This tends to be fairly localized to the leaves. Sign up now! What is the Best Way to Keep Basil Fresh? ), Hydroponics: Using Mason Jars For Your Indoor Garden, Does Potting Soil Go Bad? If you have been growing basil in your garden for quite some time, you would notice that some plants would have leaves that have brown spots. It may also be from improper watering of the plant by hand. It still started to turn black, just not quite as quickly. [1] X Research source Don’t use distilled water, as it lacks beneficial minerals that may help preserve the basil longer. Roll them in a tight roll like a cigar and chop straight down. Brown leaves on Basil is usually a sign of a problem with the plant’s health and should be addressed as soon as possible. This site, Mini Garden Guide, is owned and operated by Eleven6 Media LLC. 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Eleven6 Media LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As long as there are no fungal powders from downy mildew or fungal slime on the otherwise brown-spotted leaf, you can actually eat it. If your basil plant is otherwise healthy, browning of the stem may be a sign of it becoming woody. Eleven6 Media LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Here are a few we recommend: Furthermore, fungicides can either be curative or preventive. Dear Kristine: Everyone seems to know the answer; all of them being different. The reasoning behind this is that when you cut, the oil seals the cut marks and your basil stays green. If you use much basil, it would be much more economical to plant a few plants in pots. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. A southern window typically provides enough sunlight for basil grown indoors, while outdoor locations should have full sun without shade. I was thinking about serving it this weekend. It wasn’t much, to be... How to Handle Brown Spots on Basil Leaves (…and can you still... 9 Easy to Grow Vegetables for First Time Gardeners. Prep: Remove the basil leaves from the stem, then wash and dry completely. We’ve Got Answers, Do It Right! Accessible anytime and anywhere on your desktop, tablet and smart phone devices. Will you be traveling or gathering with family members during the holidays. Clear to partly cloudy. In other words, the plants are infected. The reasoning behind this is that when you cut, the oil seals the cut marks and your basil stays green. — Kristine from Lockeford. If you don’t, the plant will flower and form seed which, in turn, causes the stems to become woody. However, you have to make sure the plants don’t get wet for extended periods, as it will allow the fungus to germinate. An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Would you like to receive breaking news alerts? Barbara Spitzer is a Lodi home cook who also develops recipes for specific consumer products. Vulnerable and Resistant Varieties If you don’t, the plant will flower and form seed which, in turn, causes the stems to become woody. Be proactive. Sure, you can rinse your basil with water every once in a while if it becomes dusty or dirty. To keep the leaves from … Want to check out the digital edition of Lodi News-Sentinel? Fill a small vase or tall jar about halfway with water. Dear Mary: If it hasn’t been opened, I’m sure it is fine. Dear Barbara: I was given some gourmet jam for Christmas last year. The question is whether you want to eat it because the flavor profile might not be there. You only need to pick what you use and you will have fresh basil all summer long. Actually, even if it were open, jellies and jams are good for six months as long as you keep them in the refrigerator, so you’re good either way. The soil of the plant should remain moist, but not soggy. If you’re growing the basil as an ornamental for its attractive foliage and flowers, then you probably don’t care if the basil stems are turning into wood. Eventually, the basil plant is turning brown at the stem or base from the ground up. The trick is to keep your basil dry by carefully watering the soil around it. You do want to use fresh herbs right before you serve, so the aroma of the herbs are released and they are not black. In this article, we’ll consider the best way to plant and maintain Basil. For the greenest, freshest seeming basil: quickly blanch the basil in boiling salt water for 15 seconds, drain it, and dunk it into ice water to cool it quickly (this sets the green color; see How to Blanch for details), and then whirl it in a blender with just a bit of olive oil. Send it to Barbara Spitzer at bdspitzer@comcast.net. To avoid this problem, make sure you get clean seeds. If the stem feels wet or mushy, then your plant has a major problem and you should take rapid action to save your plant. Winds light and variable.. Clear to partly cloudy. You can dry these leaves and add them to your Italian spice mix. Just as getting its water transport system cut off by fusarium wilt is fatal, completely losing its leaves due to fungal infection is equally bad. The one that impressed me the most said to very lightly oil the leaves before you cut them. What little care they require, however, is important to keeping the herb healthy and the foliage supple. Dear Barbara: When I chop basil, it starts to turn black before I’m even done chopping. This fungus attacks only the leaves. This doesn’t work for basil. You can cut out the nasty-looking parts and add the bits and pieces to fresh salads. First, the good news. Heck Yes… and Here’s Why…, Thai Basil vs Holy Basil – Let’s Take A Closer Look. Low 31F. You have permission to edit this article. There are several reasons why basil would develop brown spots. Downy mildew is not usually fatal to basil plants, but they can be annoying. It’s a common mild fungal infection caused by too much moisture on the plant. But since they don’t really have much contact with the rest of the plant, all the other leaves are spared. Seeing brown spots on basil leaves might seem like a monkey wrench has been thrown into your Italian gardening plants. Roll them in a tight roll like a cigar and chop straight down. Please include your first name and city. Here’s a rule of thumb. If you roll it and use a very sharp knife to cut straight down, it helps. This brief … Basil should be well-watered in the middle of a hot summer, but too much water can also cause the roots to rot and the leaves to turn yellow and then brown. — Mary from Lodi. If you can’t provide direct sunlight for your Basil plant, then bright, indirect light is the next best thing. Some growers love to mist their plants regularly, which is one of the worst things that you can do. In extreme cases, all leaves are pretty much infected, and this leads to your basil plant completely shedding its leaves. Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles. Sign up now! Simply put, you don’t want your basil always draped in moisture. Why Is The Stem Of My Basil Plant Turning Brown? The most common is fusarium wilt. Sign up now! Place the basil leaves on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then place it on the upper rack of the oven. So the next time I needed to use basil, I tore it like I was instructed to. What is the Difference Between Microgreens and Sprouts? Would you like to receive our daily news headlines? Ironically, it can even wash out fungal spores. Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reporting—but good journalism isn’t free. Curative ones are more of a last resort and used when an infection has already set in. A good way to keep track is to put a small sticker on the lid. But assuming that you’re looking to use as much of your basil plant as possible, you can safely eat browned basil leaves. Just prune the infected leaves and dispose of them properly. The Answer Is Not What You Might Think. You can use brown leaves in the bottom of sandwiches to add a little bit of basil flavor. There’s a fungus in the soil that is called fusarium oxysporum. With potatoes and apples, you can just put them in a bowl of acidulated water (water and lemon juice, or just a little lemon juice) and they will be fine.