PLANT sweet basil

Sweet basil thrives in warm conditions and now’s the time to sow seed or plant seedlings in pots or in the ground. It loves a fertile soil, plenty of water and a regular dose of liquid fertiliser. In most areas, sweet basil is trouble-free, but watch out for leaf-munching snails or caterpillars, especially when plants are young. Downy mildew is proving to be a problem in humid areas. The disease appears as grey fuzzy spores on the leaves and can be devastating. Reduce the potential for problems by keeping water off the foliage. Growing plants in pots also allows you to move them under shelter during rainy periods.