Plant guide:ðŋ Basil
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â ModerateDark, water-soaked spots with yellow halos ïŋ― spread primarily through splashing water and wet foliage.
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Fungal
Bacterial Leaf Spot on Basil
Commonly affects: Ocimum basilicum (Basil)
Small, dark, water-soaked spots appear on leaves, sometimes with a yellow halo, and may merge into larger irregular dead patches in humid conditions. Affected leaves can look tattered as tissue within the spots dries and falls away.
Potential Causes
- 1Bacterial pathogens spread by splashing water, rain, or overhead irrigation
- 2Working around wet plants, which spreads bacteria via hands and tools
- 3Warm, humid, wet weather favouring bacterial spread
Solution Steps
- 1Remove and destroy affected leaves promptly to reduce the source of further spread.
- 2Switch to base watering only, avoiding any splashing onto foliage.
- 3Avoid handling plants while they're wet, and disinfect tools between plants.
- 4Space plants further apart to improve airflow and help foliage dry faster after rain.
Prevention Tip
Water at the base only and avoid working around wet basil foliage ïŋ― most bacterial leaf spot spread is entirely preventable through watering habits alone.
