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- Q.What Is Causing My Basil To Become “spotted?” - Could you please email me from a direct address that I can correspond with — as I have several questions ...
- Q.Basil Leaves Turned Wrinkly, Dry, And Are Yellowing. Sunburn? Underwatered? Fungus Issue? - Some of my basil leaves have curled up, had some dried up/crispy brown spots, and uneven yellowing. After some reading, ...
- Q.What Is “eating” My Plants, And What Can I Do To Stop This? - I just planted newly purchased small plants: basil, bee balm, curly parsley, and drawn phlox. The next day they looked ...
- Q.What “bug” Is Destroying My Plants? - This spring I bought basil plants, bee balm, and dwarf phlox. Shortly after that I noticed holes in the plant ...
- Q.Insects Are Eating Leaves On My Basilicum Plant - I don't want to use insecticide to spray them
- Q.Black Bugs On Basil Stems - Larger than thrips. What are they and how do I treat them?
- Q.How Do I Treat Yellow Basil Leaves - First year in raised garden bed Also in bed are tomatoes and bell pepper plants So far we have picked ...
Asked by
Anonymous on
May 23, 2020Q.What is causing my basil to become “spotted?”
Could you please email me from a direct address that I can correspond with — as I have several questions regarding this overall question above.
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 26, 2020
Certified ExpertA.Basil can be sensitive to cold weather; they need heat and plenty of sunshine.
These articles will help you.https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/basil-diseases.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/yellow-leaves-on-basil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/holes-in-basil-leaves.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/how-to-grow-basil-plants.htmWas this answer useful?00
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- Asked by
blob on
May 27, 2020Q.Basil Leaves Turned Wrinkly, Dry, And Are Yellowing. Sunburn? Underwatered? Fungus Issue?
Some of my basil leaves have curled up, had some dried up/crispy brown spots, and uneven yellowing. After some reading, it matches downy mildew but my plants don't have any grey/black fuzziness on the bottom. Could I be underwatering and/or they are getting sunburned? Or do you think it is a fungus problem?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
May 27, 2020
Certified ExpertA.This is quite the opposite! Overwatering has, indeed, led to an infection. This is very common with Basil.
They will like to dry out pretty well between waterings. If they do not get a chance to dry down to about an inch or 2, completely, they will contract infections easily.
You can pick heavily infected leaves off and treat with natural fungicides, but it will return at some point. The best thing will be prevention.
Make sure to wash the container, thoroughly, before you plant again after harvest. This combined with using fresh soil will prevent another outbreak.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/homemade-fungicide.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/applying-bactericide-to-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/basil-watering-tips.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/information-on-how-to-grow-basil-indoors.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
shschill on
May 30, 2020
01002Q.What Is “eating” My Plants, And What Can I Do To Stop This?
I just planted newly purchased small plants: basil, bee balm, curly parsley, and drawn phlox. The next day they looked like something was eating them (the parsley) but some plants small holes (basil, bee balm & phlox) What can I do organically to remove the pests, whatever they are? But for whatever reason, I cannot upload photos (and I have spent hours trying, because I was able to in the past). Perhaps I can send a couple of photos, if someone can help me
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
June 2, 2020
Certified ExpertA.That is infection from wet soil! I would not recommend re using this. It will be easier and cheaper to start with fresh soil and correct the watering habits that lead to infection.
Be sure to let the soil dry, thoroughly, down to about 2 or 3 inches or so between watering. Saturated soils choke roots, and lead to infection.
The speed of the onset of symptoms would lead me to believe that the soil was infected before the time of planting.
Be sure that there is drainage at the bottom of the container. If there isn't, you may need to drill holes to let any extra water out, or choose a container with drainage.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/hpgen/how-to-water-a-plant.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/containers/container-plant-watering.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/watering/watering-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/watering/watering-new-plants.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
shschill on
July 4, 2020
01002Q.What “bug” Is Destroying My Plants?
This spring I bought basil plants, bee balm, and dwarf phlox. Shortly after that I noticed holes in the plant leaves. Then it spread to other plants. It seems like it may be a type of flying insect. I do not see caterpillars or worms. Did I import this from the nursery that I bought them from? Or is it a more common problem this year? (I have never seen something like this before.)
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 6, 2020
Certified ExpertA.I does appear to be insect damage, but I am also seeing signs of saturated soils that do not have time to dry out between watering. This will exacerbate any insect damage, dramatically.
I don't see the insect in question, so I can't identify what is causing the issue.
Make sure that the soil has a chance to dry out between waterings, at least, down to 2 or 3 inches. Normally, rain water is plenty. If there is a drought, watering may not be a bad idea as long as you confirm that it is dry down to an acceptable depth.
I would recommend a broad spectrum insecticide, and a fungicide. They can, usually, be used together. Sometimes the ingredients, even, overlap.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/what-are-organic-pesticides.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/using-fungicides-in-garden.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/biofungicide-information.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/homemade-fungicide.htm
Was this answer useful?10 - Asked by
Anonymous on
July 17, 2020Q.Insects are eating leaves on my basilicum plant
I don't want to use insecticide to spray them
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
July 19, 2020
Certified ExpertA.You can safely treat your plant with neem oil, following the directions on the bottle.
This should take care of your problem. Here's an article that will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/holes-in-basil-leaves.htmWas this answer useful?00 - Asked by
piabyrne on
July 19, 2020
Sydney australiaQ.Black Bugs On Basil Stems
Larger than thrips. What are they and how do I treat them?
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 20, 2020
Certified ExpertA.This will be scale! Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/control-plant-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/insects/what-is-armored-scale.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/what-are-organic-pesticides.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/how-to-grow-basil-plants.htm
Was this answer useful?10 - Asked by
467garza on
July 21, 2020
Kalamazoo MI zone 5Q.How Do I Treat Yellow Basil Leaves
First year in raised garden bed Also in bed are tomatoes and bell pepper plants So far we have picked the plants twice and we have 10 plants in all We haven’t used any fertilizer just egg shells and our compost The original soil was top soil and organic mix made for vegetables We have been using rain water when needed.
- Answered by
BushDoctor on
July 22, 2020
Certified ExpertA.It sounds like the larger vegetables are taking all of the nutrients before the basil can get any! This will be, especially, true when the area is not fed frequently.
I would feed with an all purpose fertilizer of your choice, or amend the soil with plenty of organic material, such as compost.
Here are some articles that will help:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/fertilizer-numbers-npk.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/testing-soil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/soil-ph-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/the-importance-of-soil-for-an-organic-garden.htm
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