Questions tagged [basil]

Basil is a culinary herb (Ocimum basilicum) from the mint family. Use this tag for all varieties of basil (sweet basil, holy basil, etc.)

Basil is a culinary herb (species Ocium basilicum) from the mint family commonly used in pesto and many other culinary dishes.

Basil grows well in hot, dry conditions and dies at the slightest hint of frost. It can also be grown indoors as long as there is adequate sunlight.

Use the tag along with . In addition, if the question is on:

Don't forget to read existing questions to see if your question has already been answered.

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Which basil has the strongest licorice flavor?

This is my first year growing basil. I'm growing Spicy Bush Globe basil, this year. However, I've found that it doesn't have the licorice-type flavor I'm used to with basil. It tastes like a mix between mint and those spicy gumdrops that are coated…
Brōtsyorfuzthrāx
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Basil cuttings at the wrong time perhaps?

I took some cuttings from my basil plant to make a new plant but they flowered when I had them in water to grew roots. The new plants leaves have grown and looks and smell great but it's not growing tall. Will it eventually grow taller and is there…
Luna
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How should I "free" these trapped sprouts?

Look at the sprout on the right: You can see there is a clump of dirt and a little mineral thing stuck on its "head". Should I let it keep growing like this? Should I pick it off? I'm worried about damaging it. These are Basil sprouts, in an indoor…
iammax
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Sweet Basil-Pest Infestation

I know my sweet basil plants are infested with white creepy crawlies. Are these whiteflies? (Click on the photo to zoom in) Where do these creepy crawlies come from? I am growing the basil on the balcony of my sixth-floor apartment. Do you think it…
Spinor8
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Basil: Are these aphids, whiteflies or something else?

I have been seeing these tiny greenish-yellowish nodes on the stem of my basil plants. They don't appear on leaves just the stems. I can peel off the nodes and crush it. Does the photo below show an infestation of aphids, whiteflies or just…
Spinor8
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Basil stem turning brown after pruning

I'm a gardening beginner and recently pruned my first basil plant (about two weeks ago). I bought special pruning shears because pinching the stems took a bit of a pull, and I didn't want to harm them and thought that a clean cut would be better. I…
Bee
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How to prevent basil leaves from becoming black

The attached photographs show a sick basil leaf (which is turning black) compared to a healthy basil leaf from the same plant. The black leaves need to be trimmed to keep the plant healthy. What can I do to prevent such leaves from turning black…
Jack Maddington
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What is this pest on my hydroponic basil and how can I remove it?

Here are some snapshots of hydroponic basil growing in Thailand. Within a week I've had some pest, it looks like some tiny dark-red arachnids, spinning web on young leaves and crawling mostly on the underside of leaves. Their size is perhaps 1/4…
neydroydrec
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How to cut optimally the basil on my balcony?

My context: I have a basil in a pot which is unfortunately not very big. I like to cook with basil and sometimes I cut some leafs. My question: Is there a way to cut the leafs in order to maximize the regeneration of the plant? E.g. cut the buds or…
Surb
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Should I let lemon basil flower?

I'm growing some herbs in pots on my patio, and I've let things get away from me a bit: my cilantro and lemon basil are flowering. I know it's considered bad to let my cilantro flower like that, and it'll not taste as good now, but is the same true…
Yamikuronue
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Why is the lower leaf wilted on all of these plants? Should I remove them?

These basil plants have been thriving steadily better and better since being transplanted as sprouts. However every one of this group of 8 in the end of a planter is exhibiting a wilted leaf, and it's always the lowest one. What's going on here? …
Charney Kaye
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Where and when to pinch back for bushy basil

I've read that "pinching back" or pruning basil plant (ocimum basilicum) will produce a bushier, less leggy, plant. Where on the plant do you cut? When do you cut? How often? Does age of plant matter?
Brian Low
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Distorted leaves, white spots, and welts on basil

I'm currently gearing up to start some basil seeds and doing an inventory of my closet greenhouse. One of my basil plants has recently been absolutely wrecked by... Something, or multiple things, and I'm curious what happened and if there's anything…
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Will rubbing alcohol make my basil inedible?

I currently have indoor potted basil and peppermint plants. Unfortunately, aphids have taken up residence in the peppermint and are spreading to the basil. Several internet sources say that rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol can be used to kill aphids, by…
jmite
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Identify Plant Herb

Does anyone know what plant this is? I think it may be a type of basil but it has no distinctive smell. Has dandelion-like parachute type seeds. May be a weed.
Erana Wan
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