I like to blend basil with olive oil then put into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen I move them to freezer bags. I just plop the cube into my tomato sauce.
I did some pruning on my basil last year and took all my extra in bags to work and my coworkers were so happy to have garden fresh basil! I love growing food that I can share
I live in New England, last year Japanese beetles DECIMATED my basil in late July. There were stalks with skeletal looking slivers of the leaves left. However, after about 2/3 weeks it all grew back in full force.
A couple of comments about my basil experience over the years. I love basil and started to grow it by purchasing small plants from a big box store or two. Bad mistake - even brand name plants were carrying powdery mildew! Some of it survived in the soil and started to affect my from-seed plants. I killed it by spraying a soapy non chemical pest discourager on the underside of each affected leaf. It worked. Very tedious but i was determined to not waste any of my precious basil. I had a great season this past summer with my basil and tomatoes in my new raised bed gardens in a sunnier location of my yard compared to an area that got increasing amounts of shade from my neighbors trees. I always have pruned my tomatoes for air and light and my basil for increased production. I pruned so many times this past summer, my freezer is loaded with ice cube tray cubes of pesto in FoodSaver vacuum bags. One problem: I prune as you do in your video. The lower leaves had been in place since June and when I picked the final leaves off of all of the plants, most of them were lower leaves. I dried them and broke them up and jarred them. I found the flavor of these leaves not anything like what I expected. Is it because of the time they were on the plant? The leaves I harvested for pesto were overpowering. They were all recent growth leaves. By the way the flowers and flower buds are edible too. I am sure you know that. A new and very satisfied fan/subscriber to MIGardener. Joe Adrignola
Here in the NC, it's been extremely rainy and the slugs are going crazy. I use slug pellets around the ground and now they aren't eating my basil. It has really helped! Thanks for this video!!!
Wow I just glanced up from my crochet while listening and noticed your banana tree in the background. I have one the same size with the same number of dead brown leaves on it, and there are babies popping up from below...I bring it indoors for winter where it struggles to survive until I put it out in the yard for summer!
My plant biology teacher taught us about hormones last week and he showed us how bushy you get basil if you prune it and how lanky it can get when you dont prune
I like to let SOME of my basil flower and seed, so I don't prune them all toward the end of the growing season. It's fun watching volunteers pop up all over the garden, like they're doing now, and I just leave them where they are. Basil (and Tulsi/Holy Basil) are some of my favorites because they're super easy to grow in my zone.
Slugs are a big issue in my area. Crushed eggshells around the plants and some Sluggo (non-toxic and breaks down into substances plants can use) help. I'm definitely trying the powdery mildew solution. Thank you so much for another great video ❤️
Thx for adding to my knowledge. Baking Soda. Opposite of acidic. 🥴😂. Good info on one of my fav plants. We grind add olive oil and freeze in ice trays. Basil all year long. Yummm. Will be getting mine ready to grow shortly.
fellow Michigander here, this year is the 1st year I've seen the Japanese beetles and they have taken a real liking to my Italian sweet basil among other plants around the property.
that's a ton of basil! I love basil. Also I noticed they're drooping a bit, I had this with my hydroponic basil as well. I put an aquarium airstone in there and it allowed the water to circulate and oxyginate and the leaves started perking right up! Not sure why it happens or how it works but it seems to do the trick for mine. Great videos!
I use those 27 gallon totes for worm bins :) We're super excited to be growing basil this year - we saved seeds from some sweet basil that volunteered, and have 16 plants out in the high tunnel, awaiting transplant as companions for our tomatoes.
@@MrThomBeck, bases can indeed cause burns. While baking soda does not have nearly as high a pH as some other bases (ie, lye), it is enough to cause irritation in some folks. In this case in particular, ion toxicity may be an issue, also if it's getting in to the plant's water and is taken up by roots.
Ohhhh that's what I killed yesterday out of panic in the middle of the night! I didn't know it was a grasshopper, hadn't seen one. I just started gardening and I'm not great with bugs...thanks for the info.
Hey there, been to your seed store. i was very surprised at the low prices, selection and even cheap shipping. i ordered 6 things, some others i wanted were unavailable so ill def be checking back.
Nice video! Downy mildew is the most significant threat to basil grown in the home garden. Fortunately, basil does not get powdery mildew. Downy mildews, like powdery mildews are specific to the host or hosts (e.g., plants with the same family) they can infect. Symptoms of BDM infection show up as a chlorosis (i.e., yellowing of the leaves), and will only sporulate (produces purplish-brown spores) on the undersides of leaves.
Very informative video! It is definitely time to prune my basil. I have two more important questions regarding basil: 1) Can I transplant the basil into a bigger pot or separate the plants if I have 2-3 of them in the same pot AFTER I prune them, or should I give it a certain time to adjust to the pruning? 2) I have noticed some yellow/ orange spots on some of my sweet basil leaves, any idea what that could be and how to treat it?
This was great, just wanted to tell you I've had great germination rates with the seeds I ordered from you this season! Very pleased 😄🌱🌱🌱 thanks from Ashes xo Ontario Canada zone 5a
Hey Luke! Thanks for the video. Just FYI your title says puning instead of pruning. Idk if that messes with anyone searching for this info. Thanks for all the information you always share! Have a great day!
The worst pest I’ve had for basil (and a list of other plants) is the Japanese beetle. They come in swarms and can turn a whole basil patch into lace in a matter of hours. Tulle does the trick, but they might throw themselves at the cucumbers, or the eggplants etc.
Hi Luke! Thank you for everything you do for us! I have an actual question but first I just want to publicly laugh at all the miss-the-big-picture, live-to-gotcha, wannabe nerds on here correcting you about baking soda ph 😂😂 People are so annoying! But my actual question is about when to start pruning the basil plant (assuming there is some kind of rule of thumb indicator besides just when the plant is physically unstable)? And if i can make this a broader question that I'd love to see a video about in the future if you are ever able, is how to know when to begin harvesting from our leafy plants in general. Like what kinds of general plant mass and growth indicators can we use to know that it is safe to harvest from the plant without unduly stunting it, and whenever possible given the plant variety, crop type, how (and when, how to tell when is the right time) to harvest to strengthen and encourage plant growth rather than hinder it. I am a new gardener and definitely want to grow my plants for food but also respect and appreciate my plants (!!) and want to try to harvest when it can be optimal for both me and the plant. Thank you again! I really appreciate your channel!
I'm sure he will correct that eventually, he was probably just sidetracked and misspoke lol! Because I was thinking the same think, alkaline not acidic
Baking soda is the exact opposite of an acidic solution. It is strongly basic, that is with a pH above seven. It is even used to neutralise stomach acid in cases of indigestion in some commonly used antacids.
We are having a horrible bug year (2024) in the Houston TX area and the worst pest that seems to love our basil is silkworms. We created a water mote and a diatomaceous earth dry ring outside of that which seems to be helping but a few keep finding there way in there. Regular inspection is then required.
The best cure for grasshoppers is turkeys. The best cure for slugs is ducks. The best cure for removing all vegetation is chickens. The best comic relief is guinea hens.
Love. Basil especially to just cut it put in a jar with some water mint rosemary and lavender at time great combination of smells in my room are by the window ledge last year 2020 well I always grow basil in a big pot mix the dirt in with a little fertilizer at a time then I plant it and it flourished
I am growing basil in an aquaponics system in a warm, humid environment. I have seen powdery mildew on my cucumbers, but something else is crippling my growth on the basil. Darker grey "powder" on the bottom of the leaves. Leaves turn yellowish and die. I've tried an organic spray that works for powdery mildew (concentrated garlic and olive oil mixed with water), but doesn't seem to save the basil. I've also tried trimming the plant back severely without success.
I was really looking forward to this being a good video to send to a friend that always has problems with stringy basil plants. Unfortunately this video really missed the opportunity to teach people why they were cutting where you were cutting and what that does. Namely by showing where and how the side shoots develop and how cutting one stem causes two to grow back. Improper use of technical terms in a teaching video is a pet peeve as well. Pruning is not increasing or raising the center of gravity. It is decreasing it. Baking soda solution is also not acidic, it is basic/alkaline. It will neutralize acids.
Watch the video again. He does explains everything you mentioned in your reply. He doesn't say pruning increases center of gravity. The regrowth after pruning causes the center of gravity to increase. Clearly stated in 2:14 to 2:40.
@@gennrztree pay attention.. he says encouraging bushier growth and increasing center of gravity (like increasing center of gravity was a good thing). Bushier growth decreases center of gravity compared to the tall lanky growth that was originally there. He also picks up one plant that is flopped over and said it had no center of gravity.. LOL... I stand by my original assessment
Just found your Chanel not long ago, And I been learning so much!!! Love your information! Looking forward for tomatoes season !!! I’m located East Los Angeles, we have great wether for home gardening!
Actually, slugs seem to prefer the sweet basil that's planted most often over many other plants. They go less after at least one red variety and the lemon basil...though less doesn't mean not at all and I'm worried about losing my lemon basil to slugs. At least they do here in Germany.
Thanks for the info I trim my basil quite often I sometimes would like to trim them even more that was never quite sure just how much I could take off the plant.
Thank you for the information! Just wondering, how long can you keep that cut basil fresh and how? How do you dry basil in an oven or microwave? How long will dehydrated basil keep for in an airtight container? Thank you
? I purchased seeds from your web site & I noticed that the seed packets didn’t have directions like can start so many weeks before last frost. I like to do this as I live in Alaska. ( table king bush acorn, Burgess buttercup, tomatillos purple & pineapple just to name a few. Thank you Vera
Great video, thank you... After you trimmed the "seeded basil" & IF a person wants seeds, then just put in water & reroot, then plant again & voila many seeds to collect for growing more? 😘 🌹🌈💞🎵🌷🌺🌸😆👏👍💫🌟💛 ☘️ ~"Black Lives Matter"~ ☘️~"1 & all please take care of you & for others that need you through these trying times"~ 😘 ~"Love, Hope, Peace, Kindness, Dreams, Inspiration, Laughter, Joy, Give, Live & Let Live"~
MICHIGAN man here Detroit to be exact. I'm having mad trouble with basil for some reason. I have a few stems in water currently and thinking of planting in pots soon.
I just started having house plants so Im VERY new to taking care of plants. I saw a basil plant, very small one at my store and bought it. Ita beautiful and fragrant. But, The main two big leaves at the bottom now have these little round black spots on them. The upper leaves do not. It was over watered when I bought it, but I only watwr every 3 days. What is it please and thank you for your wonderful video. I mad3 sure to like it. 😊
What about “basil downy mildew” that is spreading across the US and currently is a major problem for farmers? I have it so I’m desperately trying to find good resistant varieties.
Make sure to keep them dry - don't let water splash up on them from the dirt, buy resistant varieties and rip out the plants when you see it. It was devastating last year so I'm planning on having some indoors all year and being diligent about being sanitary with the plants.
Growing from seed works great. If you are wanting a harvest sooner rather than later buy a plant or 2 and then start some from seeds. If you are Buying from the store you are paying g way too much over time.
Hello Luke. Thanks for all you do. But can we talk about powdery mildew? I've never experienced it before & I'm in a new gardening space & didn't realize what it was until the end of the gardening season. It was on cukes, zukes, squash, monarda & some extras. What to do? Everything says spray in summer with Hort Oil but I don't want to hurt the bugs or bees ... what would you recommend & the right time to spray.
I tried your method of taking cuttings from basil and trying to get them to root, but it’s been a week and no roots, however the cuttings are still alive and drinking the water they are in. Any troubleshooting you can offer? Does it just take more than 7 days for roots?
Luke, I am a first time gardener. I am growing everything from seed and its all going very well. My question is this. When I built my raised bed, I put down a weed barrier under the soil mix I made for the bed. Is this going to be an issue? It is 12ft x 3ft x about 18 inches deep. I have tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and I am planning on garlic as well. I am growing cilantro and Sweet basil in separate containers. My soil is equal parts garden soil, cow manure and peat moss with some 13-13-13 fertilizer mixed in. any advice would be very helpful. love your channel.
I have really enjoyed your channel and it has got me wanting to do more this season. I live in Maine and I would like to start some seedlings indoors. I have a 6' slider that gets some nice sunshine. I have one of those small greenhouse that is about 18" in depth and about 6' tall. I would like to put it in the house up against the slider to start my seeds. Do you think it would work. Thank you.
Luke, what about rosemary? I bring mine in for the winter, under grow light bulbs in the ceiling fan (blades not turning) on my dining room table in front of the sliding glass doors. I'm trying to save my two large plants. I've lost so many with this fuzzy white stuff that grows on them - even after they go back outside, & the leaves get dark spots until new growth comes on but then my plants are just getting mg woodier & larger. Can they be pruned? Can rosemary be propagated? We spent about $30 on plants last year & these two are my last two. I haven't had any luck with growing from seed. I love rosemary! I love lemon thyme & for the first time I just had about $50 in plants go by the wayside (makes my heart sick) & now what's left is being eaten up & I've never had lemon thyme eaten by anything. My herbs are on a table on my deck under an umbrella, they are not in the ground where abundant pests or bad soil are. My basil plants are pretty new so I'll be following your guidance for them. Thanks & Blessings from Deborah in West Virginia!
Hi 👋🏻 my basil has a lot of small white bugs. They stopped growing despite me properly watering them. Are the bugs normal? Could they be the reason for the growth problem?
What do you do with all of the basil? I plan on growing it myself this year but don't know how to use that much at a time. Do you dry it all? Is it good in salads? Love your videos Luke. Their so helpful.
Yes, Luke told us in a video that he purchased a pizza parlor. At the end of this video, Luke said that he was going to use the basil on his pizzas at the pizza parlor.
@@cherylgray5824 what!? Lol I must have missed that. I watch these videos while doing other things, and I guess I don't listen and absorb as much as I thought I did 🤦
BTW, I've seen slugs 3-4 FEET up my tomato plants - growing in pots on my deck. We finally got a handle on the slugs this year or I would've quit growing. Now I'm dealing with my tomato plants turning yellow & dying. I have shade cloth since it got super hot, I put cedar shavings in the tops of the pots to hold moisture, & they are regularly fertilized. I'm getting so frustrated & disheartened!
Came here because something nibbled on my basil that is growing in a pot not touching the ground. Thanks for the peace of mind. I’ll just keep an eye on it and assume that some grasshopper just sampled it!
Caterpillar ate all of my healthy basil bush. I then took off all the remaining eaten leaves (only middle stem left. They ate all of the leaves). I'm not sure if because this year, winter is pretty ke and wet, the plant doesn't grow any new leaves back. My basil stem is woody and well established. I'm not sure what's wrong.
I keep getting a silver something on my basil like a disease or something but it’s silver or gray color and don’t know what it is. Last year I got some kind of beetle they look like lady bugs I was infested and they ate everything down to the numb and ever since I have some disease and every year it fails now
My Basil is about 5 feet tall not top heavy at all never prune it but not sure why now it has some yellow leaves and black spots... So you know if there's a w ay to save it or is it just going to die or is it from pest or a disease? Not a lot of info out there about this happening to Basil and what to do
Baking soda is acidic??? Since when PH of 8-9 is acidic? Please take analytical chemistry 😢 But basic could also damage the basil. But vinegar is acidic ph of 3-4
Do they look droopy like his basil leaves in the video? Or do they feel soft and wilted? If they feel firm and healthy but are just droopy (like his plants in the video), then I think that's okay, that's just how Italian sweet basil grows. If they feel soft and wilted, then perhaps they aren't getting enough water or they're getting too much sunlight. For example if you've recently transplanted your basil or the plants don't have established roots yet, you might have to wait a few days for them to recover before they can handle the sunlight.
My Basil plants were doing great then in August some disease hit and killed them all. I just found out it is Downy Mildew. It rained so much here in GA this year and I don't know how or if I can prevent it.
Luke, thanks for sharing! I have a question I hope you can give advice. I have a bunch of seeds planted in my indoor grow tent. They range from a variety of tomatoes, peppers and greens. I've heard it's a good practice to mist spray them regularly with water with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to avoid drying out and to prevent disease, can you give your PROFESSIONAL OPINION, PLEASE?
I like to blend basil with olive oil then put into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen I move them to freezer bags. I just plop the cube into my tomato sauce.
That’s smart
Game changer
Great idea to put them in olive oil. I always put mine in water but this is a better idea!
I did some pruning on my basil last year and took all my extra in bags to work and my coworkers were so happy to have garden fresh basil! I love growing food that I can share
This really is a very fun plant to grow! You can aggressively prune it back and it won’t hurt it at all 👊🏻🌻👊🏻
Basil is so awesome. I keep em fairly short and replant the cuttings and get so many plants.
I live in New England, last year Japanese beetles DECIMATED my basil in late July. There were stalks with skeletal looking slivers of the leaves left. However, after about 2/3 weeks it all grew back in full force.
Thanks for the tips. Hoping my basil actually makes it past one season this year..
BTW: baking soda is basic, not acidic.
That room must smell amazing!
definitely
I know I'm kind of off topic but do anybody know a good site to watch newly released movies online ?
@Nickolas Beckham try flixzone. You can find it on google =)
@Gerardo Emiliano Definitely, I've been watching on FlixZone for months myself :)
@Gerardo Emiliano Thanks, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) I appreciate it!!
A couple of comments about my basil experience over the years. I love basil and started to grow it by purchasing small plants from a big box store or two. Bad mistake - even brand name plants were carrying powdery mildew! Some of it survived in the soil and started to affect my from-seed plants. I killed it by spraying a soapy non chemical pest discourager on the underside of each affected leaf. It worked. Very tedious but i was determined to not waste any of my precious basil.
I had a great season this past summer with my basil and tomatoes in my new raised bed gardens in a sunnier location of my yard compared to an area that got increasing amounts of shade from my neighbors trees. I always have pruned my tomatoes for air and light and my basil for increased production. I pruned so many times this past summer, my freezer is loaded with ice cube tray cubes of pesto in FoodSaver vacuum bags. One problem: I prune as you do in your video. The lower leaves had been in place since June and when I picked the final leaves off of all of the plants, most of them were lower leaves. I dried them and broke them up and jarred them. I found the flavor of these leaves not anything like what I expected. Is it because of the time they were on the plant? The leaves I harvested for pesto were overpowering. They were all recent growth leaves. By the way the flowers and flower buds are edible too. I am sure you know that.
A new and very satisfied fan/subscriber to MIGardener.
Joe Adrignola
Here in the NC, it's been extremely rainy and the slugs are going crazy. I use slug pellets around the ground and now they aren't eating my basil. It has really helped! Thanks for this video!!!
I have started growing basil last month. I had an issue with mildew but have since rectified it. Awesome tips given. 😁
Wow I just glanced up from my crochet while listening and noticed your banana tree in the background. I have one the same size with the same number of dead brown leaves on it, and there are babies popping up from below...I bring it indoors for winter where it struggles to survive until I put it out in the yard for summer!
My plant biology teacher taught us about hormones last week and he showed us how bushy you get basil if you prune it and how lanky it can get when you dont prune
I like to let SOME of my basil flower and seed, so I don't prune them all toward the end of the growing season. It's fun watching volunteers pop up all over the garden, like they're doing now, and I just leave them where they are. Basil (and Tulsi/Holy Basil) are some of my favorites because they're super easy to grow in my zone.
Slugs are a big issue in my area. Crushed eggshells around the plants and some Sluggo (non-toxic and breaks down into substances plants can use) help. I'm definitely trying the powdery mildew solution. Thank you so much for another great video ❤️
Chick grit works very well
Thx for adding to my knowledge. Baking Soda. Opposite of acidic. 🥴😂. Good info on one of my fav plants. We grind add olive oil and freeze in ice trays. Basil all year long. Yummm. Will be getting mine ready to grow shortly.
fellow Michigander here, this year is the 1st year I've seen the Japanese beetles and they have taken a real liking to my Italian sweet basil among other plants around the property.
that's a ton of basil! I love basil. Also I noticed they're drooping a bit, I had this with my hydroponic basil as well. I put an aquarium airstone in there and it allowed the water to circulate and oxyginate and the leaves started perking right up! Not sure why it happens or how it works but it seems to do the trick for mine. Great videos!
How about a video(s) on processing and drying various herbs?
I use those 27 gallon totes for worm bins :) We're super excited to be growing basil this year - we saved seeds from some sweet basil that volunteered, and have 16 plants out in the high tunnel, awaiting transplant as companions for our tomatoes.
You can try adding a fan to your grow room, it will help the plants grow strong stems to stand up straight.
baking soda is not acid -- it is alkaline (also called base) -- I use vinegar
True, but bases can also cause burns...just ask any soapmaker.
Baking soda isn’t caustic enough to cause burns, but more importantly it’s not an acid. Blocking this poster.
@@MrThomBeck, bases can indeed cause burns. While baking soda does not have nearly as high a pH as some other bases (ie, lye), it is enough to cause irritation in some folks. In this case in particular, ion toxicity may be an issue, also if it's getting in to the plant's water and is taken up by roots.
Ohhhh that's what I killed yesterday out of panic in the middle of the night! I didn't know it was a grasshopper, hadn't seen one. I just started gardening and I'm not great with bugs...thanks for the info.
Hey there, been to your seed store. i was very surprised at the low prices, selection and even cheap shipping. i ordered 6 things, some others i wanted were unavailable so ill def be checking back.
Nice video! Downy mildew is the most significant threat to basil grown in the home garden. Fortunately, basil does not get powdery mildew. Downy mildews, like powdery mildews are specific to the host or hosts (e.g., plants with the same family) they can infect. Symptoms of BDM infection show up as a chlorosis (i.e., yellowing of the leaves), and will only sporulate (produces purplish-brown spores) on the undersides of leaves.
Thank you for this! While I have not noticed powder on my basil, I have on my rosemary. I'm going to try that!
I am so excited for my garden this year it’s all container gardening this year unfortunately but I’m still excited
It not unfortunate its excellent that you still get to grow food. Send energy of succeas to your container garden. Congrats
S M I like container gardening the best. Easiest to control, less work and less mess!
I like fabric grow bags best. Earthbox is second.
I love container gardening. It's all I do. I have some of the keter boxes. I really like them.
Very informative video! It is definitely time to prune my basil. I have two more important questions regarding basil: 1) Can I transplant the basil into a bigger pot or separate the plants if I have 2-3 of them in the same pot AFTER I prune them, or should I give it a certain time to adjust to the pruning? 2) I have noticed some yellow/ orange spots on some of my sweet basil leaves, any idea what that could be and how to treat it?
This was great, just wanted to tell you I've had great germination rates with the seeds I ordered from you this season! Very pleased 😄🌱🌱🌱 thanks from Ashes xo Ontario Canada zone 5a
When will there be a Giant Crimson Tomato update. When will they be available. It would be nice to have them this season.
Thank you! I like the way you explain things. My basil’s leaves are “sad”.
Hey Luke! Thanks for the video. Just FYI your title says puning instead of pruning. Idk if that messes with anyone searching for this info. Thanks for all the information you always share! Have a great day!
The worst pest I’ve had for basil (and a list of other plants) is the Japanese beetle. They come in swarms and can turn a whole basil patch into lace in a matter of hours. Tulle does the trick, but they might throw themselves at the cucumbers, or the eggplants etc.
Hi Luke! Thank you for everything you do for us! I have an actual question but first I just want to publicly laugh at all the miss-the-big-picture, live-to-gotcha, wannabe nerds on here correcting you about baking soda ph 😂😂 People are so annoying!
But my actual question is about when to start pruning the basil plant (assuming there is some kind of rule of thumb indicator besides just when the plant is physically unstable)? And if i can make this a broader question that I'd love to see a video about in the future if you are ever able, is how to know when to begin harvesting from our leafy plants in general. Like what kinds of general plant mass and growth indicators can we use to know that it is safe to harvest from the plant without unduly stunting it, and whenever possible given the plant variety, crop type, how (and when, how to tell when is the right time) to harvest to strengthen and encourage plant growth rather than hinder it. I am a new gardener and definitely want to grow my plants for food but also respect and appreciate my plants (!!) and want to try to harvest when it can be optimal for both me and the plant.
Thank you again! I really appreciate your channel!
Baking soda is... basic. Not acidic.
I was just gonna say the same thing. It's basic "make a volcano" science.
I'm sure he will correct that eventually, he was probably just sidetracked and misspoke lol! Because I was thinking the same think, alkaline not acidic
. Right..., Baking Soda - Sodium Bicarbonate is SUPER Alkaline! Stick a pH tests strip in a glass with Sodium Bicarbonate sometime, you’ll see.
I came here just to see if anyone said that 🤣
yes its around 8.0 or so
Baking soda is the exact opposite of an acidic solution. It is strongly basic, that is with a pH above seven. It is even used to neutralise stomach acid in cases of indigestion in some commonly used antacids.
We are having a horrible bug year (2024) in the Houston TX area and the worst pest that seems to love our basil is silkworms. We created a water mote and a diatomaceous earth dry ring outside of that which seems to be helping but a few keep finding there way in there. Regular inspection is then required.
The Tomato Horn Worm also feeds on basil plants.
The best cure for grasshoppers is turkeys. The best cure for slugs is ducks. The best cure for removing all vegetation is chickens. The best comic relief is guinea hens.
I'm soooo excited about the podcast!!!!!!
So glad to see you guys have a podcast, just subscribed and excited to listen.
Love. Basil especially to just cut it put in a jar with some water mint rosemary and lavender at time great combination of smells in my room are by the window ledge last year 2020 well I always grow basil in a big pot mix the dirt in with a little fertilizer at a time then I plant it and it flourished
I am growing basil in an aquaponics system in a warm, humid environment. I have seen powdery mildew on my cucumbers, but something else is crippling my growth on the basil. Darker grey "powder" on the bottom of the leaves. Leaves turn yellowish and die. I've tried an organic spray that works for powdery mildew (concentrated garlic and olive oil mixed with water), but doesn't seem to save the basil. I've also tried trimming the plant back severely without success.
That's so much basil, it must smell amazing.
Great Video! Thanks for sharing! Just started 50 or so basil seeds indoors 😎🌱
Do you dry your basil? Show use that process. Love your channel from a Michigander.❤
I know this vid is old, but how much sun do you give that basil to increase the leaf size?? they are magnificent.
I was really looking forward to this being a good video to send to a friend that always has problems with stringy basil plants. Unfortunately this video really missed the opportunity to teach people why they were cutting where you were cutting and what that does. Namely by showing where and how the side shoots develop and how cutting one stem causes two to grow back.
Improper use of technical terms in a teaching video is a pet peeve as well. Pruning is not increasing or raising the center of gravity. It is decreasing it. Baking soda solution is also not acidic, it is basic/alkaline. It will neutralize acids.
Charlie, glad your so knowledgeable, looking forward to your video...
^^ Charlie’s right
Watch the video again. He does explains everything you mentioned in your reply. He doesn't say pruning increases center of gravity. The regrowth after pruning causes the center of gravity to increase. Clearly stated in 2:14 to 2:40.
@@gennrztree pay attention.. he says encouraging bushier growth and increasing center of gravity (like increasing center of gravity was a good thing). Bushier growth decreases center of gravity compared to the tall lanky growth that was originally there. He also picks up one plant that is flopped over and said it had no center of gravity.. LOL... I stand by my original assessment
@@DRAHS That's why we look forward to seeing Charlie's video !
Just found your Chanel not long ago, And I been learning so much!!! Love your information! Looking forward for tomatoes season !!!
I’m located East Los Angeles, we have great wether for home gardening!
I tried baking soda last year onto squash plants: it had powdery mildew all over the place. Didn't work. I wonder what went wrong.
Actually, slugs seem to prefer the sweet basil that's planted most often over many other plants.
They go less after at least one red variety and the lemon basil...though less doesn't mean not at all and I'm worried about losing my lemon basil to slugs.
At least they do here in Germany.
Thanks for the info I trim my basil quite often I sometimes would like to trim them even more that was never quite sure just how much I could take off the plant.
my basil bolted after three years, despite regular trimming, so I'm starting a new one
Thank you for the information! Just wondering, how long can you keep that cut basil fresh and how? How do you dry basil in an oven or microwave? How long will dehydrated basil keep for in an airtight container? Thank you
I can smell the basil through the video! Any ideas for storing your harvest?
? I purchased seeds from your web site & I noticed that the seed packets didn’t have directions like can start so many weeks before last frost. I like to do this as I live in Alaska. ( table king bush acorn, Burgess buttercup, tomatillos purple & pineapple just to name a few. Thank you
Vera
Thanks! Mine had the mildew so I was looking for help😁
Great video, thank you... After you trimmed the "seeded basil" & IF a person wants seeds, then just put in water & reroot, then plant again & voila many seeds to collect for growing more? 😘 🌹🌈💞🎵🌷🌺🌸😆👏👍💫🌟💛 ☘️
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MICHIGAN man here Detroit to be exact. I'm having mad trouble with basil for some reason. I have a few stems in water currently and thinking of planting in pots soon.
I just started having house plants so Im VERY new to taking care of plants. I saw a basil plant, very small one at my store and bought it. Ita beautiful and fragrant. But, The main two big leaves at the bottom now have these little round black spots on them. The upper leaves do not. It was over watered when I bought it, but I only watwr every 3 days. What is it please and thank you for your wonderful video. I mad3 sure to like it. 😊
you have to let them flower if you are a seed saver
Pruning starts at 3:46
Elizabeth Dennis thank you! Love this channel but sooooo long winded
Earwigs and Pill Bugs (Roly Poly's) ate my basil. Spinosad pellets took care of the problem.
Japanese Beetles completely destroyed my Basil plants last year.
Destroy the beetles back 🥵🤫😬😎
What about “basil downy mildew” that is spreading across the US and currently is a major problem for farmers? I have it so I’m desperately trying to find good resistant varieties.
Make sure to keep them dry - don't let water splash up on them from the dirt, buy resistant varieties and rip out the plants when you see it. It was devastating last year so I'm planning on having some indoors all year and being diligent about being sanitary with the plants.
Japanese Beetles did a number on my basil this year :(
How is the most successful way to have basil plants - growing from seeds, small plants, or from the produce department at the grocery store?
Growing from seed works great. If you are wanting a harvest sooner rather than later buy a plant or 2 and then start some from seeds. If you are Buying from the store you are paying g way too much over time.
Computers make me dizzy. Would love if you did a table of contents. Either way, you have been a stellar source
My go to pest control, the praying mantis. They go to town from hatchling to adult
Hello Luke. Thanks for all you do. But can we talk about powdery mildew? I've never experienced it before & I'm in a new gardening space & didn't realize what it was until the end of the gardening season. It was on cukes, zukes, squash, monarda & some extras. What to do? Everything says spray in summer with Hort Oil but I don't want to hurt the bugs or bees ... what would you recommend & the right time to spray.
I tried your method of taking cuttings from basil and trying to get them to root, but it’s been a week and no roots, however the cuttings are still alive and drinking the water they are in. Any troubleshooting you can offer? Does it just take more than 7 days for roots?
Luke, I am a first time gardener. I am growing everything from seed and its all going very well. My question is this. When I built my raised bed, I put down a weed barrier under the soil mix I made for the bed. Is this going to be an issue? It is 12ft x 3ft x about 18 inches deep. I have tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and I am planning on garlic as well. I am growing cilantro and Sweet basil in separate containers. My soil is equal parts garden soil, cow manure and peat moss with some 13-13-13 fertilizer mixed in. any advice would be very helpful. love your channel.
I have really enjoyed your channel and it has got me wanting to do more this season. I live in Maine and I would like to start some seedlings indoors. I have a 6' slider that gets some nice sunshine. I have one of those small greenhouse that is about 18" in depth and about 6' tall. I would like to put it in the house up against the slider to start my seeds. Do you think it would work. Thank you.
Luke, what about rosemary? I bring mine in for the winter, under grow light bulbs in the ceiling fan (blades not turning) on my dining room table in front of the sliding glass doors. I'm trying to save my two large plants. I've lost so many with this fuzzy white stuff that grows on them - even after they go back outside, & the leaves get dark spots until new growth comes on but then my plants are just getting mg woodier & larger. Can they be pruned? Can rosemary be propagated? We spent about $30 on plants last year & these two are my last two. I haven't had any luck with growing from seed. I love rosemary! I love lemon thyme & for the first time I just had about $50 in plants go by the wayside (makes my heart sick) & now what's left is being eaten up & I've never had lemon thyme eaten by anything. My herbs are on a table on my deck under an umbrella, they are not in the ground where abundant pests or bad soil are. My basil plants are pretty new so I'll be following your guidance for them.
Thanks & Blessings from Deborah in West Virginia!
Hi 👋🏻 my basil has a lot of small white bugs. They stopped growing despite me properly watering them. Are the bugs normal? Could they be the reason for the growth problem?
What do you do with all of the basil? I plan on growing it myself this year but don't know how to use that much at a time. Do you dry it all? Is it good in salads? Love your videos Luke. Their so helpful.
I heard Luke mention that he uses it at his pizza parlor. However, I was wondering how those of us that use it just at home would store it.
@@cherylgray5824 he has a pizza parlor?
Yes, Luke told us in a video that he purchased a pizza parlor. At the end of this video, Luke said that he was going to use the basil on his pizzas at the pizza parlor.
@@cherylgray5824 what!? Lol I must have missed that. I watch these videos while doing other things, and I guess I don't listen and absorb as much as I thought I did 🤦
If you also grow tomatoes you can make caprese salad white is mozzarella, fresh tomato, basil leaves and dressed in olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
BTW, I've seen slugs 3-4 FEET up my tomato plants - growing in pots on my deck. We finally got a handle on the slugs this year or I would've quit growing. Now I'm dealing with my tomato plants turning yellow & dying. I have shade cloth since it got super hot, I put cedar shavings in the tops of the pots to hold moisture, & they are regularly fertilized. I'm getting so frustrated & disheartened!
I had an invasion of grasshoppers (big black and red ones) last year and the only thing that helped was DE and my foot! Crushed eggshells for slugs.
Reapply after rain, never put on the plants!
Came here because something nibbled on my basil that is growing in a pot not touching the ground. Thanks for the peace of mind. I’ll just keep an eye on it and assume that some grasshopper just sampled it!
Caterpillar ate all of my healthy basil bush. I then took off all the remaining eaten leaves (only middle stem left. They ate all of the leaves). I'm not sure if because this year, winter is pretty ke and wet, the plant doesn't grow any new leaves back. My basil stem is woody and well established. I'm not sure what's wrong.
What is the hydrogen peroxide spray used for? I thought it was for mildews?
Lots of great tips. Thanks. My basil is being eaten by flies that look like house flies, but are smaller. How do I stop them from munching?
Baking soda is a base at a pH if about 9, it is most definitely not an acid.
So helpful thanks so much Luke
Thanks for the tips! PS BAKING SODA IS ALKALINE, NOT ACIDIC.
SUPER helpful! Thank you!
I don't know where you are but here in Georgia something eats the heck out of my sweet basil every year.
This is off topic but i'm growing strawberrys and i want to know if it's okay to just throw the entire strawberry in a pot and cover it with soil.
I keep getting a silver something on my basil like a disease or something but it’s silver or gray color and don’t know what it is. Last year I got some kind of beetle they look like lady bugs I was infested and they ate everything down to the numb and ever since I have some disease and every year it fails now
My Basil is about 5 feet tall not top heavy at all never prune it but not sure why now it has some yellow leaves and black spots... So you know if there's a w ay to save it or is it just going to die or is it from pest or a disease? Not a lot of info out there about this happening to Basil and what to do
Excellent video!
Thanks a million, Luke. One question though...how do you preserve all that fresh basil you pruned off? Bag it and put it in the fridge?
Baking soda is acidic???
Since when PH of 8-9 is acidic?
Please take analytical chemistry 😢
But basic could also damage the basil. But vinegar is acidic ph of 3-4
Wow! Do y’all have any good pesto recipes? That basil is beautiful!
That will make some refreshing basil lemonade
Does anyone, by any chance, know why my basil plants have a few droopy leaves? Is that okay?
Do they look droopy like his basil leaves in the video? Or do they feel soft and wilted? If they feel firm and healthy but are just droopy (like his plants in the video), then I think that's okay, that's just how Italian sweet basil grows. If they feel soft and wilted, then perhaps they aren't getting enough water or they're getting too much sunlight. For example if you've recently transplanted your basil or the plants don't have established roots yet, you might have to wait a few days for them to recover before they can handle the sunlight.
Can you share the setup of your grow room to have basil like that?
"what mite be eating your basil....." I see what you did there
Have you measured the light intensity in your basil growing rooms? Would give me an idea about what intensity one should aim for.
My Basil plants were doing great then in August some disease hit and killed them all. I just found out it is Downy Mildew. It rained so much here in GA this year and I don't know how or if I can prevent it.
Luke, thanks for sharing! I have a question I hope you can give advice. I have a bunch of seeds planted in my indoor grow tent. They range from a variety of tomatoes, peppers and greens. I've heard it's a good practice to mist spray them regularly with water with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide to avoid drying out and to prevent disease, can you give your PROFESSIONAL OPINION, PLEASE?