil from cutting?
- Growing basil from cutting is the easiest way than seed sowing methods. It grows faster indoors as well as outdoor. So are you ready to know how we can grow from cuttings?
- Here are some points to follow
- Take two pots, one ceramic and the other glass jar or pot, for cuttings.
- Well-drained and fertile growing media for propagating cuttings
- Clean or filtered water in a glass jar for indoor cutting development
- Selection of diseased free and fresh basil plant
- Plant selection is necessary for the new cutting and development of the plant.
- Buy new variety or plant from the farmyard, friend’s home garden, or any nursery.
- Avoid any grocery store because plants belonging to grocery stores are not fresh.
- Take a plant and cut the branch from it in a slanting way with the help of a sharp knife or scissor.
- Clip it just below a leaf node or buds (a portion of new outgrowth)
- Now remove leaves from the bottom of the cutting.
- For the glass jar put the cutting in water, and place it an indirect light area
- Change the water every day or after two days to prevent it from fungi or bacteria.
- You will see new roots from node potions after two weeks and new outgrowths also.
- Transplant them into the soil after new roots development
- For potting media, dig out soil and insert stem cutting in medium with the help of a garden trowel
- Place the pot in bright indirect sunlight for proper growth and new outgrowth.
- No need for excess water but just sprinkling
- No need for fertilizers at the time of cutting
- After two weeks, you will see the new leaves of basil.
- Transplant the cutting into a big container for proper plantation
How can you harvest basil?
The harvesting time of basil starts when the plant reaches 6 to 8 inches tall height and full green color. Harvest the leaves regularly for more growth but in the early morning. The easiest way to harvest basil is through a sharp knife or by hand cutting.
What are some recipes for basil?
There are many recipes which we can make from basil.
Basil is the key ingredient in many Italian cuisines
Basil yogurt sauce
Ingredients
- Take creamy yogurt one cup
- Salt to taste
- Crushed red chili flakes
- Black pepper powdered
- White pepper powdered
- Basil leaves
- Dried basil
- Cumin fried seeds
- Powdered cumin
- Mix the complete ingredients of salad in a container put cumin as a topping and basil fresh leaves from your home garden. A fresh leaf gives a special aroma, and taste to food, and relish it with any dish.
Holy Basil tea
Ingredients
- Two cup water
- Lemon
- Fresh mint leaves
Take fresh leaves from your home garden, put them in a saucepan, and add two glasses of water to it. Let it boil for 5-6 minutes till leaves give color to the water. After that, put water in a mug. Add some drops of lemon or cumin seeds to it and enjoy it in the morning to live fresh and healthy.
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