On windowsills, balconies and gardens, small plants with aromatic herbs can increasingly be seen, especially basil, which is the protagonist of summer dishes and fresh salads this season thanks to its delicate taste and aroma.
Basil in the pot, since you will always have it fresh for your recipes
There is currently a trend to use fresh basil instead of dried or frozen basil, partly because it loses its freshness when bought in the bag and turns black after a few days in the refrigerator. Instead, the quickest way to add flavor, freshness, and aroma to our recipes is to have it on hand and take it directly from the plant. That is why we are increasingly opting for cultivation in pots or in the garden. If you live in an apartment, you can put a ready-to-use plant on the balcony or in an ideal place in the kitchen.
However, the beautiful green leaves of basil don’t always last long. Often the leaves turn black, yellow or rot until the seedling dies. This may depend on the irrigation. However, not everyone knows how to take care of this type of plant and that is why experts in watering and pruning give us some valuable tips so that we always have a well-cared for basil plant with beautiful leaves. In addition, the aroma of basil helps to repel mosquitoes that already appear during this period.
How to keep basil fresh: the trick gardeners use to make it strong and lush
First of all, it is necessary to place the basil in the pot in an ideal place, perhaps with little light and ventilation. This also applies to horticulture. Basil needs a lot of water, especially in summer. During periods of intense heat, two waterings per day are usually necessary. To know if the plant has too little or too much water, don’t wait for the leaves to fall or turn yellow, but touch the soil in the pot or the surrounding soil if it grows in the garden and feels dry. You need to water when it’s still wet, no. Also, be careful if you use too much water, as this can cause the leaves to turn black or rot.
If you notice that the basil has too much water or has become too wet from the rain, store it, cover it, and let it dry. If you have a lot of yellow leaves, remove them. When basil is planted in the garden, it benefits from a technique that gardeners refer to as mulching. It’s not just about surrounding the plant with straw or other material to ensure adequate soil moisture.
If, on the other hand, you notice that the plant is dying, the last resort is to prune it, leaving only the nodes where new leaves can grow.
The trick to watering basil when you’re away from home
If we are away for a few days and it is not possible to take care of the plant, an inexpensive way not to leave the plant without water is to water it with upside-down bottles. In addition, today on the market it is possible to find drip irrigation systems that allow you to program the times and even the days for watering seedlings. There are many that are also powered by solar energy to keep the electricity bill low.
