How to Plant Scent Leaf Seed

 

One of the most popular medicinal herb and vegetable that are grown by a lot of people in Africa is Scent leaf. Actually scent leaf is widely used in soups, teas, and traditional remedies because of its strong aroma and health benefits. Scent leaf plant is very easy to grow and they can actually thrive in gardens, pots, sacks, or small backyard spaces. If the Scent leaf plant is properly cared for, the Scent leaf plant will grow quickly and then produces fresh leaves for many months.

Furthermore, the Scent leaf plant is also known as African basil or Ocimum gratissimum. The Scent leaf plant actually prefers warm weather, sunlight, and moist soil. Growing the Scent leaf plant from seed is very simple, even for beginners, and the plant does not actually require expensive tools or farming experience to get started.

Choosing Good Scent leaf plant Seeds

To get started the first step is to get a healthy scent leaf seeds. You can actually purchase the scent leaf seeds from a garden shop, local market, or you can easily collect them from a mature scent leaf flowers. Good scent leaf seeds are usually small, dark, and dry.

Make sure you avoid the scent leaf seeds that are moldy, damaged, or too old because the seeds may likely not germinate very well. The fresh scent leaf seeds normally sprout faster and they produce stronger plants.

Best Time to Plant Scent leaf Seeds

The Scent leaf plant actually grows best during warm weather. In some tropical countries like Nigeria, the rainy season is usually the best time to plant the scent leaf seeds because the soil remains moist naturally.

On the other hand you can still grow scent leaf plants during the dry season if you can water them regularly. The scent leaf plant does not actually tolerate extreme cold or frost.

Choosing the Right Location For Planting

The Scent leaf plants actually need enough sunlight to grow properly. You need to choose a place that receives at least four to six hours of sunlight daily.

Good locations for plant scent leaf include:

·  A backyard gardens

·  A raised beds

·  A good containers or pots

·  A sack or grow bags

·  A Balcony gardens

Also the area for planting should have good drainage because waterlogged soil can easily cause root rot.

Also read: How to Grow Basil From Seed

Preparing the Soil For Planting

A healthy soil is very vital for a successful planting. The scent leaf plant grows best in a loose, fertile soil that is rich in organic matter.

To prepare the soil for plant:

1.    You need to clear the grasses and weeds from the area.

2.    You need to loosen the soil using a hoe or shovel.

3.    Mix compost or animal manure into the soil.

4.    You have to break large soil lumps to make the soil fine and soft.

The soil for planting should not be too clayey or too sandy. A loamy soil is generally the best option for planting scent leaf because it holds moisture while still allowing drainage.

Planting the Scent Leaf Seeds

The scent leaf plant seeds are actually very tiny, so the seeds should not be buried too deeply.

The Direct Planting Method

1.    You need to make shallow lines or holes in the soil.

2.    Then sprinkle the scent plant seeds lightly into the holes.

3.    You need to cover them with a thin layer of soil.

4.    Make sure you water gently using a watering can.

Make sure you avoid pouring too much soil over the scent leaf plant seeds because the seeds may fail to germinate.

The Nursery Method

A lot of gardeners prefer to raise the scent leaf seedlings first before transplanting.

1.    Just fill a seed tray or small pot with fertile soil.

2.    Then sprinkle the scent leaf seeds evenly.

3.    Then cover lightly with soil.

4.    Make sure you water carefully.

5.    You need to keep the soil moist until germination.

The scent leaf plant seeds usually germinate within five to fourteen  days depending on the weather conditions and the seed quality.

Watering the Scent Leaf Seeds

Water is very important during the early growth stage. And also the soil should remain moist but not flooded.

You can water once or twice daily, most especially during hot weather. Actually early morning and evening are actually the best times to water the scent leaf plant because the sun is less intense.

Too much water can easily damage the scent leaf plant seeds or encourage fungal diseases, so make sure you avoid overwatering.

Transplanting the Scent Leaf Seedlings

If you actually used a nursery, the scent leaf plant seedlings can be transplanted when they are about ten to fifteen centimeter tall or when they have a number of leaves.

To transplant the scent leaf seedlings:

1.    You need to water the scent leaf seedlings before removing them.

2.    You need to carefully lift them with soil around the roots.

3.    Then plant them in prepared holes.

4.    Space the Scent leaf plants about thirty to forty-five centimeter apart.

5.    Make sure you water immediately after transplanting.

Proper spacing of the scent leaf plant can help to improve air circulation and also allows the plants to grow well.

Mulching The Plant

Mulching actually helps to conserve soil moisture and also reduce weed growth around the plant.

You can use the following:

·  Straw

·  Leaves

·  Sawdust

·  Dry grass

Make sure you spread the mulch lightly around the scent leaf plants but also avoid covering the stem directly.

Applying Fertilizer on The Plant

The scent leaf plant actually grows better when nutrients are available in the soil.

You can use organic fertilizers:

·  You can use poultry manure

·  Compost

·  Cow dung

·  And also kitchen compost

You can as well use a balanced NPK fertilizer in small amounts. Make sure you apply fertilizer carefully because too much can damage the scent leaf plants.

Weed Control On The Plant

Actually weeds compete with scent leaf plants for nutrients, sunlight, and also water. Make sure you remove weeds regularly by hand or with a hoe.

Make sure you don’t allow weeds to overtake the garden because they can slow the scent leaf plant growth and also attract some pests.

Also read: How to Grow Carrots From Seed

Pest and Disease Control on the Scent Leaf Plants

The scent leaf plants are naturally resistant to many pests because of its strong smell, but there are some insects that may still attack the plant.

Common problems of scent leaf plant include:

·  Grasshoppers

·  Caterpillars

·  Fungal infections

·  Aphids

To control pests naturally on the plant:

·  You need to remove the damaged leaves

·  You can spray neem extract

·  Make sure you always keep the garden clean

·  Make sure you avoid excessive watering

The healthy scent leaf plants usually recover quickly from minor pest attacks.

Pruning and Harvesting Scent Leaf

Actually pruning encourages the scent leaf plant to become bushy and also produce more leaves.

When the scent leaf plant reaches about twenty to thirty centimeter tall:

1.    You can carefully pinch off the top shoots.

2.    Also remove the weak branches.

3.    Make sure you harvest the mature leaves regularly.

Frequent harvesting of the scent leaf plant actually encourages more growth of the plant.

You can actually begin to harvest the scent leaf about six to eight weeks after planting them. You can use a good sharp scissors or your fingers to cut the scent leaves gently.