Question
What pest could be causing swiss cheese like holes in my young basil plants? What can be done about it? Thank you!

Answer
Adrienne:
This sounds like a worm or beetle. The web site 'gardens alive.com have a lot of organic secticides for your plant. They will send you their catalog.Look under the leaves in late evening or early morning. I am sending an organic recipe that may help.?  

3 oz. chopped garlic cloves, soak in (2) teaspoons of mineral oil for (24) hours. Add slowly (1) pint of water and 3/4 oz. of a mild liquid soap. Store in a glass container after straining the mixture. Use as a spray for aphids, mosquitoes. Start with (1) part mixture to (20) parts water.

?  garlic bulb, (1) small onion, (1) tablespoon Cayenne pepper, (1) quart of water.
Let steep for 24 hours, then add (1) tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Use immediately or store in a tightly covered container, mark it and refrigerate for up to a week.

?  gallon of water; mix (3) tablespoons of mild liquid soap, (3) tablespoons of cooking oil, (4) tablespoons of hot pepper sauce or powder, (3) cloves of pressed garlic; Mix well and strain through cheesecloth. Be sure to spray under the leaves. Always test spray a few leaves and wait a few hours or the next day to see if it burns the plant. Dilute the mix.

?  Blend (1) cup of hot peppers with (2) cups of water, let stand for (1) day, then strain and refrigerate. Add (1/2) cup of pepper juice to (1) gallon of water for a spray.

?  Blend (4) hot peppers, (4) cloves of garlic, (4) cups of water. Let stand at least (1) hour, preferably overnight. Use undiluted as a spray.
?  

?  Boil (1) lb. of chopped rhubarb leaves in (1) quart of water for (30) minutes.  Strain and use as a spray for aphids.

?  (1) gallon of warm water, add (1) tablespoon each of mild dishwashing liquid and hot pepper sauce, plus (1) quart of rubbing alcohol(70%). You may use equal parts of alcohol and water, omitting the soap liquid and hot pepper. Try a few leaves first to see if it burns them.


Leroy