LEMON BASIL – नींबू तुलसी (50-60 Seeds)

🌿 Lemon Basil
🔹 Scientific name ➜ Ocimum × africanum
🔹 Family ➜ Basil (Tulsi family)
🔹 Smell ➜ Strong lemon fragrance 🍋
🔹 Leaves ➜ Light green, soft
🔹 Used for ➜ Herbal tea, salads, Thai dishes, essential oil

🌤️ Climate
➜ Warm season herb 🌞
➜ Best temperature ➜ 20–35°C
➜ In Punjab ➜
• Best sowing ➜ Feb–April
• Also grows in monsoon 🌧️
➜ Frost sensitive ❄️ (protect in winter)

🌱 Sowing Method
➜ Direct sowing or nursery both possible
➜ Seed depth ➜ 0.5–1 cm
➜ Germination ➜ 5–8 days
➜ Transplant after ➜ 20–25 days (if nursery)
Spacing:
➜ Row to row ➜ 30–40 cm
➜ Plant to plant ➜ 25–30 cm

🌾 Soil
➜ Well-drained loamy soil
➜ pH ➜ 6.0–7.5
➜ Add compost before sowing 🐄

💧 Watering
➜ Light but regular watering
➜ Do not overwater ❌
➜ Water every 5–7 days in summer

🌿 Fertilizer
➜ Compost ➜ 4–5 tons per acre
➜ Jeevamrit spray every 15 days
➜ Too much nitrogen ➜ reduces aroma ⚠️

✂️ Pruning (Very Important)
➜ Pinch top after 25–30 days
➜ This makes plant bushy 🌿
➜ More branches ➜ More leaves ⬆️

🐛 Pests
➜ Aphids
➜ Whiteflies
✔️ Neem oil spray works well 🌿

🧺 Harvesting
➜ First cutting ➜ 40–50 days
➜ Cut 10–15 cm above ground
➜ 3–4 cuttings possible

⏳ Plant Survival
➜ It is technically annual in Punjab
➜ Productive life ➜ 4–6 months
➜ In warm areas without frost ➜ may survive longer