Basil life cycle and varieties

Basil is one of my favorite plants and so is many people I know . Perhaps that is why it is common for it to be present in orchards, partly because of its flavor but also because of its powerful aroma . It is an easy plant to distinguish because it is enough to smell it to know that we are facing a basil plant. It is used fresh in salads and pasta and is a great condiment to always have on hand. Those who cannot grow it in an open space are encouraged to have it in pots in the kitchen, in a place where the plant receives light and sun.

Of all the aromatic plants , basil is one of the great protagonists and is widely chosen both for cooking and for growing at home.

Index

  • 1 Varieties of basil
  • 2 Basil’s death and rebirth

basil varieties

green basil

Basil is easy to care for and very noble in this sense, another reason why many people choose to grow it in the garden. But few know that there are different varieties of basil. The most common is green basil , whose scientific name is Ocimum bacilicum . It’s the typical green leafy basil plant you can get anywhere and it looks shiny and compact.

There is a second less common variety of basil which is Holy Basil or Cimum basilicum var. Purpuparascens , which differs from the former by its oval purple leaves and a spicy aroma. During the summer, this variety also gives away small pink flowers.

Regardless of the cultivated variety, you should bear in mind that basil does not require much care, although it is very sensitive to frost and that is why it must be protected in cold climates.

If you want to grow varieties of basil , you can buy a small plant and plant it in the ground or do it by seed in seedbeds, always in late winter or early spring. Locate the seedlings in a sunny spot away from the cold, and in moist, well-draining soil. Once the seedlings have been born, it is very easy to transplant them to place them in their final place.

Death and rebirth of basil

purple basil

Many ask me what to do with basil when fall begins and the coldest months of the year arrive. The truth is that, as we said, it is a plant that does not tolerate frost and prefers warm to temperate climates. Its life cycle will then be guided by the seasons of the year.

The life cycle of basil ends when the cold arrives, although the plant can last longer indoors. What will happen sooner or later is that the plant dries up and finally dies. The good news is that if you look closely you will see some small flowers and behind them some small seeds that are the ones to collect to store and sow in spring, when the temperature is more pleasant.

So the answer to what to do with basil in the fall and winter is nothing. As we have said before, basil is an annual plant and its cycle ends when the cold arrives or the days begin to shorten. If we have it inside the home, it may last a little longer, but eventually the basil will end up drying out and dying. Behind the flowers it will leave some small seeds that we can sow in spring and thus be able to enjoy basil again in summer.

Basil life cycle and varieties

Leave a Reply

Scroll to top

Discover more from DIY Gardens

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading