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 Look
for opportunities to include basil in gardens, containers, and
ornamental plantings. Purple varieties add color and combine nicely
with other flowers and vegetables. Everleaf Emerald Towers is a very
tall and productive plant that adds vertical interest to container
and in-ground gardens.
Always wait for the air and soil to warm before moving basil into
the garden. Cold air and soil can stunt or damage the plants and
increase the risk of downy mildew. You may even see blackened leaves
and other damage when temperatures drop to 50 degrees.
Protect tender plants in spring and extend the harvest in fall with
the help of floating row covers. These spun fabrics trap heat around
the plants while allowing air, light, and water through. Lightweight
row covers can be used throughout the summer to protect the plants
from Japanese beetles.
Keep plants healthy and help reduce the risk of downy mildew disease
by growing basil in sunny locations with plenty of room to reach
their mature size. The extra space allows sunlight to reach all
parts of the plants, and the added air movement quickly dries the
leaves.
Avoid overhead irrigation whenever possible. Instead,
use soaker hoses, drip irrigation, or a watering wand to apply the
water directly to the soil.
Red leaf, Thai, and lemon-flavored basil varieties are less
susceptible to downy mildew. Relatively new sweet basil varieties
such as Devotion DMR, Obsession DMR, Passion DMR, Thunderstruck DMR,
Prospera Compact DMR, and Prospera are downy mildew resistant.
Watch for slugs that feed at night, eating large, ragged holes in
the leaves. Trap them with shallow containers of beer sunk into the
ground or use a slug beer trap with a built-in cover. The slugs are
attracted to the fermenting yeast, crawl inside, and die.
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Unlike slugs, the Japanese beetles feed and mate in
broad daylight. They devour large portions of the leaves, leaving
only the veins behind.
If you see circular clear or black spots on the leaves the
four-lined plant bug is the culprit. The dead tissue may eventually
fall out, resulting in small holes.
Manage Japanese beetles and plant bugs by knocking them into a can
of soapy water or treating the plants with an organic insecticide
labeled for controlling these pests on basil. Always read and follow
all label directions for safe and effective control.
Harvest basil as needed. Regular harvesting will increase
productivity and ensure the best flavor. Remove flower buds as soon
as they appear to maintain foliage flavor. But don’t worry if a few
blossoms appear, these are also edible and a favorite of beneficial
insects.
Plan to grow and harvest extra basil to make pesto or flavored
vinegar. Make plenty to enjoy throughout the year and share with
family and friends.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books,
including the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small
Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything”
instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s
Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and
contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned
by Summit for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.
[Photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com]
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