Your comments and tips

12 Nov 09, Bridget (Australia - temperate climate)

Can someone please help?? I have searched and searched the internet and i can not find anything even remotely similar to my problem! My newly bought and planted (about a month ago) basil is suddenly sprouting some very oddly shaped leaves. Instead of the normal shape the new growth is small, thickish and rubbery looking (like a succulent) and shovel head shaped and a bit lighter in colour. It is in a styrafoam rectangle planter box planted along side coriander & I have them in nearly full sun (under shade cloth and not in the late arvo) and is given a small drink every morning because its quite hot at the moment. When planted i used organic compost. I also spoke to the local nursery but they have never heard of this either... Has anyone come across this?? What is it? Can i still eat my basil?

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18 May 10, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Throw it away, get some good compost and start again. It needs a lot of morning sun.

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08 Nov 09, Jo-Anne (Australia - temperate climate)

My basil plants - in a very large pot - have developed clear/opaque marks in the leaves (if you put your finger under the leaf you can see through the clear section). I can't see any insects, otherwise they look lovely and green and growing well. The pot is elevated well ofr the ground. Can anyone help?

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04 Sep 09, Andris (Australia - temperate climate)

The basil I sow in punnets in a mini greenhouse environment do come up even easier. But soiwng the seeds in their final location is easier work :). I find sprinkling some seeds around each tomato plant (i grow tomatoes in pots) keeps us easily supplied through the tomato season. In spring weather, direct sowed, they should probably come up in just over a week.

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02 Sep 09, Veros Hydros (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi Paul, like Andris I found that basil is very easy to sprout. I start mine indoors in a tray fille up with peat. Once they come up I cover the tray with a plastic bag to make a mini greenhouse. Once they are big enough I plant them at the foot of my tomato plants. Works a treat.

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20 Aug 09, Andris (Australia - temperate climate)

Paul, what are you talkinga about? 'Basil is very hard to start from seed'. Whatever! :). Just direct sow them any time in spring or summer. They come up very fast, often as fast as lettuce during the warmer 6 months of the year. Maybe we just have different perspectives of what is hard or maybe your seeds aren't that great... I have had the most luck with herb and vegetable seeds from the imported Italian and French brands, in particular Franchi Sementi (see The Italian Gardener website), Hortus/Orto, Vilmorin and PDF. The basil and other herbs I grow from them come up very well and quickly. Seriously try them. and the seed packs are very generous too. Basil packs tend to have around 5,000 seeds for the same price as 200 or 300 seed packs from local suppliers (Yates and internet based businesses).

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22 Mar 09, Mathew (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi all planted basil in half shade half sun so far grows average and plants are about 1 foot high after a month. Have been keeping well trimmed

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01 Feb 09, Gail Lamb-Hale (Australia - temperate climate)

Paul thank you for your tip on basil I will give it a go as I have not had much joy in growing basil Korumburra can be a bit up and down in weather patterns

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20 Dec 08, Paul Lehmann (Australia - temperate climate)

Basil is very hard to start from seed but I have found if you have a seed sprouting set and put them in there, they will eventually shoot. Pick out each sprouted seed on a toothpick and place in a pot with wet soil sitting in a tray of water to keep the soil moist. The sprouted seed will take to the soil and you can water as needed.

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