Basil- yellow leaves and curling; heat stress?

[Linde]

I have basil in small containers. In the last few weeks the bottom leaves have turned yellow. On one of the plants, the one that was in a sunnier, hotter spot, the leaves also started to curl length-wise. Could this be heat stress? We've had the first stretch of hot and humid days in the last couple of weeks? Too much or too little water perhaps?

[imafan26]

can you post a picture. Those same symptoms can be from over watering too.

[Linde]

Here are some pics:

[Susan W]

Stressed! Need bigger containers. I can put one basil plant in a 10", 2 in a 12". Basils grow both above and below with a large root system (needs good root system to nourish the top growth).
Put in a larger container. Pinch off lower yellow leaves. For containers that size I usually use bagged potting mix, Fafards, Miracle Grow etc. Put in area with morning but not all day afternoon sun.
The existing stressed leaves won't turn into pretty basil leaves. I like to wait a couple days after transplant to cut back the plant, by 1/4 to 1/3, and use that in your recipes. Hopefully new growth will be pretty!
Hope this helps.

[Linde]

Thanks,
I've re-potted it. Hopefully it'll recover.

I have so many tomatoes that'll ripen over the next few weeks, I'll need some basil for all the tomato salad and tomato sauce I'll be eating.

[Linde]

Success! I repotted the basil in a bigger container and it is doing so much better.

[catgrass]

Basil is so easy to start from cuttings, I'd start another pot as the summer goes on. My large one has bit the dirt because of high heat, but I have 2 started from cuttings, just stuck in the ground. I so love pesto!

[JPNguyen]

Great observation with the small pot. Your made the right choice by moving it to a bigger container. It looks much healthier and tastier!