I may have messed up my basil

[mikeedee]

Hi folks, I'm new here and started my Aerogarden (dill, parsley and basil) a couple months ago things were going fine but I think I may have pruned my basil wrong. I've included a photo of what it looks like today (from a couple angles) and am wondering if anyone can tell if my basil is a goner.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

Best

Mikeedee

Attachment Deleted

[Shawn]

First things first, welcome to the forum!  I am happy you found us and the wonderful world of Aerogardening.

Looking at the pics, it does appear that there are some shoots coming out of the top areas so it may be just fine.  I have done way worse with good results.  One great thing about basil is that it grows fast.

I may have some of my early pictures tp pull out so I will take a look later

Happy to have you here again and hope to see you posting again!

[mikeedee]

Thanks for the warm greeting and the advice Shawn, much appreciated!
Best

Mike

[Shawn]

Here was one of my first Basils I had grown.  You can see I let it grow a few branches: 





Here is was after  my first cut:

[Shawn]

Let me add that I now cut about the 3rd or 4th one depending on height and size.

[mikeedee]

Awesome, this is very helpful indeed!

Thanks!


Mike

[Shawn]

Glad to have helped

[MaryL]

Welcome, Mike!  I second Shawn, I’m glad you’ve joined us.

I just wanted to add, as it was news to me, that the first set of leaves aren’t true leaves. They’re called cotyledons, and that’s why people often wait for what appears to be the 3rd set of leaves, because it’s really only the 2nd set of leaves.  (I had to look up how to pronounce cotyledons, lol). Basil is very hearty so I think yours will be fine. It’ll be a good example for all of us.  Do keep us updated! 

[mikeedee]

Appreciate your insights, Mary! I'll certainly keep everyone updated as the basil, dill and parsley grow.

Best
Mike

[serri588]

I'm pretty sure I've cut tops on my basil right after the first set of large leaves in order to try to get a more compact plant, and it did fine. It's harder to get basil to stop growing IMO than anything.

[MaryL]

May 21, 2018 14:37:04 GMT -5 serri588 said:

 It's harder to get basil to stop growing IMO than anything.

Too true!  I think, Mike, that it’ll be fine, especially since serri has done it this way successfully.

[Kate]

May 23, 2018 19:42:07 GMT -5 MaryL said:

May 21, 2018 14:37:04 GMT -5 serri588 said:

 It's harder to get basil to stop growing IMO than anything.

Too true!  I think, Mike, that it’ll be fine, especially since serri has done it this way successfully.

Boy, you can say that again! Basil is a beast when it gets going.

[mikeedee]

I just found out that I need to trim roots...maybe that's why the parsley is struggling. Has anyone done this yet?

Thanks!!

Mike

can  you snap a photo of the inside to show the roots? I doubt the roots need cutting so early on for s delicate parsley plant..

[mikeedee]

I'll certainly do that, Corrine. Thanks for the replay.

Mike

[mikeedee]

I meant "reply"

[mikeedee]

Here's a photo, Corrine.

Mike


Attachment Deleted

[MaryL]

Usually you don’t have to trim roots on herb plants, and those look fine. But the Sprout basin is pretty small, and since they’re a few months old I don’t think a conservative trim would hurt them.  That said, I don’t think you really have to if it makes you nervous. Which one is the parsley?

Mary grows tons of herbs and cooks with them..I would go with her assessment 100%.

[Rialle]

Hello!

I, too, am having a (potential) Basil issue. 

Two out of three of my Basil plants are having this issue. The tallest is fine, it's the other two slightly smaller plants that I haven't topped yet.

The top leaves have some brown spots... I'm three or four days from my next feeding and am planning to do a rinse and refill anyway, but was just wondering if anyone has seen this before and if there's anything I can do to help the plants.