Hello!
I am a real newbie in gardening! I just planted my first basil plants a couple of weeks ago and they seem to be growing just fine, and they smell delicious!
I have them in a pot in my balcony. They get plenty of sun, and the weather here is quite dry (now in spring it rains like once or twice every couple of weeks), and it's getting pretty hot (we had 25ºC, 77ºF yesterday).
The thing is, I've noticed some leaves have white-ish spots on them... I really have no idea what they are, and I've been taking out the affected leaves (I did this out of intuition, I really don't know whether it's a good idea or not...).
Here's a picture of what they look like:
(click for bigger image )
And also, I've noticed some winged small dark bugs flying around my plants. I have no clue what they are or whether they're harmful for my basil... I managed to take a picture of one:
Does anyone know if these two things are related? Should I be worried? I don't want to use pesticides because I intend to use the basil for cooking... Any alternatives??
Thanks a lot!!
aletheia7
- hendi_alex
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:58 am
- Location: Central Sand Hills South Carolina
Some gardeners just look at things way too closely. Your basil is quite lovely, even the one with the microscopic damage. I don't mind sharing a bit with the bugs, and don't worry too much unless the problem is causing the plant to decline, or the damage is to the extent that it reduces the harvest that we are counting on. I wouldn't worry about it at this point. Just keep an eye on the plant, and take action early if any significant damage starts to take place.
- applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30550
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
It looks like a predatory fly to me. It's probably after whatever is making those spots (looks like a sucking pest damage). IMHO, you are right not to spray your herbs indiscriminately.
Just take care of the plants to alleviate any stress, don't over feed them to prevent weakling growth, remove any leaves that you don't want to eat.
I have/had an infestation of what I call Tomato aphids (they are usually red) on my tomato seedlings started inside. They are getting overgrown and stressed, making them susceptible to pest infestation. Now that the have been outside, I'm finding aphid mummies on them, so I know my Garden Patrol is already taking care of the problem. I'm relying on them to keep the seedlings protected until I can get them in the ground and back to healthy growth.
Just take care of the plants to alleviate any stress, don't over feed them to prevent weakling growth, remove any leaves that you don't want to eat.
I have/had an infestation of what I call Tomato aphids (they are usually red) on my tomato seedlings started inside. They are getting overgrown and stressed, making them susceptible to pest infestation. Now that the have been outside, I'm finding aphid mummies on them, so I know my Garden Patrol is already taking care of the problem. I'm relying on them to keep the seedlings protected until I can get them in the ground and back to healthy growth.
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Yup, the squiggles in the leaves are the tunnels leaf miner larvae make, eating their way around the inner leaf layers. Just pick and dispose of any affected leaves. If you don't get rid of them, the larvae will eventually come out, drop to the ground, become adult flies. So it helps to keep the ground mulched, which helps disrupt that process. There is a wildflower called velvetleaf which works great as a trap crop for them. The velvtleaf as its name suggest, has big soft leaves the miners prefer over anything else.
- applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 30550
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
Ah, that's too bad. But as mentioned, pick off the leaves (if the plant is thriving with lots of leaves), cut off the doodles with scissors or crush the larvae at the end of the doodles to kill them. The more diligent you are at this stage when they first appear to prevent the next generation, the better off you'll be.
I'm also using hole punch to punch out the larvae from the leaves on larger plants.
I'm also using hole punch to punch out the larvae from the leaves on larger plants.
- hendi_alex
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:58 am
- Location: Central Sand Hills South Carolina
Guess I'll count myself as lucky. Don't remember having many pests to bother our basil. Flea beetles do a little damage, but seem to prefer other items like our egg plant. The slugs will take a nibble, but they as well seem to prefer other more tender, less pungent leaves, like Swiss Chard, lettuce, and beans.
- rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b