How to Grow Basil without Downy Mildew?

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ShaynaPearl Maynard, MA Sep 14, 2013

Are there any good strategies for avoiding downy mildew when growing any kinds of sweet basil?

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JoParrott Richland, WA(Zone 7b) Sep 14, 2013

I have never had a problem growing Basil- all it neds is good circulation of air and planty of sun- some shade is OK.

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ShaynaPearl Maynard, MA Sep 15, 2013

Hi Jo,
I never had a problem growing it until this year, when I discovered that a lot of people are having major problems with it. Here's a link that explains:
http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/BasilDowny.html

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JoParrott Richland, WA(Zone 7b) Sep 15, 2013

I guess it hasn't come to WA yet- sorry to read about it spreading like that.

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drobarr Hummelstown, PA(Zone 6b) Sep 15, 2013

this has been a bad year because of the persistant rains in the Northeast for downy on a whole wide range of plants.

Richland is likely too dry to get downy but over on the west side of the cascades downy is a big problem in a number of plants.

It prefers wet cool conditions so it shows up often time in the early spring or in August once the nights begin to cool.

Fungicides can help but must be applied early to get it.

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ShaynaPearl Maynard, MA Sep 18, 2013

@drobarr--I've heard that seeds themselves can carry downy. Can dry weather keep plants from developing downy if the seed carries it somehow?

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drobarr Hummelstown, PA(Zone 6b) Sep 20, 2013

Yes seed can carry diseases. But for a disease to develop two things are needed...a source of innoculum, and conditions for the disease to develop. If one is missing you will not have disease.

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