Help, Basil Dead! Growing Your Own Herbs Vegetables

HELP, BASIL DEAD!

lilyb102 16 years ago

I m new at this, my basil is always dead after two weeks or so!!! It has direct light! I don t know what to do anymore!
How often do i have to water it? Thank s

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turlak 16 years ago said:

usually gets eaten up pretty bad, but it is doing great so far. I water it about every other day and planted it next to cilantro (a tip I got from this group to keep the aphids away).
Also, trim the top leaves about once a week. That is all I know!
~Dawn

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trigger 16 years ago said:

I got this from the web

Overview: Basil is an annual herb closely identified with Italian cooking, although it is originally from India. Today there are dozens of different basil varieties, some with the familiar lemony tang and others with spicy and exotic scents and flavors. They all grow easily in warm, sunny weather as tender annuals. The leaves are commonly used in cooking, but the flower buds are also edible.
Latin Name: Ocimum basilicum Common: Basil
Zone: Tender Annual
Size: Varies with variety. ‘Sweet Basil’ can reach 6', but grows to about 3' for most gardeners. There are also short 6" dwarf varieties, which work especially well in pots.
Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Period/Days to Harvest: You will want to prevent your basil from blooming for as long as possible, by harvesting or pinching off the top sets of leaves as soon as the plant reaches about 6" in height. If the plant sets flowers, it is on its way to going to seed and will not be bushing out with leaves. Once a basil plant goes to seed, the existing leaves lessen in flavor.
Description: Basil is a member of the mint family. The extremely aromatic leaves also have a delightful variety of flavors from the slightly lemony mint of ‘Sweet Basil’ to cinnamon, and licorice. Leaf color spans from rich green to deep purple, with smooth or crinkled leaves. The flowers are insignificant, but very popular with bees.
Design Tips: Basil is traditionally planted along side tomato plants. It’s said they help each other grow, but it may just be for convenience in harvesting. Basil does not need to remain in the vegetable or herb garden. Some of the shorter, purple varieties, like ‘Spicy Globe’, actually make nice edging plants in the ornamental garden, if you do not have problems with animals.
Suggested Varieties:
Cultural Notes: Basil is a heat lover. Do not bother planting it until the daytime temperatures remain in the 70s F. and night temperatures are above 50 degrees F. Seeds can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before last spring frost date. Unlike many Mediterranean herbs, basil likes a somewhat rich soil and does not like to be kept dry.
Space plants about 10" apart. They will bush out. Begin pinching the tops off once the plants reach about 6" in height. If you do not pinch or harvest, the plants will grow tall and gangly, with few leaves and will bolt to seed. You can continue harvesting as long as there are leaves left on the plant to keep it going.
Basil is very sensitive to frost and will be one of the first plants to go in the fall. You can extend the season slightly by covering your plants with row covers when frost is threatened. However, if a frost covered row cover, that is enough to likely, touches the leaves turn them black.
If you live in a frost-free area, you might want to allow some basil plants so set flowers and self-seed in your garden. Not all varieties will do this successfully.
Growing Indoors: You can grow basil indoor, from seed, seedling or cuttings from your vegetable garden plants. Provide direct sunlight and warmth and feed monthly. Underfed basil plant, indoors or out, will have pale green leaves.
Problems: Aphids are the biggest basil pest, especially if grown indoors. Beetles and slugs can be a nuisance outdoors, tearing holes in the leaves.
Harvesting: As noted, frequent harvesting or pinching of the leaves will keep your basil plants producing longer. You can pinch off individual leaves or take the tops off large plants, if you need a large amount.

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rml 16 years ago said:

I buy Basil plants every year and every year...I keep them alive for around two to three weeks. I've kept them as house plants in my "sunny" window and I've planted them in my garden.
Lilyb...I have the same issue. Love basil, basil doesn't love me.

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invisiblechef 16 years ago said:

You have to keep your basil trimmed. Like Trigger mentioned. You can see my basil plant from last year under my photos, it never had any problems so I'm not sure how to help. I started mine from seeds indoors in the spring and then slowly let it outside, but would bring it inside during the night until it got really strong. It was also around other herbs, like Parsley and sage, along with tomato plants. None of my plants had problems with aphids except my pepper plant, and that was after I had to bring it indoors when the weather was starting to get cold!

Rosemary is the one plant that doesn't love me! although I've been told it's suppose to be the easiest herb to grow..

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jdpinky 15 years ago said:

I don't water mine very much. only when the soil is dry and I always have several kinds growing and never have a problem. I also clip mine but not always and I notice it only looks crappy when theres too much rain.
Jody

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