Basil
BASIL
Sandra Pähklepa
Horticulture 1. course
Introduction
• I have grown basil
• Member of mint family
• Belongs to the genus ocimum
• The genus includes over sixty species of
annuals
Chemistry
• Essential oils in the plant
• Most basils contain methyl chavicol, eugenol
and linalool
• Methyl chavicol provides a sweet flavor
Nutrition
• Low in calories
• No fat
• Source of vitamin A
• Also contains Calcium and smaller amounts of
other vitamins
Cultivation indoors
• Growing indoors is challenging
• Basil needs alot of water
• As a tropical plant, basil requires plenty of heat
and light
• Good soil is sphagnum, perlite and wood chip mix
• Cool white or warm white fluorescent tubes on a
timer work best from light
annaabi.ee 
