The cold is pressing, but there is still life on the balcony. The last basil leaves shine in the oblique October light, fragrant like a barely touched summer. And right now is the ideal time to propagate basil cuttings from the balcony, with a simple gesture that extends the season and multiplies the greenery.
Let go of the basil when the cold weather arrives it would be a shame. But with three quick and intuitive moves, it is possible to save the plant, regenerate it and obtain new tufts to keep in the kitchen or on the veranda. A small ritual that combines care and gratitude: taking care of the basil today means having it available tomorrow too, while outside the temperatures drop and nature retreats.
Multiplying basil in autumn is both a practical and poetic gesture. All it takes is a few minutes, a little water and a few rays of sunshine. Let’s see how to do it.
Read also: All about basil in autumn: what to do, what to avoid and how to make it last
Three Cuts, One New Life: How to Propagate Basil Cuttings
The first move for propagate basil cuttings from the balcony is to carefully choose the most suitable branches. There is no need to prune the entire plant: a few young, vigorous stems, about 10 cm long, are enough. The important thing is that they have not flowered and show healthy, turgid, full green leaves. Cut obliquely just below a node, which is the point where the leaves come from. This stimulates root formation. Remove the lower leaves to leave the part that will be immersed in water exposed. The gesture must be firm but delicate, as if you were engraving a memory. Better to use sharp scissors or a very clean grafting knife, to avoid infections.
Immediately after cutting, immerse the cuttings in a glass of room temperature water. Choose a transparent container, which allows you to observe the growth of the roots. No fertilizer is needed: clean water, changed every 2-3 days, is more than sufficient. Store them near a bright window, but away from cold drafts. After a week, you will see the first white filaments emerge from the submerged node: it is the basil that returns, silent and tenacious.
Roots and rebirth: when and how to transplant cuttings
After about 10-15 days, the basil cuttings develop a small root network, ready to tackle the soil. The transplant moment is delicate, but if done calmly and carefully, it brings surprising results.
Choose a medium-sized pot, at least 15cm deep, with good drainage. Fill it with a light, well-aerated potting soil: a herb mix or a mix of peat, sand and mature compost.
Make a hole with your fingers and gently insert the cutting, taking care not to break the newly formed roots. Compact the soil around the stem and water sparingly: basil loves humidity, but fears stagnation.
During autumn, keep the pots under cover: a bright veranda, an internal windowsill or a cold greenhouse are ideal places. If night temperatures drop below 10°C, protect the young plants with a non-woven sheet.
Within a few days, the leaves will begin to open, shiny and plump. This will be a sign that the cutting has settled in and is growing. A new plant, born from a fragment, grown with patience.
In summary: the 3 steps to propagate basil in autumn
Sometimes just a few gestures are enough to feel that autumn is not only the end, but also the beginning.
Watching a leaf take root is like seeing time slow down.
There is something deeply gratifying about giving continuity to a plant that has been with us for months.
Taking cuttings is like writing a letter to winter, saying, “you haven’t defeated me yet.”
And then, let’s face it, seeing a new leaf emerge has the same effect as an unexpected smile. A small daily miracle that reminds us of something essential: even time that slows down generates life. So here’s what to do, step by step:
- Cut young branches: about 10 cm, under a knot, with sharp scissors.
- Put in water: in a transparent glass, with light but without cold.
- Transplant when roots appear: potted with light, draining soil.
Three simple, almost ritual moves. Like kneading bread or lighting a candle.
A gesture of continuity in the fading season
Autumn tends towards silence, but in the silence lies a gentle strength. Taking a basil cutting is a way to pass through time with your hands. An act of care that speaks of cycles, of expectations, of returns.
While everything slows down, the basil starts again. And from the window, in a cup full of water or in an earthenware jar, something grows. Green, fragrant, familiar. It’s not just gardening: it’s a living memory, which smells of home and summer returning.
Photo © stock.adobe
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