How to germinate basil seedlings in a snail correctly

Basil is a well-known spice with a unique aroma and taste. Some national cuisines are not complete without a green or purple leaf or a sprig of basil. They grow it in the garden and in winter on the windowsill... The growing of basil seedlings from seeds in snails is gaining popularity.

Growing seedlings in a snail

The snail itself is made from a laminate substrate. The method is very relevant for growing seedlings in urban apartments, where there is not much space.

Advantages and disadvantages

Of the characteristic advantages are:

• rational use of space - the snail does not take up much space and can fit up to 15 plants in it;
• ease of manufacture and cost-effectiveness - the cost of materials is often lower than the purchase of peat pots and containers for seedlings;
• saving soil;
• access of light to all plants;
• ease of picking;
• ease of care;
• fast harvesting;
• reducing the risk of death of seeds from frost, in contrast to the direct method.

The disadvantages are more often identified by agronomists and botanists, arguing the position against such a method with the following facts:

• there are certain recommended distances for growing seedlings, and if they are observed, the snail increases in size;
• watering leads to soil subsidence and a decrease in the distance between plants;
• growing basil for seedlings in a snail is possible only before picking;
• mature plants intertwine with each other, shade and compete for lighting;
• the root system of seedlings older than three weeks begins to intertwine, recapturing food;
• The conditionally closed root system in snails does not allow transplanting seedlings by transshipment without damaging the roots.

Agronomists consider growing in snails as an intermediate stage from sowing to picking or transplanting into open ground.

Sowing dates

Basil is sown in snails 5-6 weeks before the intended transplantation. Usually this period falls on the end of March - beginning of April. 

Agronomists recommend replanting seedlings no older than 4 weeks from germination:

• in the middle lane and the Volga region, the optimal time is early April;
• in the southern regions - early March with a landing at a permanent place in early May;
• for Siberia and the Urals, the optimal time is the third decade of April with transplanting into the ground in late May or early June.

The ways

There are several ways to grow seedlings in snails, some of them do not even use soil as a substrate.

The methods differ according to the materials used:

1. Made of plastic wrap and toilet paper without fragrances or regular tissue paper. Napkins or paper moistened with water are laid out on a plastic wrap, then the seeds are laid out and rolled into a roll.
2. From underlay for laminate with a thin layer of primer - the classic method.
3. With gauze or bandage as substrate. Gauze is folded in several layers on a substrate in the form of a bedding for a laminate or polyethylene. Spread the seeds at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other and fold the entire roll into a snail.
4. Polyethylene and newspaper. Instead of a substrate for the laminate, ordinary newspapers are used, folded in 2-3 layers.

How to properly sow seeds in a snail

Let's analyze the classic method of making a snail - from a laminate substrate and soil.

Required materials and tools:

• underlay for laminate with a thickness of no more than 2 mm;
• substrate for sowing garden crops;
• prepared basil seeds;
• dry saucer;
• tweezers or a toothpick;
• scotch tape or stationery elastic bands to fix the snail;
• snail container;
• film or cellophane to create a greenhouse;
• spray;
• kettle with a spout;
• potassium permanganate;
• hot water.

Step by step instructions for planting seeds:

1. A tape 10 cm wide and lengthy, depending on the number of seeds, is cut from the substrate. The optimal distance between seeds is 2-4 cm.
2. Oilcloth is laid out on the working surface (on the table, on the floor) and the tape is spread along its entire length.
3. The soil is evenly distributed over the tape in small areas with a height of 1.5-2 cm.
4. Boiling water is poured into a teapot with a spout and several crystals of potassium permanganate are added to obtain a slightly pink solution.
5. The earth is spilled with hot water and allowed to soak, lightly tamped.
6. The seeds are laid out on the ground with tweezers or a toothpick at a distance of 3-4 cm from the edge of the tape, slightly sinking them into the substrate so that they do not fall out when the structure is rolled up.
7. From one of the edges, the tape is tightly rolled into a roll.
8. The roll is rewound with scotch tape or stationery.
9. The finished structure is placed in a prepared container with a diameter of 1-2 cm larger than the snail. The main thing is not to confuse the sides of the roll. The edge is placed up, closer to which the seeds were located.
10. Water is poured into the bottom of the container to feed the soil.
11. The rest of the potassium permanganate solution is poured into a spray bottle and sprayed on the soil.
12. A plastic wrap or bag is pulled over the snail and container from above, creating the effect of a greenhouse.

Further care

Before the first shoots appear, the greenhouse is opened once a day for 30 minutes for airing and watering. After the first leaves appear, the greenhouse is removed. To ensure the light regime and heat, it is placed on the southern windowsill. The duration of daylight hours for seedlings is 12-14 hours; phytolamps can be used to extend.

The soil is sprayed with warm, settled water with a temperature of + 30 ... + 35 ° C as it dries. Bottom watering is carried out once a week, after half an hour, draining the residues.

The dive of seedlings is carried out after the appearance of the first two true leaves.

It is interesting:

How to properly prepare basil for the winter at home in different ways.

How to properly freeze basil for the winter: a selection of the best ways.

The best ways to store basil for the winter at home.

Conclusion

Planting snail seedlings is easy - the roll is simply unrolled as it moves in the garden. The production of snails itself does not take much time and space. As an intermediate step in growing basil, this method is very convenient. However, agronomists do not recommend snails for growing basil on the windowsill. Classic seedling containers are more suitable for this.