Leafminers on basil
Basil None Given
I am living in Hawaii and trying to grow basil in an individual pot. I looked around the plant village website and found out the black lines I am seeing on the leaves of my basil are leaf miners. My question is, can I still use those leaves for cooking or should I prun the individual leaves and throw them away or throw the entire plant away?
Posted
by: Steven Nash
(1 point)
Posted: November 15, 2016
Answers
Leafminers have only affected the plant where you can see damage. Anywhere there is no damage is fine to eat. If your basil leaves are big enough, I personally would be fine trimming off the damaged parts and keeping the rest, or even consuming the leaf if its very little damage. However, it's probably just easier to dispose of the damaged leaves and keep the rest.
And basil responds really well to pruning! So if you are going to be removing the dead leaves anyways, you can also clip the stem above a pair of leaves and this will promote new growth and a bushier plant!
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/y...
And basil responds really well to pruning! So if you are going to be removing the dead leaves anyways, you can also clip the stem above a pair of leaves and this will promote new growth and a bushier plant!
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/y...
Posted
by: Sheena Sidhu
(19 points)
Posted: November 15, 2016
Steven Nash commented,
Thank you very much! Yeah, I think I'm going to go-ahead and prun the affected leaves. over 7 years ago.
Thank you very much! Yeah, I think I'm going to go-ahead and prun the affected leaves. over 7 years ago.
The leaf miner larvae feed and develop in the tunnel where they have fed. The tunnels are transparent initially, which later become brown. Also, this tunnel is accumulated with excreta. So better not to eat infested leaves.
Generally, leaf miners attack has no impact on plant growth, but can cause significant damage to green vegetables like spinach, basil, etc. So just remove the damaged leaves and dispose them properly.
Usually the matured larvae drop to the ground and pupate in soil. Mulching the soil with suitable material reduce leaf miner infestation.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/i...
Generally, leaf miners attack has no impact on plant growth, but can cause significant damage to green vegetables like spinach, basil, etc. So just remove the damaged leaves and dispose them properly.
Usually the matured larvae drop to the ground and pupate in soil. Mulching the soil with suitable material reduce leaf miner infestation.
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/i...
Leafminer damage on basil (Ocimum spp. L.)
Leafminer larvae within leaf mine
Posted
by: Dr. Ravishankar Narayana
(15 points)
Posted: November 15, 2016
Steven Nash commented,
Thank you very much! Since the plant is in a small pot, would you recommend removing the plant and repotting it in new soil? over 7 years ago.
Thank you very much! Since the plant is in a small pot, would you recommend removing the plant and repotting it in new soil? over 7 years ago.
Dr. Ravishankar Narayana commented,
Yes, after removing the infested leaves if possible transfer plant in new soil. It may reduce the leaf miner population. over 7 years ago.
Yes, after removing the infested leaves if possible transfer plant in new soil. It may reduce the leaf miner population. over 7 years ago.
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