Question about plant disease (newbie)

[shaiDeljo]

Hi,
I planted organic basil, mint, tomatoes and sage. The tomatoes are doing great but the sage, mint & basil have spots on them and don't look healthy. I am attaching pictures. Would love to get ideas as to what is the cause and how to correct.
Thanks,
Shai

[rainbowgardener]

At a guess, your plants don't have a disease, they have an insect infestation. Various sucking insects pierce plant leaves and then suck juices out and leave scars behind like that. One such would be thrips, which are tiny, probably can't be seen without magnifying glass. Here's a couple pictures of thrips damage:


http://www.maine.gov/dacf/php/gotpests/ ... an-big.jpg


http://www.thechileman.org/guide_img/thrips001.jpg

[imafan26]

I agree, thrips and mites are prevalent this time of year and most are hard to see unless you have a loupe or magnifyer. Even then, if it is late, the insects have already moved on to younger growing tips and what you are seeing will be the scars they leave behind. Fortunately the controls are almost the same.

Making your plants as healthy as possible, cleaning up the weeds and alternate hosts and planting to attract beneficial insects are always your best defenses.

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7429.html
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7405.html
http://www.farmerfred.com/plants_that_a ... enefi.html

[rainbowgardener]

Insecticidal soap or soapy water solution work against them, but only on contact when the insects are present. Has no residual effect.