comatoseDuck
Newly Registered
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 8:54 pm
Location: Mother Earth

What's eating my basil?

My basil has been doing quite well (best of 4 even) but after I got home from work today I noticed a couple of leaves has been eaten away leaving holes in them. I have had a problem with aphids in the past but haven't seen any in a couple of weeks. Did some preliminary googeling and I was wondering if it could possibly be spider mites as there is a small web growing on the tomato plant next to the basil. If it is indeed spider mites any suggestions on getting rid of them? (I was going to try 1 tblsp Dr. Bronner's in 1L of water) Here's a pic of the eaten basil (not the greatest quality I couldn't get my camera to focus)
[img]https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7088/7311547512_a20974965e_b.jpg[/img]
Thanks for the help!

EDIT: It may be worth noting that it rained/stormed all night last night...

cynthia_h
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7500
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 7:02 pm
Location: El Cerrito, CA

Please read through these threads, a couple of them from a week or so ago, for the very same situation. I suspect the very same culprit, too...

[url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=258155#258155]Blight?[/url]

[url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=214971#214971]Slugs eating my basil![/url]

[url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=207406#207406]Holes in plant leaves all over garden[/url] [w/photos of basil plants]

[url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=201338#201338]Help sweet basil[/url] Please see pix

Basil seems to be a favorite target of these menaces. :x

Cynthia H.
Sunset Zone 17, USDA Zone 9

comatoseDuck
Newly Registered
Posts: 4
Joined: Thu May 31, 2012 8:54 pm
Location: Mother Earth

Thing is though I haven't seen any slugs nor caterpillars. But I will keep my eye out for them!

cynthia_h
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 7500
Joined: Tue May 06, 2008 7:02 pm
Location: El Cerrito, CA

When (I.e., what time of day) do you look for the slugs?

Cynthia

User avatar
rainbowgardener
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 25279
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

cynthia's point is that you will never see the slugs if you come out in the daytime, only if you go out at night with a flashlight and look. I recommend doing this occasionally, it is really interesting the different view of your garden you get ..

You can check for the slugs by putting a board down flat on the soil. Leave it there a couple days and then lift it up in broad daylight and see what is hiding under it!



Return to “Organic Insect and Plant Disease Control”