Growing basil microgreens at home

A variety of crops can be germinated on the windowsill, the choice is determined by the benefits of the plant and its taste. Basil microgreen has a spicy aroma, pungent taste, contains essential oils and a large amount of vitamins. You can get a microgreen at home in a very short time - less than 2 weeks will pass from the moment of sowing to harvest. During cultivation, it is necessary to provide the seedlings with optimal conditions for growth.

Benefits of basil

Basil is used in cooking as a spice, but the plant also has many medicinal properties. The peculiarity of microgreens is that it is more easily absorbed by the body, and in terms of the amount of vitamins and nutrients it contains, it exceeds adult plants dozens of times.

Basil's composition includes:

• important minerals (iron, potassium, zinc and others);
• essential oils;
• flavonoids;
• vitamins;
• carbohydrates.

Purple varieties have a more intense taste. With regular consumption, basil microgreen protects the body from premature aging and many diseases - atherosclerosis, cancer, arthritis, hemorrhoids, ARVI.

The plant has a beneficial effect on vision, improves the condition of the oral cavity, is an antidepressant, prevents inflammatory processes in the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, stimulates the reproductive system of men and women.

Microgreens are often called "vitamin bomb", because at the initial stages of growth, the concentration of nutrients in the vegetative mass is 30 times higher than usual. Microgreens differ from germinated seeds in that it is necessary to wait for the appearance of 2 true leaves - they are cut off along with part of the stem. Seeds with roots are not used for food. After cutting, the roots are thrown away and re-seeding is carried out in the same container.

Preparatory stage of planting microgreens

First of all, for growing basil microgreens, you need to choose a suitable container. These can be glass or plastic containers from 5 to 10 cm high. The lower the sides of the container, the more convenient it will be to cut off the grown leaves. Those who already have experience in growing microgreens can purchase a special germinator. As a soil, you can use a mixture of garden soil with peat and sand, or just a peat substrate.

Very little soil is needed, a layer 1.5 cm thick will be enough.

Substrates based on the following materials can be used instead of earth:

• coconut fiber;
• mineral wool;
• artificial felt;
• flax.

Thin materials such as gauze or paper towels are folded in multiple layers to retain enough moisture.

The primer can be used up to 3 times, all other bases are applied once.

Planting seeds on microgreens should be dense, so it is better to use seed in packaging from 50 g. In this case, the purchase will be economically profitable. If pickled seeds were purchased, they must first be soaked in warm water for 20-30 minutes and then rinsed.

The cost of planting material for growing microgreens depends on the specific crop. On the Internet, the price of basil seeds in one large package is about 150 rubles.

Features and growing conditions

Before sowing, the soil or substrate is moistened with filtered water at room temperature. There should be enough moisture, but not too much. The seeds are evenly and densely distributed over the surface, preventing them from touching.The stuck seeds can be separated from each other with a toothpick. Then the crops are sprayed from a spray bottle and covered with a transparent lid or film.

The first shoots of the basil may appear after a couple of days. As soon as this happens, the shelter must be removed and the tray must be moved to the most illuminated place. The room temperature should be kept between 20-22 ° C.

In autumn and winter time, in the morning and in the evening, microgreens are additionally illuminated with phytolamps, LEDs or fluorescent lamps.

For watering, use a small watering can or all the same spray bottle. When grown hydroponically, water in a small amount is poured into the bottom of the container. If a special germinator with a seed net is used, the water in the sump is changed daily.

Beginners often complain about mold in the tray. This can be caused by excess moisture, insufficient ventilation, contaminated soil, or infected seeds.

As soon as two true leaves appear on the seedlings, you can cut the greens for storage and consumption. Use sharp scissors when cutting. In the refrigerator, basil microgreens can be stored for up to 1 week in an airtight container. The leaves are not subjected to heat treatment, they are used only fresh.

Growing basil microgreens is a rewarding and exciting activity that brings benefits. If you follow the technology, you can grow a crop on a window all year round. Using backlighting, it is permissible to place microgreens not only on the window, but also on a rack in the back of the room, in this case receiving an additional decorative element.