Basil is essentially considered as a superstar when it comes to the culinary world, especially Continental food.
It is used as a fresh or dried spice, garnish, or in the case of pesto sauce, the main ingredient.
Apparently, in making a good and savory pesto sauce, you will need plenty of basil leaves, ideally huge, healthy ones. But, how are you supposed to do that if your basil plant is only producing small, thin leaves?
Don’t lose hope just yet because in this article we will discuss one by one the possible causes of why your basil is producing small leaves and what you can do to troubleshoot this growing problem so you can finally make the most delicious pizza, salad, and pasta for your friends and family.
Some of the most common causes that your basil plant is growing small leaves are an insufficient supply of sunlight, growing in small container, underwatering or overwatering, inadequate amount of nutrients, or other basil growing problems and diseases.
Causes of small basil leaves
- Insufficient supply of sunlight
What to look out for:
Yellowish and shedding leaves
What to do:
Since sunlight is one of the major requirements of basil in order to survive, exposing it to little to no amount of sunlight can affect its entire growth. At the beginning, you will notice its leaves start to turn into yellow. Eventually it will shed and possibly die. If it does survive, it has a huge tendency of producing only small basil leaves.
In order to prevent these from happening, make sure to expose your basil a sufficient amount of sunlight, preferably 6 to 8 hours everyday. Exposing your basil to direct sunlight will also allow your plant to thrive as it grows better in warmer conditions.
If you have limited space outside of your home, artificial light can also be a good light source. Place an incandescent light, preferably fluorescent directly above your plant.
- Growing in small container
What to look out for:
Crowded plants and overflowing roots
What to do:
If you notice that your basil plant is not fully growing or the leaves are not getting any bigger, it is possibly because your container is not big enough to encourage your plant to grow further. A small container restricts the roots of your plants to spread, thus prevents it from distributing more nutrients which a plant with larger leaves would require.
To address this concern, you will need to transfer your basil in a much larger container where it can maximize its growth and allow your plant to produce large, healthy leaves.
- Underwatering or overwatering
What to look out for:
Wilted leaves, drought/soggy soil
What to do:
No matter how much sunlight you provide your basil with, if you do not give it the ample amount of water it needs, you will still end up having small basil leaves. Make sure not to underwater or overwater your plant to encourage its vigorous and healthy growth.
To fix this, water your basil as needed. Fortunately, basil is not that high maintenance when it comes to watering. Water your basil only when the soil is dry to touch, but not too dry that the plant is close to dying.
- Inadequate amount of nutrients
What to look out for:
Dry, small leaves; hard, dried soil
What to do:
Lack of sufficient nutrients is a huge factor why your basil plant is not producing large leaves and there are many elements that may be contributing to it. It could be because you planted your basil in poor quality soil, you’re not feeding it with enough fertilizer, etc.
Basil may considerably be a low maintenance plant but like any other herbs and plants, it also requires more nutrients to sustain its growth. So, if you want to see larger leaves on your next harvest, see to it that you supply your basil with an adequate amount of nutrients.
Read more about Basil
Everyone Can Grow Basil Using Seeds
6 Reasons Why Your Basil Keep Dying
Why Is My Basil Leaves Turning Yellow, And How To Fix It?
How To Harvest Basil Without Killing The Plant?
Other basil growing problems and diseases
Aside from producing small leaves, basil is also prone to other growing problems and diseases brought by different kinds of causes. There’s the inappropriate growing conditions, pests and insect infestation, human error, etc.
Here we will discuss each of these problems one by one and at the same time identify how they can be addressed.
- Root Rot
Due to excessive water and poor drainage, the roots of your basil plant exhibits a specific kind of fungal diseases. As the root rots, it becomes slimy and loses its color and eventually it turns to black. When this happens, it is best that you lay off the watering for a moment until the soil has completely dried up; otherwise, root rot can kill your entire basil plant.
- Downy Mildew
One of the common diseases in plants is downy mildew. You will know that your basil plant has caught this when you notice that the leaves are turning yellow and there are some evident grey growth on the underside. To fix this, you will need to move your basil in an area with better air circulation to keep the leaves dry. You can also take this time to remove the damaged yellow leaves from the plant to avoid the other healthy ones from being infected.
- Pests
If not properly protected, your basil plant can be destroyed by different kinds of pests. There’s aphids, whiteflies, snails, nematodes, flea beetles, etc. These pests feast on basil leaves, roots, and stems, leaving your plant seriously damaged.
Spraying some pesticides or insecticides can help prevent this kind of growing problem. If you are concerned about the harsh chemicals they contain, you may opt to go for organic resistant sprays that are way healthier and safer.
- Nitrogen deficiency
Nitrogen deficiency is one of the concerns that many basil owners fail to consider. Once the soil’s nitrogen level decreases it can cause your plant to wilt and may disrupt its overall growth. You can fix this problem by feeding your plant with nitrogen rich fertilizer but be cautious not to apply more than the required amount.
- Bacterial Infection
The bacteria that thrives in your basil plant may result in what is commonly known as leaf spot. This plant disease looks exactly as it sounds, causing spots and streaks onto the leaves and stems. This bacterial infection is due to overhead watering and damp foliage. To prevent this, you could practice watering at the surface of the soil and do this in the morning so the leaves will have the entire day to dry out.
Tips on growing basil properly
Problems like producing small, thin leaves, pest infestation, bacterial infection, etc. are just some of the growing conditions many gardeners experience in growing their own basil plant. While these problems are sometimes beyond your control, you can still avoid your basil plant from being totally damaged by following these tips below:
- Keep the soil moist
Basil thrives well in a moist soil. If you happen to be growing your herb in a relatively drier area, you might need to water your basil more often. Mulching is also a good strategy to help keep the moisture in.
- Provide your basil with sufficient amount of sunlight
Exposing your basil to full sun for about 6 to 8 hours everyday can help maximize your plant’s growth and encourage it to produce healthy and huge leaves. Fortunately, being an adaptable plant that it is, basil can also tolerate partial sun or shade.
- Make sure that you grow your basil in well draining soil
While basil grows well in moist soil, it is still important for you to grow it in a bed or container that has good drainage, otherwise the excess water retained underneath will cause root rot which is one of the common diseases that kill many types of plants.
- Prune your lettuce regularly
Prune or harvest your basil regularly to encourage quicker and healthier growth. Ideally, you can start pruning your basil once a branch has already 6 to 8 pieces of leaves.
- Practice companion planting
You can help improve the taste of your basil by planting it near a tomato plant. These two crops are known to be mutually beneficial with each other. Conversely, keep your basil away from your cucumber plants as the latter may adversely affect the taste of your herb.
Benefits of basil leaves
Basil contains plenty of essential nutrients that help fight viruses and other diseases. Enumerated below are some of the health benefits that basil leaves provide.
- Acts as a good anti-inflammatory remedy
Linalool, citronellol, eugenol, etc. are some of the essential oils that can be extracted from basil leaves. These oils help combat heart diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, as well as inflammatory bowel diseases.
- Rich in antioxidant properties
Due to its natural antioxidants, basil is known to provide enzymes that help relieve stress as well as decrease fat build up in the liver. Especially when eaten regularly, basil is believed to improve overall health and keep the human body from ailments.
- Helps combat cancer
Apart from minimizing bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases, basil is also a good natural remedy to help fight cancer directly from its root. Since it contains phytochemicals, basil has the capacity to prevent lung, oral, liver and skin cancer.
- Reduces anxiety and depression
If you are suffering from any form of stress, anxiety, or depression, consuming basil can be very beneficial. The herb’s anti-stress agent stimulates neurotransmitters that are believed to regulate the endorphin and dopamine, the hormones responsible for a human’s happiness and energy.
- Manages indigestion and acid reflux
If you are suffering from indigestion, bloating, or water retention, basil is considered as one of the best remedies. It is also known for restoring loss of appetite as well as healing acid reflux. For best results, you could use basil as a main ingredient for your green juice along with other fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants and micronutrients.
