2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
In Russia, fragrant basil appeared in the 18th century and was the privilege of tsars, and was also used as a medicinal plant. Today, any summer resident can easily grow basil on his site and enjoy its aromas in various dishes, or use it for medicinal purposes to increase immunity and pep
Two colors - two smells
Basil leaves love to dress up in two colors: green and purple.
When traveling in Western Europe, you will often come across green basil as a condiment. In Russia, he gallantly gives way on the dining table to dill and parsley, or purple basil.
For some reason, the Russians liked purple basil more. Perhaps the reason lies in its more disturbing scent, because we love so much to worry and root for the whole world. Green basil has a more varied and optimistic aroma, and the leaves are thinner.
The smell of lilac basil is close to the smell of allspice. The crushed and dried leaves of the basil were familiar to Soviet housewives under the name "rayhon", which translated into Russian sounds like "fragrant".
Growing basil
Being a southern plant, basil prefers sunny places, sheltered from the wind. He cannot endure frosts, and even at above-zero temperatures, if it is below 12 degrees Celsius, he refuses to please the summer resident with new greens.
Prefers light, loose, permeable soils, excluding stagnant water. Requires regular watering and nitrogen fertilization to stimulate the growth of greenery.
Propagated more often by seeds, which are sown in the greenhouse in spring. After the steady heat arrives at your edge, the seedlings are planted in the ground. For those who do not have this opportunity, there is an easier way - cuttings. Moreover, you can root fresh bushes bought in a store or in the market for serving. Put them in water, and after a week they will put down strong roots. Here they should be transplanted into the land. If you don't have a summer cottage, then you can grow basil on a balcony, loggia or indoor windowsill. Then all year round you will have a spicy aromatic fresh spice at your fingertips.
In order for the plant to bush, after 6-8 leaves, it is better to pinch the top. When harvesting the first crop, leave a few lower leaves on the stem. With good plant care, get another crop. Flowers, or rather buds, are best picked if you are only interested in basil greens.
Tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, asparagus, and cabbage are good neighbors for basil.
Pests
Basil is loved not only by bees collecting nectar for honey, but, unfortunately, also by aphids with bedbugs. For reprisals against uninvited guests, you can use an infusion of garlic and onion husks, carrot tops or tomato stepchildren for spraying. You also need to be wary of snails and slugs, of which the latter like to wield at night.
Types and varieties of basil
* Anise or Thai basil. Who likes aniseed flavor, this is your strain. They love to season dishes in Thailand. The silvery leaves are rich in aniseed aroma.
* Cinnamon or Mexican basil. It turns out that basil can give off a cinnamon odor.
* Shrub basil. Differs in bushiness and small leaves.
* Hybrid lemon basil. In fish dishes, it can replace lemon juice, since it has a strong lemon aroma.
* Small-leaved basil. Narrow and small sweetish leaves of the plant with almost no astringency. For an amateur.
* Purple basil. As noted, the leaves and stem of purple basil are tougher than those of the green varieties. His height, as a rule, is less, but he loves warmth more.
Application
Fresh basil leaves are added to vegetable, fish and meat salads; 10 minutes before readiness in soups, meat main courses and meat gravy.
Basil is used to flavor pickles and pickles of vegetables and mushrooms, tomato sauces. It is included in spice mixtures. Basil is good in combination with herbs such as mint, dill, parsley, marjoram.
The content of a rich composition of biologically active substances in the stem and leaves contributes to the good functioning of the digestive organs, improves immunity and mood. Basil decoctions relieve coughs, dull headaches, and help fight inflammation. All these properties are even more concentrated in the essential oil obtained from basil. The oil has bactericidal properties.
A sprig of basil placed in a wardrobe will save clothes from moths.
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