Tom Bruton| Florida Times-Union
Editor's note: Part of the following column written by one of the Duval County Extension Service master gardeners - who volunteer for the Times-Union to answer reader questions on gardening - contained uncredited information. Much of the section on bitter basil came from a Dec. 8, 2009, article, "How to stop your basil from turning bitter," by Heather Bliss on Bukisa, a how-to information website.
I have several basil plants growing in pots. The basil is thriving and growing very big. Some plants have begun to flower, but I have pinched the flowers off. Recently, my basil has begun to taste bitter almost inedible. Any suggestions as to why, and what I can do, if anything?
Basil can be a confusing plant. An essential to the culinary herb garden, basil must be properly pruned to maintain the best flavor.
To keep your basil tastiest, prune the blossoms from the end of each stem before the flowers dry out. Basil has a tendency to grow very bitter tasting leaves if the flowers are allowed to mature to seed. Overwatering or under watering your basil can also lead to bad tasting leaves.
When cutting the leaves, stems and flowers, do not cut more than one-third of the plant's foliage. Removing a large amount of the plant can cause poor function and stunted growth. Properly pruning your basil is essential to keeping it healthy and tasty
Following a good deal of rain last week, blobs of brown, white and yellow foam-like stuff seem to be "growing" on the mulch around my shrubs. What are they, and how can I get rid of them?
These fungal-like growths are known as slime molds. They are not parasitic and, therefore, do not cause disease. They get their nutrients from bacteria and small bits of organic matter, which is why it is common to see them growing on mulch.
One particular slime mold, aptly named "dog vomit slime mold," Fuligo septica, is often the subject of primary concern. The initial bubbling or slimy vegetative stage may quickly transform into the reproductive stage, producing masses of brownish-black powdery spores within the ofttimes crusty exterior.
Although slime molds may grow onto nearby plants, they do not usually cover enough of the plant's surface to smother and cause harm to the plant. There is no way to get rid of slime molds, other than removal of the mulch or other organic matter on which they are feeding. After several days (especially dry days), slime molds will usually become less noticeable.
When rainfall is abundant, you may see slime molds in your lawn. The mold often appears as gray, yellow, pink or purple fungal growth on the surface of the grass blades.
Slime molds are not really disease-causing organisms at all. They don't do any damage to the grass. They are just primitive fungi that live in the soil. When the weather is moist and warm, the fungi send their reproductive growth, flowing up and over anything at ground level, including grass plants.
Because no harm is done to the grass, no fungicides are recommended. If the color or the density of the fungi is objectionable, just remove the fungi by mowing or sweeping, or hosing the grass with a strong stream of water.
I want to grow some hot peppers this fall. Do you have any suggestions on varieties?
Jalapeno, Centella, Compadre, Don Pedro, Mango and Tormenta are a few that you can try. For specialty hot peppers, you could try habanero, Infierno, Mesilla, San Arno and Camino Real. Planting dates for this area are mid August or February and March.
Pepper heat is measured in Scoville units. Habaneros average 259,000 Scovilles. In comparison, jalapenos rank 2,500 to 10,000 Scovilles, depending on the variety. Just as a comparison, the bhut jolokia is a chili pepper generally recognized as one of the hottest in the world. It has a Scoville rating of around 1,000,000.
Tom Bruton is a master gardener with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.
