Basil seedlings gone weak and falling over.

[Leeds_lad]

Anyone know what is causing this? they are in a conservatory near a window with heating close to them.

[Newton]

It's winter.."not enough light.

[Leeds_lad]

Will that cause it? They seemed healthy for over a week then woke up one day and they were all flopped over

[veggiechicken]

Damping off disease? I never have much luck growing basil and this is usually why!

[Leeds_lad]

Yeah must be damping off. Might just stick to buying supermarket/nursery basil plants i reckon.

[donnakebab]

This always happens to me with Basil. However, I am determined to get my technique right so I will try at the beginning of March perhaps.

[zazen999]

Yeah must be growing off. Might just stick to buying supermarket/nursery basil plants i reckon.

Damping off; it's a fungal disease. However, with my seedlings, I blow on them gently to imitate the wind and toughen the stems up. But even I wouldn't contemplate sowing basil this early. And I live on the edge.

[Two_Sheds]

I can't get basil to grow even in summer, let alone mid-winter (lack of light is your problem, even if they're warm enough they need lots of long days ~ they're Mediterranean innit)

[Alison]

I find that basil is pretty easy to grow in small pots in the greenhouse or in the polytunnel border but only if I leave off planting until about April. At this time of year there really isn't enough light.

[chilliking]

I had quite a bit of success with basil last year. Raised some from seed, however the best way was to buy a garden centre plant (not supermarket thing grown under lights) early and take loads of cuttings. I rooted them in glasses of water and potted them up.

A few weeks later we had a glut, enough so i didn't feel guilty culling a whole plant to make pesto!!

[Bren In Pots]

I sow mine at the end of March and they're usually up after 5 or 6 days then once established I take cuttings.

[oldie]

I have two basil plants that have overwintered on my kitchen windowsill. Both good sturdy plants, but we have only had two mild frosts down here so I think I'm just lucky. I lost all my basil two years ago by putting it outside too early.

[Leeds_lad]

Seems to be only affecting my pot basil though. My lemon basil is still looking fine. I've separated the two lots of seedlings, fingers crossed the lemon ones don't get it!

[Two_Sheds]

^ you don't think it's lack of light and being too cold at night then?

[Leeds_lad]

Ah it can't be. the heater is left on a medium setting over night and the blinds are always drawn so it's bright enough