[Sally A]

Have sown some basil seeds, they have only just sprouted but I have noticed that several of the seedlings stems have withered to total skinniness and they are keeling over.  They are in an unheated greenhouse but under a propogator lid?  Is it normal for a few to fail or is it a more sinister problem?

[DD.]

My bet is that they have become drawn. They should not be left under a propagator lid once germinated.

[Sally A]

Cheers DD, I will leave the lid off, and see if the others make it.

[WG.]

Basil Faulty

   

[Sally A]

If only my corn was as corny as my jokes!

[Salkeela]

Hello to my name sake!  

PS I think I'm responsible for hogging the ID "Sally".  I tried to set up an ID  first time using one of my email addresses and the ID Sally... then it didn't quite link up so I set up again using Salkeela (My horse is called Tequila or Keela for short!) & a second email address and this eventually worked, but "Sally" as an ID still seems to be blocked!  :oops:

[Ann]

I don't use a propogator for basil just sow the seeds and put the tray on the kitchen window sill.   When large enough I then pot the seedlings on into 5 inch pots.

[ytyynycefn]

Damping off?  I don't think basil likes to be too wet/humid.  Mine is just sown in cells in an unheated GH, and then potted on into clay pots.  The ones with the drier compost seem to do better...  

Only been growing it for about six weeks, though, so it's hardly exhaustive experience!

[DD.]

Damping off?  I don't think basil likes to be too wet/humid.  Mine is just sown in cells in an unheated GH, and then potted on into clay pots.  The ones with the drier compost seem to do better...  

Only been growing it for about six weeks, though, so it's hardly exhaustive experience!

No, I don't think it's damping off, that's a fungal disease. The description of 'total skinnines' is a dead giveaway that they've been 'drawn' by leaving them in the propagator too long.

Like yourself, mine are grown in an unheated greenhouse, but just chucked in a seed tray, lightly covered in compost & then pricked out.

[Sadgit]

Basil... hmm I never have any luck with it.. but I think I know why now.

I just scatter the seeds in pots and never prick them out.. so should I be pricking them out and putting 1 seedling to a 3inch pot or something like that?

[DD.]

Basil... hmm I never have any luck with it.. but I think I know why now.

I just scatter the seeds in pots and never prick them out.. so should I be pricking them out and putting 1 seedling to a 3inch pot or something like that?

Yes, that will do nicely.

[Sadgit]

Basil... hmm I never have any luck with it.. but I think I know why now.

I just scatter the seeds in pots and never prick them out.. so should I be pricking them out and putting 1 seedling to a 3inch pot or something like that?

Yes, that will do nicely.

So I guess having 30 seedlings to a 3inch pot is the reason why they never grow very tall for me? Nice and bushy but only a few inches tall and never really get any bigger..

[Growbag]

A couple of tips which have worked for me.
1. Cheat and buy a supermarket plant then pull a strong shoot with a piece of heel if you can (say 3 inches of stem and 4/5 leaves) and suspend it in a cup/glass of water.  Cover the cup with a piece of foil, make a hole in the centre and poke the stem through so that most of the stem is in the water but the leaves are suspended above the foil.  Keep out of strong sunshine and wait 2-3 weeks until roots are showing.  Pot on in a 3 inch pot/container and keep of direct sunshine for a week or so until plant is established.   This has worked every time for me and I now have a ready supply of plants.
2. Water Basil plants from the bottom and allow to dry out slightly before watering again.  Basil likes sunshine but hates being waterlogged.  If you water from the top the stems are likely to rot and the leaves don't like water on them.  By allowing the plant to dry out slightly the Basil flavour intensifies.

[sclarke624]

I cheated as my seed grown basil didn't grow quick enough for our salads.  I bought one from sainsburys for £1.19, loads of leaves to cut.  On the info (which I can't find right now) it said only water if plant looks limp and in need and at the bottom.  I noticed Morrisons are selling them for 69p or was it 99p.  Think my memory is going. LOL.