bbsmylie
Newly Registered
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Jul 10, 2009 11:29 am

Basil spots - first post

First post to these forums, and first time gardener. I apologize if this is a stupid question, I am learning as I go here and I haven't been able to find anything online to match this. Maybe I am not looking in the right place. Anyway, my basil, which has been pretty good this summer, has broken out in rust colored spots on all of the old leaves, after the last cut back. Here are some pictures:
[img]https://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/bbsmylie/DSC_0694.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/bbsmylie/DSC_0695.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/bbsmylie/DSC_0696.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/bbsmylie/DSC_0697.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/bbsmylie/DSC_0698.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i635.photobucket.com/albums/uu77/bbsmylie/DSC_0699.jpg[/img]

I appreciate in advance any help in figuring out what I have been doing wrong. In case it is needed, I am in Illinois, it has been pretty cool and wet, the basil is potted in miracle grow moisture control potting mix.

Thanks in advance,

Ben

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

I don't know for sure, but offhand it looks like sunscald. Sometimes if there are drops of water on the leaves and then the sun shines directly on it, the water drops act like little lenses magnifying the sun and the leaf sun burns in that spot. If so, it isn't really a problem and shouldn't spread.

Best thing to do for it is to water early in the AM so the leaves dry out before it gets hot (which is also a good practice to avoid fungal diseases) and to work on just watering the roots of your plant, not the leaves.

Keep an eye on it and let us know if anything changes.



Return to “Herb Gardening Forum”