Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Help Please With Strange Marks On Basil Seedlings?

bjazz28bjazz28 Posts: 71
in Problem solving

Hi everyone,

Hope you're well,

I have planted a set of basil this year and the seeds germinated well, now they are growing on in trays on an East facing window sill for now, but some of the seedlings have white blemish marks appearing on the first set of leaves. I turn the trays daily and the watering is moist but not too wet and only when signs of compost drying out. (not in propagator anymore)

I have no idea why the marks have appeared or if they are going to cause some real damage later on.

can anyone help me to identify what this might be and a  way to deal with it please if possible?. I would appreciate any advice,  Here are the pictures below:

image       image

Thanks for reading,

cheers,

cliff image

Last edited: 01 April 2017 12:47:33

Posts

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Use a hand lens and see if you can see any tiny insects, particularly on the undersides of the leaves.  It looks like it might be spider mite, thrip or possibly aphid damage.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328

    Or could it be scorch?  If the leaves have been splashed with water, the droplets can act as a lens if the seedlings are in a sunny spot.  This causes the sun to scorch the leaves.

    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Could be liri but I'd definitely investigate with a magnifying glass.

    Last edited: 01 April 2017 13:59:12

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328

    Good plan, Bob.  Best to be sure...

    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    It can be tricky with basil. I sometimes get little attacks of whitefly ater in the year, and that's a possibility there.

    I put the pot in a poly bag to cover the compost, and take them outside and give them a wash in a bucket to get rid of them. That usually does the trick - for a while anyway! 

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • bjazz28bjazz28 Posts: 71

    Hi,

    Thank you all so much for your ideas on what the problem could be, I have checked and I can't see any signs of insect life on any part of the leaves, and I think the sun scorched theory might be right. They have been in quite hot sun by the windows on some days and I might have splashed them whilst watering.

    I will keep an eye on them and see if they continue to grow well and I'll be more careful how I water from now on, if the marks appear on the new sets of leaves then I'll have to re-think.

    (I am aware that bugs might attack)

    Thanks again for you your help,

    cheers,

    cliffimage

Sign In or Register to comment.