Basil: characteristics and tips for harvesting it all year round

Is there anything more aromatic than basil? It is one of my favorite herbs not only for its pungent yet mild smell, but also for its flavor. And it is no wonder, it has an incredible utility for the kitchen that it is impossible not to consider it as another element to cook delicious dishes.

What’s more, I bet you it is one of the first herbs you have grown in your garden and perhaps you felt a certain disappointment when you cut the first leaves for everyday consumption and discovered that there were no more left on the plant.

What to do to have a basil harvest all year round?

It is common for a plant to have few branches and just a few leaves, especially in the case of people who do not know the basil care.

The truth is that for a plant to give away an important production, pay attention to pruningbecause this will be the key to get a good branching, that is, that the plant has several branches, always strong and robust. If the plant is well branched, it will also have a generous leaf production.

Another important detail is check the plant throughout its cycle since it must not present flowers. If you notice some buds this is a bad sign, since when the plant has flowers, it is not capable of producing leaves.

The leaves of the plant grow two by two on an adult basil. It is important to keep this information in mind, as two very small leaves can then develop and grow at the junction of the already developed leaves.

When collecting the largest leaves, these give way to the new leaves and the plant notices this change and so the little leaves begin to grow like branches. Do the same again with the new leaves when they add three sets and then one last time.

By now, your specimen will have about 16 branches and will be willing to offer leaves throughout the season. For best results, do not forget to prune the stems regularly, because then you will take care of the conditions of the plant and the leaves will be more tasty.

Basil general data

Clearly, to do this type of thing with a plant as delicate as this, you need to know the details itself very well, so that you can avoid having to accidentally kill the plant just to take advantage of the nutrients that inhabit its leaves.

What is the secret to having a basil plant with generous dimensions and many leaves? Today we deal with basil and its harvest, we study the development of the plant in order to have a harvest throughout the year.

Basil it is treated as if it were a seasonal plantwhich has leaves with a highly remarkable perfume. Some do not know it, but this is a species that despite being used for the preparation of dishes, has medicinal uses to alleviate some aches and pains.

Although it is a kind of season, the reality is that basil behaves like a perennial in tropical climates. The good news is that It can be grown in areas where there are mild temperatures.

Surprisingly to some, once the basil is fully developed, it is It can measure up to 150 cm in height, provided that the necessary conditions exist and it is properly maintained and cared for. Similarly, you can keep the height of the plant to something more minimal, specifically about 30 inches.

Nothing has been mentioned about it yet, but know that the scientific name of this plant is The basilisk. Just as it is known by the name of basil, It is also widely known under alternative names such as Herb of Kings, Alfábega, Banca Basilamong other names.

As for the name, it will vary depending on the locality or region in which you are.

It is worth highlighting an important fact about this plant and that is that its native place is the tropical regions of Asia, so Asian countries are the main growers of this famous plant.

Plant characteristics

It is a plant that has a fully erect stem and when it reaches its adult stage, it is capable of generating numerous branches with triangular sections.

The good thing is that the seeds once they fall to the ground, they manage to germinate with great ease.

Its leaves

The leaves of the plant are very bright green, almost as if oil had been poured on them. The shape of the basil leaves is of the ovolanceolate type and they have a silky texture to the touch. They can measure between 2 and 6 cm wide while the length is 4 to 10 cm.

Flores

Once the flowering season arrives, which turns out that between May and September, you will be able to notice how the flowers are created in a lipstick way. These have a white color, although sometimes you can get pink or purple flowers.

Regarding the dimensions of the same, are between 10 and 12 cm in length and they are grouped as if it were a vertical spike.

Habitat and distribution

You already know the native place of this plant, but what you still don’t know is that can be found in ancient Persia, Pakistan and even India. In fact, it is in ancient Persia that this famous plant was discovered.

Today basil crops are considered cosmopolitan crops, this because the propagation of the species is very easy and fast, and it has the ability to spread as if it were an aromatic herb in pots.

However, when it is in spaces with a temperate temperature, its behavior changes to an annual plant and it is thanks to this that it becomes even more suitable at low temperatures.

Properties

A large number of people tends to include basil in their diets, preparation of dishes, and even salads. I guess they do this most of the time out of simple custom or culture.

However, basil has some properties that you should know in order to inform you even more about its consumption and understand that it can be as important as lettuce or spinach.

Thus, from basil you can extract a kind of essential oilwhich is usually prepared and is made up of some organic compounds.

Thanks to this, the plant itself can and has antiseptic characteristics, works as an antispasmodicis effective against digestive problems, and many other applications.

What’s more, you should know that if you are someone who is constantly working and doing physical activity and that at the end of the day you feel great fatigue, that you know that basil is effective in dealing with physical and even mental exhaustion.

Well, it is known through studies that Basil consumption can positively affect a person’s moods. In this way, someone who is in a phase of depression, can prepare food with basil and can improve a little with the days.

Furthermore, Its consumption can also cause an improvement in terms of migraine problems.. It has even been shown that it is effective for those who have a case of sleep or sleep disorders

And if all this still seems like a small thing to you, know that too can prevent vomiting and cope with problems with ulcers that come to appear in the mouth.

Finally, you should also know that you can also benefit from basil at the gastric level, since its preparation can benefit you if you have problems with gastritis or appetite problems.