Basil is one of the most popular culinary herbs in this country. Unfortunately, it is not easy to care for and is susceptible to various diseases, such as viral diseases. A possible sign of disease is curled leaves. But why do these arise and what can you do about them?
Why do basil leaves curl?
If the basil leaves curl, it is usually due to avirus infection. This is often preceded by cutting cuttings - the viruses then had an easy time at the interfaces to penetrate the plant.
Is it normal for basil leaves to curl?
The curling of the leaves of the disease-prone culinary herb isnot the norm, but is always an indication that something is wrong with the plant. The leaf curling of basil, which is valued for its intense aroma, can occur both in specimens planted in the garden and in those that are in pots on the windowsill in the kitchen.
How long does it take for curling basil leaves to appear?
If the basil, which is often used to make pesto, is infected with a virus as a pest, everything happens very quickly and the leavescurl after a very short time If these are fresh herb pots from the supermarket, it may be that they were already infected with the virus that causes curling leaves when they were purchased. For older plants, infected garden tools in your own garden are usually the cause.
What can you do about curling basil leaves?
If you have noticed curling leaves on your basil plant, you should act quickly before the entire plant dies. Proceed as follows:
- Harvesting he althy cuttings
- Plant the cuttings immediately in fresh soil suitable for basil, i.e. permeable and nutrient-rich soil
The rest of the basil must be disposed of with household waste so that the virus cannot spread to other plants via the compost. If the cuttings were really virus-free, there is a good chance of being able to harvest from the new plant soon.
Can you still eat curly basil leaves?
Basil leaves that have curled shouldno longer be consumed. They are also no longer suitable for drying.
Can basil with curled leaves still be saved?
Basil with curled leaves and possibly spots on the leaves can no longer be savedOnly propagation via cuttings can lead to good success. So that the “new” plants have more resistance to possible virus infestation, fertilizing with a fertilizer suitable for garden herbs is highly recommended.
Tip
Basil is susceptible to viral infections
In addition to curled leaves, lightened leaf veins or mosaic-like patterns on the leaves can also be symptoms of a viral infection in basil. In this case it is usually the alfalfa mosaic virus, which usually causes the plant to die. Since it can multiply via infected tools, it is essential to ensure that the equipment used is disinfected regularly and thoroughly.
