Richters ProGrowers Info
Richters ProGrowers Info |
Basil
(Ocimum basilicum, and others ) |
Market
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Products: (leaf, herb); (herb); (oil);
Market size: 10,000 hectares (world), 1,000 ha (North America)
Prospects: prices stable, volume up
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Culture |
Seed density: 500-1000 (O. gratissimum 2600, O. kilamandscharicum 2800, O. sanctum 1500-2500) seeds/gram
Exposure: full sun
Soil: rich, well-drained
Crop duration: 1 year (O. basilicum), 1-3 years (others)
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Sowing rate: 20kg/ha (direct); 3-4kg/ha (indirect).
Planting: sow direct in spring when nighttime temperatures exceed 10°C; or sow in flats or plugs 8 weeks before field planting.
Field spacing: 30-90cm between rows x 15-25cm within rows.
Yield: fresh herb 15,000kg/ha, dry herb 1,500-2,000kg/ha, oil 30kg/ha (year 1)
Pests: aphids, thrips
Diseases: O. basilicum varieties are highly susceptible to fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum) disease. Disease persists in soil for several years. Commercial field plantings should be sown with fusarium-tolerant Nufar F1. Hydroponic operations may choose fusarium-free varieties if equipment and facilities are free of fusarium (spreads by contaminated seeds and equipment). Other basil species (e.g. O. americanum and O. gratissimum) are fusarium-tolerant.
Buyers want: not less than 0.4% essential oil in dried product.
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Sowing rate: 3-4g/1000plants.
Planting: sow direct in final pots, or in plugs and later transplant to final pots. Nighttime temperature must not go below 10°C.
Seeds to finished plugs: 8 weeks.
Plugs to saleable plants: 5 weeks.
Pests: whitefly, thrips, aphids
Diseases: fusarium (see above).
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Dried Production
 
Fresh Production
Oil Production
Potted Plant Production
Back to ProGrower Herb List
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