This way, you should never pluck the leaves from the basil plant: this way it will die immediately. This is the expert technique that will save your aromatic plant.
How beautiful and fragrant are basil plants? A spectacle for the eyes and the sense of smell! But almost no one manages to take care of it in the most appropriate way. Watch out for basil leaves! If they are removed in this way, the plant dies immediately.
Basil plant: properties and properties
Native to India, a continent where it is still attributed with medicinal and miraculous properties, the basil plant arrived in Europe more than 2500 years ago, first in Greece. It belongs to the mint family (Labiatae) and bears the scientific name of Ocinum basilicum. Fun fact: Do you know why it’s known as the “queen plant” in the Western world?
Legend has it that Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, found the Holy Cross in a land covered with basil plants. Since ancient times, basil leaves have been used not only for therapeutic purposes. The Egyptians, for example, used this plant during their embalming processes, while in the late Middle Ages it was used to treat the evil eye, colds, and contractions during pregnancy. Nowadays we use basil and its leaves mainly in cooking, but its countless properties make this plant amazing for other purposes as well. Have you ever tried basil essential oil? It is perfect for treating stomach and digestive disorders and relieving physical fatigue. How is basil grown? Simply bury the seeds in a pot, which is then covered with soil mixed with natural fertilizers to accelerate their growth. The basil plant needs moist soil, but beware of waterlogging: if you water it more than necessary, you risk wilting it within a few hours. If you also have a basil plant at home or in the garden, you will surely remove the leaves if necessary to flavor your dishes or prepare decoctions. Are you sure you know how to pick a basil leaf? Be careful: if you peel it this way, you’ll kill your plant.
For example, you should never peel the leaves of the basil plant
If you’re used to simply plucking the individual leaves from your beautiful basil plant and then using them, read on: you’re doing it all wrong! You should never pluck the leaves from the basil plant in this way, otherwise, its death is guaranteed. So, what’s the right method to best pick the leaves of this super fragrant plant without causing any damage? Here’s what experts who share the perfect pruning technique say: you just need to use the scissors to cut a branch that usually has 4 leaves attached to it.
In this way, our basil plant will not die, on the contrary, it will also have time to regenerate a new branch with new leaves on the cut part. Be careful never to cut the lower branches near the root, but always the highest ones. Did you know that you can also change the flavor of your basil leaves? You just need to proceed with pruning the tips that will sprout on the flower stems of your plant and pick up some important nutritional properties to ensure that the flavor of the basil is altered. We’ll also let you in on another secret that is sure to come in handy if you’re a fan of aromatic herbs: never grow the basil plant and the sage plant together, or in any case close to each other: both would end up dying. The basil plant needs permeable and moist soil. On the contrary, sage grows perfectly in dry soils.
All the beneficial properties of basil
Basil is an amazing plant that is used not only to flavor dishes and dishes. Its leaves can also be used for therapeutic purposes. Scientific studies have shown that regular consumption of basil leaves helps to:
- Keep mood swings under control;
- wound healing;
- combat the feeling of tiredness and exhaustion;
- soothing abdominal pain and cramps;
- relieve skin redness;
- Cleanses the skin of pimples and impurities.
As you can read, basil has so many virtues that are useful for our body in many situations. You can consume the leaves fresh, you can make a decoction or a skin packet. The leaves of this plant are amazing when used correctly. Now that you’ve also learned the proper technique to cut it without damaging the plant, all you have to do is enjoy all the beneficial properties that this amazing jewel of nature gives to our body.
