by johnah on October 29, 2020
Basil Plant Leaves: How To Fix Holes In Basil Leaves
There are many types of basil plants. There are wild varieties, cultivated varieties, hybrids and even some species of cultivars. All these different kinds of basil plants have their own characteristics which make them very attractive or not so attractive depending on your taste preferences. Some people like the fragrance while others prefer the flavor.
However, all these types of basil plants share one thing in common – they’re delicious!
Basil is considered as one of the most popular herbs in the world. It’s used for its culinary uses such as salads, soups and stews.
You may wonder why?
Well, because it tastes really good!
And when you think about it, how could anything taste better than fresh basil leaves?
That’s right, there are actually several reasons why basil tastes so good.
The first reason is due to the fact that basil contains a high amount of volatile oils. These include terpenes, phenolic compounds and other chemicals. Terpenes are essential oil components found in the herb that give it its characteristic aroma and flavor. Other flavors come from flavonoids, carotenoid pigments and lignans (polyphenols).
The second reason is due to the fact that basil has a high antioxidant activity. These are natural substances found in plants that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules. Cellular oxidation can be a good thing as it promotes energy production and immune response. However, it can also be harmful as it can cause DNA damage that leads to cancer.
Antioxidants stop this from happening.
There are two types of basil used for its culinary purposes. These are sweet basil and spicy basil. Sweet basil has a peppery flavor and scent. It is commonly found in salads and pasta.
It is also often used as a garnish for soups and stews. Spicy basil tastes like anise or licorice. It is commonly used in Asian dishes such as Thai or Vietnamese food. It is also sometimes used the same way as sweet basil. Other kinds of basil include lime basil, cinnamon basil, garlic basil, carrot basil, apple basil and pineapple basil.
Nowadays, basil is already being grown in almost every part of the world. It grows without any difficulty and can adapt to a wide range of conditions. Its growing cycle lasts for about 3 months and it can be harvested during its entire growth period. The best time to harvest basil is on the whole plant before the flowers bloom.
Once it blooms, its leaves become bitter to taste.
You can get fresh basil leaves all year round as the plants are grown in greenhouses. It is cheaper during the off-season, but of course it is more beneficial for you to grow your own plants if you can. It is not that difficult as long as you have the right growing medium and enough sunlight.
When harvesting, be sure that you only pick the top set of leaves and stems. This should be done every 2 weeks to allow the plant to regenerate. When the plant has regenerated its leaves, it can then be harvested again. Also, remove and discard any diseased leaves as well as flowering buds to keep the plants vigorous.
You can grow your basil plants indoors if you want. This can be done in a simple pot. Start by getting a large pot (the bigger the better). Fill it up with good quality potting soil mixed with some fertilizer.
You can then start planting your seeds about a month before the last frost is expected in your area. You can do this by sprinkling the seeds over the soil and then raking them gently into it. Try to keep the soil moist but not wet. Sunlight is very important as it helps the basil to grow. If you are growing your basil indoors, a sunny window will do just fine. If no sunny window is available, you might want to invest in a grow light.
Once your plants are a few inches high, it is time to transfer them to their final growing location. Again, keep in mind that sunlight is very important so if you are keeping your plants indoors, a sunny window will be ideal. If you don’t have a sunny window, then you might want to invest in grow lights.
Sources & references used in this article:
Salinity from NaCl changes the nutrient and polyphenolic composition of basil leaves by CF Scagel, J Lee, JN Mitchell – Industrial Crops and Products, 2019 – Elsevier
Effect of guard cells electroporation on drying kinetics and aroma compounds of Genovese basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) leaves by S Kwao, S Al-Hamimi, MEV Damas… – Innovative Food Science …, 2016 – Elsevier
Stomatal density and metabolic determinants mediate salt stress adaptation and water use efficiency in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) by G Barbieri, S Vallone, F Orsini, R Paradiso… – Journal of Plant …, 2012 – Elsevier
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