Caring for basil: This is how basil will keep for a long time in the pot

Basil is a real must in most kitchens. Because the culinary herb is suitable as a delicious addition to a wide variety of dishes. But basil often breaks quickly. With these 8 care tips, your basil will last a long time in the pot!

The basil bushes that you can buy in pots in the supermarket often die quickly at home. But that need not be. Because if you pay attention to a few things and take proper care of the basil, it will stay fresh and tasty for a long time. Here are our tips for basil care!

1. Muck out the basil pot

The basil pots from the supermarket are often too densely planted. It is therefore advisable to clean out the pot thoroughly right at the beginning: Remove fallen and dark leaves and kinked shoots.

You should also thin out the pot a little if it is planted too closely. Remove a few stems and their roots and plant them in a new pot.

2. Planting basil: Suitable soil for basil

You should plant your basil from the supermarket in a new pot at home and also replace the soil. Because the size of the containers from the supermarket and the quality of the soil in them are usually not enough to keep the basil fresh for a long time.

In order to properly care for basil,  loose, nutrient-rich and water-permeable soil is necessary. Herbal soil is not suitable for basil . The water permeability can be increased by mixing the soil with a little sand . The optimal soil pH for basil is between 6.5 and 7.2.

Tip: If the entire ball of the earth is covered with roots, divide the basil into two pots.

3. The right location for basil

Basil comes from the south and therefore likes it sunny . However , you should avoid places in the sun with extreme heat radiation . It is also important that you slowly get used to the sun that you have bought or grown yourself .

4. Caring for basil: how to properly water basil

A common mistake when caring for basil in the pot is watering it. Because with basil, the way it is poured plays an important role: the herb doesn’t like it when you pour it directly from above! The leaves should not come into direct contact with the water. If you water your basil, then only pour it directly onto the soil.

But it is even better if the basil is watered from below : either fill the water into a saucer or place the pot for a few minutes in a bowl that is half filled with water. To avoid waterlogging, let the water drain well.

Do this every day, on very hot days maybe again in the evening. The earth shouldn’t dry out, but it shouldn’t be permanently moist either. So if the soil is still damp, you don’t have to pour it again. Only when the surface is dry.

5. Harvest and cut the basil

Basil in the kitchen should not flower , because after flowering the plant loses a lot of aroma and its taste decreases. That is why it is important to cut the shoot tips regularly. Care and consumption can thus be combined with one another. 

Important: Do not pluck the basil leaves one by one, but  always cut off the shoot tips above the next leaf branch. This way the basil will continue to develop and new shoot tips will emerge.

6. Fertilize basil?

A suitable, nutrient-rich soil is particularly important when caring for basil. But if you want, you can also use fertilizer. It is important that you use organic fertilizer and do not put the fertilizer directly on the leaves , as these should be consumed.

An alternative is compost soil (or suitable compost) as a natural fertilizer.

7. Propagate the basil

You can propagate your basil yourself so that you can have some of your basil for longer. Thats is quite easy:

  1. Remove one or more secondary stems from your basil bush
  2. Put the stem in water.
  3. Change the water daily.
  4. After about a week, roots should form.
  5. Then you can plant the stem in a new pot.

8. Overwinter basil

You can overwinter your basil. In winter it is particularly important to properly care for the warmth-loving basil. You should pay particular attention to the following points:

  • Make sure you have a bright and warm location between 15 and 20 degrees.
  • Do not place the basil directly over a heater.
  • Water the basil regularly. The earth should neither dry out nor waterlogging.

Of course, it can always happen that your basil does not survive the winter, as it can also lead to pests or diseases of the plant.

If you take care of your basil with these tips, it is sure to stay fresh and tasty for a long time.



source http://ostatus.org/2021/07/29/caring-for-basil-this-is-how-basil-will-keep-for-a-long-time-in-the-pot/

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