Author Topic: Why can't I grow Basil? (Read 5931 times)

Delilah · « **on:** November 06, 2005, 19:21:15 »

I ve been attempting to grow basil from seed all year and fail miserably.

Seeds germinate OK, seedlings seem healthy, then just as they are big enough to start using the leaves frizzle up turn greyish and stems are furry!!!!!!

Was given advice to only water in the morning cos herbs don't like to go to bed with wet feet!!! and I add grit to compost to make sure the drainage is good.

What am I doing wrong?

Help :(

cleo · « **Reply #1 on:** November 06, 2005, 19:47:41 »

From `Smiling Cat Herbs`-basil is very difficult to grow well,you would be better off buying from a local specialist-well if you live near ;D

Cleo reckons it`s a bit off bad luck and possibly too much humidity. Sowing thinly either in modules or even trays and potting on/planting out in a sheltered spot usually works.

Where are you sowing them? I do suspect the semi plants are too congested.

Derekthefox · « **Reply #2 on:** November 06, 2005, 20:17:53 »

I too struggle with Basil, I have essentially given up trying, as I feel I can employ my efforts better elsewhere.

Derekthefox :D

return of the mac · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2005, 20:37:44 »

Hmm Im proud to say im nae bad at basil- i keep them inside for plenty time and give them loads of space- i prefer bigger plants with huge leaves to small shoots and small leaves, as for the compost, bog standard, not too wet though as its medditerranean, right?

Georgie · « **Reply #4 on:** November 06, 2005, 20:51:00 »

Hi Delilah. I grew 5 different types of Basil this year and the only one which disappointed me was a lemon scented variety. As others have said, they need to be kept indoors/undercover until June. It sounds to me like the leaves on your plants are getting sun scorched - might you inadvertently have splashed water on their leaves? As for the furry stems, no idea, but sounds like a virus. I take it they were in fresh compost? If you PM me I'll happily send you some seed of a different variety to try.

G xx

Moggle · « **Reply #5 on:** November 06, 2005, 21:21:40 »

Furry stems sounds like damping off. I had a similair problem first time I tried basil. Try sowing thinly, keeping well ventilated but still warm, and water from the bottom - ie stick the pot in a saucer/tray of water. Try mixing the compost with vermiculite/perlite too for better drainage??

Svea · « **Reply #6 on:** November 06, 2005, 22:55:50 »

is basil difficult to grow? i did it without any probs this year - sterile compost, water from the bottom, keep warm, plant apart when they become congested, whack into the garden, eh voila.
but as it was probably beginner's luck, you now telling me it's hard means i will fail mmiserably next year :( :p ;D

Delilah · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2005, 09:02:28 »

cleo - I'm growing in greenhouse and will try sowing thinner next time

I could have splashed water on leaves and then they got scorched so will water from bottom next time.

Picked the last few peppers yesterday and noticed slight fur on their stems too, perhaps I will need to clean greenhouse again could I have a virus in there?

Thanks Georgie will PM you soon :)

weedin project · « **Reply #8 on:** November 07, 2005, 11:59:47 »

Delilah
I grow mine in the greenhouse in between the melons. Secret seems to be to keep them thinned out with the humidity right down, and also grow lots and pick it young (use the thinnings, very tasty)!
It was well watered this year (had to be, being next to the melons) and grew quite tall - I pinched out the top stem to encourage bushy growth.

Better luck next year. ;)

colleenemp · « **Reply #9 on:** November 07, 2005, 14:14:09 »

I plonked mine in a pot on a window sill and kept it there for ease of havest....don't know if longevity was any good, harvesting got a bit severe!

tim · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2006, 09:29:14 »

supersprout - let's see what these do?

Basil & Parsley - sprinkled too thickly on the surface - 70F - separated & potted up 10/3 - in cold (v. cold) 'house - just holding their own so far.

supersprout · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2006, 09:51:40 »

Glad I'm not on my own tim!
Until you said, I didn't realise that basil doesn't enjoy the great outdoors.
Anyhoo, having a proper herb grower nearby for plants (waves at cleo), plus a greenhouse for the first time to grow on, puts me in with a chance of the home grown stuff at last
:P :D

tim · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2006, 10:04:06 »

Forgot you were over cleo-way!

Two Choices · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2006, 10:43:40 »

My biggest problem is that production cannot keep up with consumption.
I grow mine in a greenhouse in 5 inch pots by sprinkling a few seeds on the surface, lightly covering them and water from the bottom only (after an initial surface watering with a hand sprayer).
Ending up with about 12 plants to the pot they reach about 9 - 10 inches tall and we like the leaves when about 3 cms long (that's just over an inch in old money). By growing 3 pots every 2 weeks there is a constant supply.
I did read that Basil does dot like to be transplanted. My own experience supported this when trying to transplant individual seedlings. I have had success when moving a clump still in compost or from a small pot to a larger one. Hope this helps.

tim · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2006, 11:23:18 »

Well, yes! We don't use it more than once a week, & the big plants allow us handfuls each time. Our biggest user is avoc, tom & mozzy salad - most of a plant liquidised in a cup or two of olive oil!

MollyBloom · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2006, 11:42:45 »

I start mine off on the kitchen windowsill, but once they're up they need a lot of light as well as heat (they're native to the Mediterranean). Unless you have lots of light and heat to grow them on, they can fail very easily, just because they aren't really suited to the British climate. I don't put mine outside until high summer, in pots so I can move them around to get the best of the sun. If the seedlings start damping off it's very hard to save any, as it will spread like wildfire. Sad to say, the best thing to do in that case is to chuck the whole lot out and start again.

amphibian · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2006, 20:30:13 »

Quote from: MollyBloom on March 20, 2006, 11:42:45

(they're native to the Mediterranean).

Actually they are native to Asia and only naturalised in the Med.

caroline7758 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 21, 2006, 16:45:51 »

I always seem to get whitefly on mine- even on the kitchen windowsill when there's no whitefly on anything else- guess they like the taste & smell as much as I do!

grawrc · « **Reply #18 on:** March 22, 2006, 20:40:28 »

If you've seen and tasted basil grown outdoors in Italy then you'll know why it might have problems in our conmparatively dank and damp climate. It adores sun and gravelly soil. I grow it indoors but if I keep it in for too long it just withers up and dies. It clearly longs to be out in the sunshine. So I sow April/ May and put it out June/ July and it goes like a bomb (unless it snows of course. ;))

tim · « **Reply #19 on:** March 23, 2006, 11:21:18 »

Stoopid!!

Omitted the photo in my last message.

With the night temperature not above 3C, it hasn't moved a mm since.

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Author Topic: Why can't I grow Basil? (Read 5931 times)

amphibian