Basil help

[thomas.r.silverman]

Hi,

I purchased this basil a number of weeks ago, potted it up in a potting mix and perlite mixture. It's getting a water once a week.

I'm getting a lot of leaf yellowing. Should I give it a feed? And is once a week watering ok for zone 10b?

I have an organic high nitrogen feed I could use.

Many thanks.

 

[oneeye]

Are they indoors or out? When you water do you water with a lot of discharge of water out the bottom of the pot? What kind of potting soil are you using?

 

[thomas.r.silverman]

Are they indoors or out? When you water do you water with a lot of discharge of water out the bottom of the pot? What kind of potting soil are you using?

It's outdoors, I do water till in runs out of the bottom of the pot (no base), and G&B organics Blue Ribbon blend

 

[oneeye]

When you allow a lot of water to exit out the bottom of the container, the available nutrients go with it. If you stop doing that, the organic nutrients will become available again, since its a premium organic mix. Pre-Measure the amount of water it takes to fill up the pot without letting any water discharge out the bottom and your plant will green up again.

 

[thomas.r.silverman]

When you allow a lot of water to exit out the bottom of the container, the available nutrients go with it. If you stop doing that, the organic nutrients will become available again, since its a premium organic mix. Pre-Measure the amount of water it takes to fill up the pot without letting any water discharge out the bottom and your plant will green up again.

Amazing advice. Thank you!

 

[Ruderunner]

I agree on the over watering. I also plant basil and find it to be a very low maintenance plant. I water once a week to keep the soil moist, in a pot in full sun.

The most maintenance intensive thing is pinching off the tops to prevent bolting. I too start with the small pot plant sold in some grocery stores and by the end of the season I have a veritable bush approaching 2 foot around and 3 feet tall.

 

[oneeye]

I noticed that with the basil plants I was just growing. Pinching the tops makes the plant more robust, fuller and gives it much more weight in the end. Thanks, Ruderunner for the important information with basil and I will top all my basil from now on. I will top my plants on 4 node after the plant grows a little , and again on the 10th or 12th node.

 

[Ruderunner]

Not sure what you mean by node but I pinch every couple days, especially when the temperature is high. Some will cut a fair bit, i just pinch the top couple leaves.