Basil is one of the plants that is always present on balconies, windowsills and gardens. On the other hand, it is the most used aromatic herb in the kitchen and therefore can never be missing.
It is useful for many preparations from the simplest to the most complex, it gives a different flavour and aroma to any dish, both first and second courses . Especially in the summer season, basil is added to salads, which are spectacular. In addition, the aroma of basil keeps mosquitoes away. Currently, the trend is to use fresh basil and not dried, which loses its flavour, also because if it is bought in a bag, after two days in the fridge it is already dry and no longer smells the same as before. On the other hand, to always keep it fresh and add it to recipes taking full advantage of its benefits and its multiple properties, it is better to take it directly from the plant , whenever necessary.
Growing basil is simple
This means that you need to be careful with its cultivation . To grow it in the garden, or in a pot, on the terrace or on the balcony, you have to be careful, because the plant, like all others, needs care, otherwise the leaves will rot, turn black or yellow until they die .
All of this often depends on watering . Caring for aromatic plants does not mean watering them daily , giving them large quantities of water, but rather watering them whenever necessary in the appropriate quantities.
How to properly care for basil.
To take good care of your basil plant, the first thing you should do is place it in a pot in the shade , in a well-ventilated area. This applies whether the basil is grown in pots on the balcony or terrace, or if it is grown in the garden soil . To find out if the plant has too much water or no water at all, you should touch the soil, you should not wait for the leaves to turn yellow, or even rot.
If you grow basil in the garden , if the soil is dry, it is time to water it. If, on the other hand, it has received too much water, if it is in a pot it can be left to dry, if the leaves are yellow it is time to remove them. In the garden, the problem of excess water is solved with the mulching method, that is, placing straw around the entire plant that is capable of retaining the moisture present in the soil. If the plant is dying, all you have to do is prune it and leave only the nodes where new leaves can grow over the days.
Watering during the holidays
In summer, when you go on holiday, you should not leave basil or any other plant alone, because without water they die. Obviously, you should not give them too much water, because the result would be the same.
So, if you don’t have anyone to ask to water them when the time comes, you can look for simple, inexpensive and accessible methods to solve the problem in just a few minutes.
Economical methods for watering basil, with a do-it-yourself method
An economical method that allows you to water the plant when necessary is to put the bottles upside down in the ground. Alternatively, you can find drip irrigation systems online or in suitable stores, which allow you to program the times and duration of watering. Some of them work with solar energy, others directly with electricity. Obviously the latter cost more and consume more, so if you want to save money and you are not away from home for long, you can first try the bottle method, which is recommended and works very well.
This method works like this. Take a plastic bottle and make small holes in it, directly in the lid and in the base of the bottle . Then, fill it with water and insert it into the soil with the perforated cap inserted directly into the soil, carefully. The liquid will wet the soil slowly, avoiding waste and excess that could do more than help harm the basil. Creating an irrigation system at home is very simple. By following these tips, the plant will become beautiful in a few weeks , without necessarily having any green thumb.
