This book, written with much passion, neither wants to be a plant pathology text. Today plant diseases are still the cause of deaths, often silent, in developing countries, and relevant economic losses in the industrialized ones. One example among many: the potato late blight in Ireland in 1845. Some of them marked the history of entire countries. Plant diseases caused, in the past, significant economic losses, deaths, famine, wars, and migration. The plants are also later to flower than most basil cultivars so the harvest of high-quality leaves is extended for an additional 6 to 8 weeks.This book aims to describe, though in a quite light way, the social role of plant diseases, letting the reader know the topical importance of plant pathology, as well as the role of plant pathologists in our society. The plants grow 18 to 24 inches tall and have dense growth which means high leaf production. I’m also a fan of Everleaf, a productive variety that shows modest resistance to downy mildew. “Additionally, it has beautiful, dark green, cupped leaves, and traditional Genovese Italian basil flavor.” Everleaf basil ™ “Prospera is the first certified organic basil variety with real genetic resistance to downy mildew,” says Katz. Recent breeding has resulted in new cultivars, like Prospera, that offer resistance to downy mildew. Katz says the best way to grow a crop of downy mildew-resistant basil is to start with resistant varieties. In my garden, I’ve put smart watering to work but I’ve also combined it with variety selection. Plant an Edible Landscape Around Your Patioīasil varieties resistant to downy mildew Do not compost affected basil plants as your compost pile may not heat up enough to kill the pathogen.If you’ve identified downy mildew in your garden: Keep an eye on your plants and if you spot yellowing foliage, look at the bottom of the leaf surface for the telltale purple-gray fuzzy mold. What to do if you spot basil downy mildew The sun will speed up leaf drying but it also promotes healthy growth of this heat-loving Mediterranean herb. It’s also important to plant basil in a site that receives at least 6 to 8 hours of sun each day. This permits optimum air circulation to help the foliage dry quickly after a rain. Where I used to plant my basil seedlings close together to grow into a hedge of basil, I now leave space between each plant. In addition to watering at ground level, there are a few other ways to help reduce the potential occurrence of downy mildew. It’s also a good idea to water early in the day so the foliage has a chance to dry off before night. Katz suggests watering with drip tape or a soaker hose instead of a sprinkler or watering wand to reduce water on the leaves. Knowing this can help you reduce the spread in your garden by eliminating a factor, like foliage moisture. The lower leaves are affected first but the infection soon moves upward on the plant.Īccording to Rachel Katz, a Research Team Product Technician at Johnny’s Selected Seeds, there are three things necessary for a disease like downy mildew to spread: It travels on the wind or via water splashed during rain or irrigation. What is basil downy mildew?īasil downy mildew is a funguslike organism that generally appears in mid- to late summer when conditions are warm and humid. The culprit was relatively new to North America, but one that has quickly been spreading: basil downy mildew. They said the affected leaves withered and the plants eventually died. They described yellowing foliage and a fuzzy gray mold on the bottom of the leaves. A few years ago, I began to hear from gardeners in the United States and Canada who were having trouble with their basil plants.
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