![SickBasil3AI](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SickBasil3AI.jpg)
Normally, in the fall, I’m trying to determine what to do with my usual abundance of basil. Pesto jumps to the top of the list, as well as a huge salad of ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella sprinkled with basil leaves. Yet this year, my basil took a turn for the worst. What happened to my basil?
Last year, we dealt with the impatiens blight that killed impatiens plants overnight. Per our local garden centers’ repeated requests, I didn’t purchase and plant any impatiens this summer. Also, it’s interesting that this year’s annual impatiens “volunteers” from last year’s seed in my garden have done quite well — no impatiens blight so far this year — just gorgeous impatiens plants. Interesting.
![Impatiens that self-seeded this year in my garden haven't yet been affected by the impatiens blight! (Photo Credit: Adroit Ideals)](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ImpatiensVolunteers2013AI-300x168.jpg)
Usually my basil is prolific and bushy like the lemon basil below. Watch what you wish for — an overabundance of basil last year would have been welcomed this year.
![Fragrant lemon basil from my garden](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/LemonBasil1-e1343084010194-224x300.jpg)
This year my basil caught “the blight.” I”m not sure if it came from two purchased basil plants or from the purchased potting soil that I was using to grow my own plants from seed. The leaves started to turn brown and black and die off mid-summer. Usually that happens after the first freeze…but never in July!
![Remains of basil plants due to a disease (Photo Credit: Adroit Ideals)](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SickBasil4AI-e1380718564665-168x300.jpg)
I used all new soil in my containers, and cleaned and sterilized the containers as I do every year. We had a whole lot of rain for about a solid week over the summer, which just might have encouraged the blight. The blight appears to spread through water droplets splashing around. So I’m stuck with “sticks” and a few sickly basil leaves.
![Sick basil is trying to come back to health (Photo Credit: Adroit Ideals)](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SickBasil3AI-300x168.jpg)
Now, it’s crucial that I remove the tainted soil and all of the leaves/stems of the sick basil plants. The disease can overwinter in plants, plant parts, and the soil.
![Basil that was lush earlier in the summer. (Photo Credit: Adroit Ideals)](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/SickBasil1AI-300x168.jpg)
It’s a good thing that my local grocers carry fresh basil plants and store-made pesto…because it looks like I will be buying theirs for cooking this winter! A favorite salad is Insalata Caprese which includes ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil leaves. Drizzle with some olive oil and some balsamic vinegar. Sprinkle with a little salt. And enjoy!
![Tomato Mozzarella Salad with Basil (Photo Credit: Adroit Ideals)](http://agardenersdelight.com/wordpress1/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/InsalataCaprese-300x224.jpg)
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