Help! Bought starter plants to eat, so don't want to use anything that would prohibit being able to do so. Plants are over a foot high now; have lots of chewed-looking holes on many leaves. Many thanks for any help.
This sounds like slugs, which love basil. This article will help you with the slugs: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/facts-about-slugs-and-how-to-kill-garden-slugs.htm
Our basil crop has brown-spotted leaves, especially the older leaves. I'm trying to preserve some of the basil -- the apparently uninfected leaves. Can consuming basil from an infected plant be harmful to humans?
They are safe to eat. While they may not have the same quality, in terms of size and flavor, due to the disease (which is likely a fungus that can be treated with neem oil), they will not harm you in any way.
Light green spots on my new basil plant that was planted 3 days ago.
Check the spots carefully. I suspect they are actually aphids. They are vary small and tend not to move much. This article will help you with them:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/homemade-aphid-control-a-natural-way-to-kill-aphids.htm
I planted a raised garden bed this summer. I planted basil, tomatoes, peppers, and arugula. The ants are eating my basil and pepper plants so far. I do not want to use chemicals. . . any suggestions?
Typically, ants are not a threat to the garden but are instead attracted to the honeydew secretions left behind from certain pests, like aphids. Of course, they may also be attracted to rotting or sugary fruits. Cornmeal is often used in home remedies for treating ants. Here is an article or two that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/keeping-ants-of-flowering-vines-vegetables-and-flowers.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/get-rid-of-ants.htm
I planted my basil in highly acidic soil and it is not tender and is bitter. I was wondering if the soil is my problem.
Basil prefers a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.5. It sounds like your basil may have gone to seed. When a basil plant flowers, the leaves become bitter. It is important to the flavor to remove flowers as soon as you see them.
I have had basil plants that I bought already started. I also planted seeds this year. The problem is something is eating the leaves and it isn't me. What could it be and how do I get rid of it!
The most common culprit for this is slugs. They love basil leaves. Read this article for some advice on getting rid of them: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/facts-about-slugs-and-how-to-kill-garden-slugs.htm
After buying Thai basil from store, I picked all the leaves to use and put the cuttings in water. The cuttings were rotten after a few days. Is it possible to grow Thai basil from store-bought cuttings? Are there any tricks that I need to know? Please help. Thanks.
It shouldn't make any difference if the herb is store bought or from the garden. If you would like to try again, perhaps the tips in this article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/propagating-basil.htm