Sweet basil
A culinary garden essential
SWEET BASIL IS ONE of the most popular culinary herbs today, and in our climate, it can be easily grown in a container or garden each summer. Unfortunately, basil is also susceptible to a common and damaging disease called downy mildew.
Downy mildew affects the leaves and stems of basil. It is seed-borne, but an infected plant also can spread the spores by wind and water to other basil plants. The good news is several new varieties of basil are available to the home gardener that are downy mildew-resistant, helping ensure a beautiful and tasty basil crop that lasts all summer.
Even for resistant varieties, environmental conditions can significantly affect the severity of a downy mildew infection. If you have ever had a hard time growing sweet basil, or experienced a crop failure, don’t give up. Here are few tips to make the next basil planting a success.
First, purchase plants that are downy mildew resistant, such as Rutgers Devotion DMR, Rutgers Obsession DMR, Rutgers Passion DMR or Rutgers Thunderstruck DMR. Other resistant plants include Prospera DMR, Prospera Compact DMR, Prospera Italian Large Leaf DMR and Amazel by Proven Winners.
Several types of basil are naturally resistant to downy mildew but have unique flavor profiles. These include lemon basil, Mrs. Burns, Sweet Dani Lemon, red leaf, Red Rubin basil, Thai basil, African blue basil, lime basil and spice or cinnamon basil.
Always plant basil in full sun. Give plants ample spacing and don’t overcrowd them—this allows for good air circulation. Minimize leaf wetness by using drip irrigation or by avoiding showering the leaves when watering. Harvest basil regularly to keep plants vigorous and actively growing.
