Sign Up
Click on links below to jump to that question.
- Q.Why Are House Flies Eating My Basil Plants. - Flies hate basil, that's a crock! Just bought 2 basil plant for my kitchen. Both plants have swarms, b/w 5 ...
- Q.African Blue Basil -invasive - In the Mary Ellen Ellis article about African Blue Basil she states "This plant can become invasive and spread rapidly ...
- Q.Planting A Snippet Off Basil - I have a healthy basil I raised from piece of basil from my garden last fall. Will it loose its ...
- Q.Basil - I just read your article on growing basil outdoors. What height should I keep my basil plant at? Thanks.
Asked by
Anonymous on
June 21, 2024Q.Why Are House Flies Eating My Basil Plants.
Flies hate basil, that's a crock! Just bought 2 basil plant for my kitchen. Both plants have swarms, b/w 5 and 10 flies on each plant, opposite side's of the kitchen. Holes in every leaf. Why????
Answered by
GKH_Susan on
June 22, 2024
Certified ExpertA.Houseflies do not normally eat plant leaves so something else is probably eating your plants. Since your plants are indoors that limits the insects. Check the underside of leaves for common insect invaders such as aphids, scale, or whiteflies, that may have come with your plants. Those are sap sucking insects whose holes are likely too small to notice, however. Fungus gnats fly around plants but they are not eating the plants. Sometimes holes are caused by fungal spots that drop out.
You can safely spray basil with insecticidal soap. You also can place yellow sticky traps around the kitchen.
https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05502.pdf
https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/less-toxic-insecticides/
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/holes-in-basil-leaves.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/basil-diseases.htm
Was this answer useful?00
Join Us -
Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips!
- Asked by
Anonymous on
March 23, 2025Q.African Blue Basil -invasive
In the Mary Ellen Ellis article about African Blue Basil she states "This plant can become invasive and spread rapidly in disturbed areas. Take care if growing outside in a region where the conditions are right for it to thrive." It does not reseed, must be propagated. So how can it be invasive?
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
March 25, 2025
Certified ExpertA.You are correct. This article is about African basil, not African Blue, which is a hybrid of two basils as you say. I will let the editor know.
Thanks for the heads up!
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
May 24, 2025Q.Planting A Snippet Off Basil
I have a healthy basil I raised from piece of basil from my garden last fall. Will it loose its strength if I repeat and plant a pice of it in the garden this spring??
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
May 26, 2025
Certified ExpertA.It should do fine and keep its strength as long as it's given proper light, water, and fertilizer. Here is more about propagating basil:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/propagating-basil.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/information-on-how-to-grow-basil-indoors.htm
Was this answer useful?00 - Asked by
Anonymous on
June 30, 2025Q.Basil
I just read your article on growing basil outdoors. What height should I keep my basil plant at? Thanks.
- Answered by
GKH_Susan on
June 30, 2025
Certified ExpertA.The height is up to you, but you can start harvesting basil when it is about 8 inches tall. Pinching it off will make the basil stems stronger and bushier. This article tells you how to harvest basil:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/basil/how-to-harvest-basil.htm
Was this answer useful?00
Do you know a lot about gardening?
Become a GKH Gardening Expert
X
Join Us -
Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips!