I just planted some basil and the bugs are eating all the leaves especially the lower ones. Any suggestions to keep them away? :sick:

Anyone? Bueller?

I can't get my basil to grow past a seedling, the bugs keep eating it! So I'm not the one who can help you.... :cry:

I bought basil that was already sprouted. It's a couple inches tall but I fear it won't be very useful because there aren't very many leaves left.

Sorry to sound like Satygraha in the Dairy support thread, but my I've never had trouble with bugs eating basil -- mine likes to get HUGE.

I used a garlic spray last year on my veggies and it helped quite a bit. Put some chopped garlic in a bowl of warm water and let soak overnight. Put in a spray bottle and spray daily. Keep the spray in the fridge.

My basil gets trounced every year by 4 lined plant bugs, here in North Texas. (I will never get to make fresh pesto! :cry:) I don't know where you live but if you want to know what is doing it, your county extension office should be able to help. :)

Thanks, I'll have to try emailing/calling them

I've always had a terrible problem with bugs devouring any basil plants that I put in the ground. They don't, for the most part, devour any of the other herbs. I finally gave up last year and moved my basil plants to large pots on my deck. Try growing the basil in some container away from your main garden; that may be your best hope.

We're growing container basil and it is going crazy. We've had to divide and re-pot it four times. Of course we're on a balcony on the third floor.

We're growing chives and marigolds right nearby to dissuade bugs though - maybe that would help?

I'm a broken record: Neem Oil. I've got a couple other posts about it here and there. Can't say enough good things about its effect on the more tenacious bugs. And it's vegan. And often organic.

Yikes! I thought basil, and most strong-smelling herbs, had very few bug problems.

I'm going to try basil this year, along with summer savory, sage, dill, and catmint (supposedly similar to catnip).

Dill I've grown before; sometimes it does terrific, other times... I've heard that Black Swallowtail butterfly caterpillars like to eat dill. But that would be OK with me. I also have some clumps of chives that are years old; I suppose I should divide them.

Have you tried growing your basil in pots, instead of outside? I'll probably have to do that with my catnip or catmint if I want any for me and my cat, because my neighborhood has lots of cats. I keep my cat inside, but most of my neighbors don't...

I have catmint in my beds. It does not get insect damaged and neither does my catnip. There are a couple of cats I regularly see hanging out there in my flower bed enjoying the catnip. I do not have any luck with it indoors but I have so many plants there is enough for everyone. It re-seeds and spreads.

The 4-lined plant bugs are pretty insidious. I learned, by calling a local organic gardending radio call-in show that they will stop when the weather heats up and that they are hard to get rid of with the usual measures. The best thing to do is keep the plants strong the rest of the time and bite the bullet 'til the hot weather. The plants (basil, 4 o:clocks, bee balm, obedient plant, and a few others) are looking really bad this year.

does anyone know how many lumens or watts per square foot basil plants need ?