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Basil is an herb from the mint family. It is wonderful in tomato sauces, pesto, and on its own as a condiment with cheese and crackers. Basil has a sweet and spicy flavor, rich with earthy undertones. The plant is easy to grow in home gardens, and the leaves can be used as a cooking herb or added to salads. Basil is a great garnish for any dish, but some folks may be surprised to know that basil can also provide information on the cause of problems with their plants. Basil is a tender perennial that is grown annually in most climates. Basil is also known as sweet, Mediterranean, or Genovese basil. When the plant leaves begin turning yellow, it indicates that the herb plant has been stressed by something. Basil can be grown from seed or cuttings. It is recommended to start the plants indoors before transplanting them to their final location in the garden. Use standard potting soil with a pH of about 6.0 for basil. Cut the stems at about 1/4 inch above the soil surface and allow them to dry for 5 days before planting. Once it has been cut and the plant has dried, the cut end will start healing. Fill in the hole with soil and water well to begin growing. Once its roots have started growing, stop watering and protect it from frost. If you live in a cool climate, you can start harvesting 3-4 weeks after planting. Basil grows best in full sun but can tolerate various degrees until light shade. Basil can be harvested by cutting off the stems about 1/4 inch above the bottom of the plant’s leaves so that it does not damage any of the plant’s roots. Removing all the leaves on the basil plant is unnecessary as they will regrow because of the thick roots. It is sown in the early spring in a greenhouse. Basil loves full sun, so grow it where there is plenty of that. The plant grows best in non-acidic soil, but since basil is a Mediterranean plant, it tolerates acidity. Basil is a perennial herb and needs warm temperatures for proper growth. It makes great companion plants with peppers, tomatoes, or eggplant. Basil can be grown almost anywhere indoors. However, basil is a fragile plant and is easily affected by heat and humidity. So grow it in a warm location. It prefers temperatures between 70°F – 90°F with high humidity. The plants should be kept moist but not watered too often. The leaves will turn yellow if exposed to cold weather or are not watered properly before the frost. The plant is picked as soon as the leaves begin to turn yellow so that the plant will continue to produce flavor for you for many days. Harvest basil when it’s about 9″ tall because it needs at least 9 weeks to grow back fully so it can produce again later throughout the year. Problems with basilIn spring, basil leaves are often covered with yellow spots while still green and firm. This is due to the trapping of water on the surface that prevents it from drying completely. Once fully dried out, they turn brown – however, this is not long-lasting as the yellowing will quickly return. The leaves start turning yellow and begin dropping off; the problem is easily prevented with proper care and by getting rid of insects, plant damage, or diseases. The leaves that wither along with their stem grow very thin and break off at the stem tip. That’s an indicator of drought stress which may also be caused by too much sunlight or temperature extremes. The following are the causes and solutions for basil leaves turning yellow:
Solution: Make sure you are using a well-draining potting mix and good water as well as the liquid fertilizer. Also, once you have determined your soil pH level, you can add a bit of gravel to raise the level at the bottom of your pot. The essence of this is to ensure that the bottom of your plant’s roots gets plenty of water with essential nutrients to stay strong and produce new leaves. When you have too many plants growing in the same place, they can compete with each other and stress the basil. Increasing the size of your pot help to ensure that there is enough room for everything to grow well. Doing this will help your plant stay healthy and strong, and you can enjoy more flavorful and aromatic basil in your meal. Solution: ConclusionThe cause of yellow leaves may vary depending on where you live and how your environment is, but if you want to be sure that your basil plants are growing healthy and strong, it is important to pay attention to the environment they are in, what they eat and how they look. You should also wash or wipe off aphids or spider mites using cotton or a sponge with a little insecticide so they will not suck out the essential oils from your basil leaves. You can use cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol to eliminate aphids and their eggs. It is also good to ensure that you keep the plant well-watered at all times, especially when the weather is overcast because that is when the plant needs the most sunlight to keep its leaves strong and healthy. Many people do not realize that basil needs plenty of sunlight and will turn yellow if it is not getting enough. It’s a good idea to ensure that you water your plant with a liquid fertilizer once every two weeks or so, as well as ensure there is plenty of sunlight. You can also ensure that the soil temperatures are right by checking the soil with your hands and comparing them with your palms. If it’s too cold, add a bit of peat moss on top of your soil and allow it to rest for at least several hours before watering again. |