Brown Spots On Herbs * pic *

12 years ago

When I first began gardening in at my new house my herbs were doing quite well. After a short period of time, the basil developed brown spots that looked like burn marks. I thought it was from the heat of the intense S Florida sun. Well the spots continued to move from leaf to leaf from Summer to fall to winter and now the spring. This continued even when they were moved to the shade. Unfortunately, It moved to the Cinnamon and spicy globe basil that I invested in. It also spread to a pineapple sage, lemon balm, and now an English tea Mint plant. I am convinced it is something other than sun spots. I have tried neem oil, spinosad, worm compost tea, and copper fungicide spray. Nothing seems to slow it down.

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Comments (3)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
Clearly something that effects plants in the Lamiaceae family (mints).
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
backyard, I've been thinking about your problem and wonder if you might not be observing some damage of the Four Lined plant bug...an insect that truly favors plants in the mint family, like all of the ones you've listed. I've included one image for you to compare. See what you think and let us know.

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backyardphenomena
Original Author
12 years ago
I think there may be something to this Four Lined plant bug; however, the sweet mint, chocolate mint, peppermint, and apple mint are being left alone completely. These spots seem to really be spread all over the basil. There was a youtube video on the Four Lined plant bug and it seems as if the spots left create holes with defined edges, where as these seem to be a burn hole in which the brown spot extends far beyond the major darkened indentation. But there must be some kind of bug doing this then... Thanks for the eye opener.