Basil is a very useful and unpretentious plant in growing. But, it happens that culture often makes you nervous after sowing: a capricious plant does not always grow on time or does not grow at all.
In order not to worry ahead of time, the gardener must be prepared for the fact that the plant does not sprout more than a week later, and requires compliance with the rules of planting and care.
This article describes in detail the process of emergence of basil and describes the conditions for successful cultivation of plants in the home.
After how many days grows in open ground?
If the soil is properly selected, the temperature is observed, the sunny place for planting is chosen, then the first sprouts should "slip" in 7-10 days. This is the minimum period: more often the plant appears for 10-12 days.
How long to wait for the appearance of the first shoots and what does it depend on?
The timing of the appearance of the first shoots depends primarily on the time and place of planting, as well as on the variety.
From time
After 5-7 days, it is worth waiting for the first shoots, if the soil is already warmed up, the temperature outside is 20-25 ºС, frosts are not expected. Usually this is the end of May - the beginning of June.
From the place
Basil loves sunny places with moist soil without over-irrigation.. If the basilica has enough sun (at least 3 hours a day), then the first shoots will appear in 5-7 days. If the basil is planted in the shade, then the period of seed germination will move back a couple of days or a week depending on the amount of sun. If it is cool in the shade, the seeds may not ascend at all. Solid ground or abundant watering will also destroy sprouts and prevent basil from growing.
From grade
On average, most basil varieties sprout in 5-10 days. There are some exceptions. Basil "Lemon" rises very quickly: although the dates for the appearance of the first shoots are the same as for the rest (5-10 days), but according to the gardeners, the first shoots appear already on day 5. The darkest opal, Mrs. Burns Lemon and Thai basil sprout the longest: from 7 to 14 days.
A photo
Next in the photo are the basil sprouts some time after planting:
How to make a crop quickly after sowing?
Seed treatment before planting
There are several ways to prepare seeds for planting. This will speed up the appearance of the first shoots.
- Seeds are kept warm before planting. (for example, on a battery or in a sunny place). Warm seeds are not soaked in anything, the seeds are heated to a temperature of about 40 ºС.
- Seeds are sown in hot water before planting.. The etheric shell of the seeds, which "inhibits" the emergence of seedlings, is destroyed. You can sow in half an hour, or you can leave for another three days and wait for the seeds to germinate.
- Seeds before planting spread on gauze soaked with growth stimulant. The name of the liquid speaks for itself - seed growth should accelerate.
We apply fertilizer: what, when and in what quantities?
You can speed up the time of sprout appearance by adding one of the proposed fertilizers to the soil:
- Half a teaspoon of potassium sulfate, potassium chloride and urea per five liters of water. Spill the soil with this solution before planting the seeds.
- Half a teaspoonful of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and urea per 5 liters of water. Spill the soil with a solution before planting the seeds.
Properly care
When the seeds are already planted, the following care must be provided.:
- In time to loosen the ground and remove weeds.
- Daily water at room temperature.
The option with rare irrigation, accelerates the emergence of seedlings: sow seeds in the loosened moist earth, do not sprinkle with earth, but just close the top with a film. It is necessary to monitor the soil moisture and notice the first shoots in time (if the film is not removed on time, the sprout will “burn”).
Does time differ when cultivated at home?
With home cultivation, it is easier to create suitable conditions (temperature of the soil and the room, control of soil moisture due to drainage, greenhouse effect due to the film stretched from above), therefore, with proper care, the period of appearance of the first shoots usually falls on 5-8 days.
Why there are no shoots and what to do in this case?
- Perhaps still early? The appearance of the first shoots accounts for 7-10 days. But mostly basil will begin to appear on the 10-12th day. The maximum waiting time for seedlings is three weeks after sowing. If the sprouts did not appear later, sow the basil again.
- Overdue seeds. The shelf life of seeds affects primarily the germination. On average, the shelf life of good basil seeds is 3-4 years. If the seeds were initially of poor quality, then the shelf life is reduced. Overdue seeds can be pre-tested for germination.
- Improper care or no care. Improper care or lack of care reduces the viability of basil to 30%. In addition, improper care after sowing can destroy the plant. Solid ground, too wet soil or lack of watering are the main causes of plant death.
- Wrong ground. One of the main causes of late shoot. Solid soil prevents sprouting from breaking through and destroys basil. Light loosened soil enriched with humus, peat, compost, will ensure the growth of seeds in a period of 7-10 days.
If the seeds are already planted in bad soil, then it makes sense to fertilize the soil after planting and do not forget to loosen the soil. Seeds need to be planted to a depth of no more than 1 cm.
Perhaps the most difficult thing for a gardener is to wait for the first shoots. The rest of the care of basil is no more difficult than most plants. The main thing is to plant basil correctly: choose a suitable variety, time and place of planting and care for it after sowing.