Richters ProGrowers Info

Richters ProGrowers Info

  Basil (Ocimum basilicum, and others )
Market Products:   (leaf, herb);   (herb);   (oil);     Market size: 10,000 hectares (world), 1,000 ha (North America)   Prospects: prices stable, volume up
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)
      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.  
  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).  
– Dried Production     – Fresh Production     – Oil Production     – Potted Plant Production    

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