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GREEN-Seeds.com
vegetables & herbs
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FARMER'S BOOKSHELF
An information
system of crops in Hawaii
Department of Horticulture
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Basil
Culture
Water
 Sweet basil requires
a well watered soil throughout the growing season to maintain quality and
yields. Because basil is sensitive to high humidity, drip irrigation in
a plastic mulch production system may be preferable to over head irrigation.
In addition the field may be mulched with organic material between the rows
to help in weed control and to conserve moisture.
A mulched field
will also maintain the foliage cleaner which may simplify the washing of
foliage at harvest time. A clean foliage is also more likely to remain disease
free as compared to a foliage with soil particles on it, resulting from
rain drops splashing on the bare soil. Basil growth benefits from windbreaks
in windy areas. Winds may damage the foliage and may also result in rapid
moisture loss from the field. The basil plant will grow about one inch per
day under proper environmental conditions.
Weeds
High density plantings
and mechanical weed control are the most common practices used to prevent
weed problems in basil fields. Weed control is enhanced with proper field
preparation before planting. Both plastic and organic mulches may also be
utilized to minimize weed problems in the field.
Description
Sweet basil, Ocimum
basilicum, is a popular herb grown for its dry or green aromatic leaves
which are used as a spice or as a flavoring. The spicy herb, a member of
the mint family, is a native of Central Asia and North West India. It is
adapted to warm growing conditions and although it is a perennial, it is
grown as an annual. It is commonly used in tomato dishes, and as a flavoring
in soups, salads, pesto sauce, minced beef and sausages. North America imports
about 2,000 tons of basil every year.
The plant is produced
commercially in Egypt, France, Hungary, Israel, Mexico, Indonesia and Hawaii.
In Hawaii basil is grown in about 55 acres with an estimated farm gate value
of $1.2 million. The $1.2 million value, however, is probably highly underestimated.
There are many types of basil varying in size, leaf shape, and in leaf color
ranging from green to purple.
In Hawaii sweet
and Italian basil comprise about 60% and 40% of the basil market, respectively.
Basil destined for the fresh market has dark green leaves and a sweet taste.
Quality of the product is determined by taste, flavor, moisture content,
and cosmetic appearance for the fresh market, and volatile oil content and
total insoluble ash content for the processing market.
Diseases
Diseases that attack
basil include Pythium, verticillium wilt, stem canker, tomato spotted wilt
virus, stem die backs, leaf spot diseases and damping off. Little information
exists on the effect of these diseases on basil and no pesticides are registered
for their control. Growers should therefore rely on cultural practices,
including crop rotation, sanitation, using clean seed, and growing their
crop in disease-free soil, to minimize the incidence of pests and diseases.
Contact the Department
of Agriculture for the latest marketing and shipment regulations, and your
local county extension agent for the latest pest control techniques.
Fertilizer
Nutrient needs
Fertilizer practices
vary depending on the previous crop and on the current fertility of the
soil. To find out the proper fertilizer rates soil samples should be tested
at the University of Hawaii Diagnostic Service Center or other suitable
laboratory.
Over-fertilization
will diminish the quality of sweet basil at harvest and may increase the
soluble salt content of the soil to undesirable levels. Pre-plant fertilization
rates of 120-120-120 lbs per acre of N-P205-K2O are recommended in soils
deficient in these nutrients. The soil should have a pH between 6-7.5.
Nitrogen may also
be side-dressed at the rate of 20-30 lbs per acre soon after the first harvest.
Experiments in Indiana showed that ammonium sources of Nitrogen may decrease
petiole and stem yields, and leaf content of essential oils, when compared
to nitrate-N sources.
Harvest
Hawaii relies on the
high quality of its horticultural products to maintain competitiveness in
the export market to the mainland. High quality is achieved by conducting
proper cultural and postharvest handling practices.
Basil is ready
for harvest 45-70 days after planting. Harvest practices may vary from grower
to grower depending on crop growth, handling, and product marketing practices.
Leaves are picked above the bottom two to four set of true leaves. Sweet
basil is picked twice a day under normal growing conditions. Well washed
and drained leaves are stored over night. The leaves, with the terminals
or shoots attached, are transported in wet newspapers or towels at temperatures
of 40-42 oF (4-5 C), and relative humidity between 95-98. For the local
market, basil is packed in 1-2 oz plastic bags.
Insects
Basil growers shipping
to the mainland have to comply with strict quarantine regulations which
require insect-free shipments. These restrictions are hard to meet because
there are only a few pesticides registered for use in sweet basil. Growers
should therefore follow a careful management program to minimize the incidence
of pests and diseases in their fields. Growers should also be careful not
to contaminate their product with pesticides which are not registered for
use on basil. Proper labelling of the shipments and record keeping will
protect the industry as a whole, and should help to identify the source
of contaminated products. In the field, plants should be monitored throughout
the growing season for the presence of insects or diseases.
Pests of economic importance
include thrips; serpentine leafminers, Liriomyza trifolii (Burgess), and
Liriomyza sativae Blanchard; Chinese rose beetle, Adoretus sinicus; greenhouse
whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum; carmine spider mite, Tetranychus vaporariorum;
carmine spider mite, Tetranychus cinnabrinus; the stink bug, Nezara viridula;
sweet potato whitefly (Bemisia tabaci); leafhoppers; and various mealy bugs,
grasshoppers, and aphid species.
Leaves damaged
by leafminers are removed prior to sale. Shipments to the mainland should
be free of Thrips palmi. Foliage damage is also caused by the webbing of
the Carmine spider mites, by the honeydew produced by feeding whiteflies,
and by Chinese rose beetles feeding in the foliage.
Planting
Seed from basil should
be obtained from a reputable source to make sure that the seed is true to
type. Basil can be direct seeded or transplanted in the field. When direct
seeded, overseed expecting an 80-90% germination rate. Optimum temperature
for germination is 70 degrees Farenheit (21 C) but the seeds will germinate
well with temperatures between 65-85 degrees (18-30 C) in about 7-15 days.
The soil should be well
worked to allow for proper germination. Seed to a depth of 1/4 inches. A
high density planting is recommended to help minimize weed growth in the
field. Rows are spaced 24 to 36 inches apart, and plants are spaced 6-20
inches in the row. Basil can also be planted in beds with a spacing of 24
to 36 inches between beds. Three rows are planted per bed with a spacing
of 12 inches between rows. When transplanted, basil is propagated by seeding
in trays, then transferred to cell trays or pots. The plants are later transplanted
in the field when about 6 inches tall.
Some
growers also propagate by rooting basil cuttings, but the advantages of
performing this practice has not been determined experimentally.
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Green Co., Ltd.
299K7 SONG GIONG RESIDENTIAL QUARTER, NGUYEN THI DINH ST., WARD AN PHU, DISTRICT 2, HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM
Tel : (84.8) 54026784/86/87/88 - FAX : (84.8) 54026790 - Mobile : (84)(0)908002930 - DIRECT PHONE LINE : + (84)1696988825
Email: GreenSeeds@Green-Genetics.coms.com
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