I have one planted in the ground that should be gone within the next 48 hours - something is eating it very quickly.
Any ideas? I don't exactly like the idea of putting chemicals on something that I plan on eating!
Jo
(Another sweet basil plant that is potted is doing fine.)
What is eating my sweet basil?
Do you have bunnies? If you do try sprinkling the plant with Cayenne pepper. I buy it in bulk and use it on and around a lot of plants. They don't like hot and spicy......LOL
yupper the wascally wabbits luv basil. Blood meal also works well too I find.
No, I don't think I have bunnies. I'm in a 'burb of Houston.
Any other ideas? I'm going to have to buy some more, and I'd like to figure out this problem before I plant more!
Thanks for the ideas!
Jo
Well, have a real close look around the area and the ground, if you see slime trail it's slugs, but just cause you live in a "burb don't mean you don't have bunnies. They are highly adaptable and can live almost anywhere.
Oh, those nasty thugs...I mean slugs. :) I've had problems with them before, but they way these plants were eaten, I was a bit taken back. They must be very yummy to them. I know that they are to me. :)
Can you post a photo? Or describe it a little more? Slugs and caterpillars generally start at the edge and munch their way across, leaving an undulating margin... Flea beetles and some other pests eat little holes in the leaves... bunnies (at least the ones around here) generally chomp off the tender tips of each branch and then work their way down the plant. Sometimes you can at least get an idea of the size of the bug from the pattern of destruction -- sort of a "CSI" approach. Looking for slime trails, caterpillar poo, beetle eggs on the underside of leaves, etc., are also good clues... and of course if you catch the culprit in action, you'll know just who you're dealing with!
Are the hornworms out yet? I haven't seen any but it wouldn't surprise me if the little darlings did to basil what they've done to peppers and tomatoes for me. Every single bit of leaf GONE.
Jo, you could try a soap spray. I make it with Dr. Bronner's.
Thanks, folks. I just haven't had time to get out and take photos, yet.
I did buy another sweet basil plant, however, but won't plant it until the problem is under control.
Brigidlily, I don't even know what a hornworm is!
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Pests/tomato.htm If you see one, you will know what it is!
They will grow up to be hummingbird moths which are delightful but like most juveniles, can be aggravating till grown! LOL
I'm noticing some of my nonherb plants have holes in the leaves almost like grasshoppers but I haven't seen any out. I'll have to look closer here too.
Which nonherb plants, podster? Might be flea beetles or cabbage loopers. If it's loopers some BT will take care of that quickly.
Justicia is the main one I noticed yesterday evening. It was almost dusk when I saw it so need to look closer today.
I have found that a spray of garlic juice/water helps deter a lot of bugs .
It doesn't kill them just sends them somewhere to find a tastier meal.
1 tablespoon to 2 cups water.
when I use this for jap. beetles on my peach tree I add a teaspoon of molasses .
This morning the only varmint I saw was a small green caterpillar on the Justicia... most likely the culprit here.
Jo ~ have you found anything on your plants?