Small holes in basil leaves

[Liz]

I am growing basil in the greenhouse, at the base of my tomatoes. In the last few weeks small holes have appeared in all the basil leaves. Ive picking the damaged leaves off, but whatever it is keeps on eating. its definitely not snails or slugs, the holes are small but numerous. Does anyone have any ideas for spraying leaves that I hope to eat?

[charles]

Thanks for this as I am suffering similarly and can NEVER find a caterpillar! Last year I found one at 3am, big and brown sitting on top of a basil plant. possibly the “yellow bear caterpillar” but the internet has little firm info about basil holes.
Last night at midnight my son photographed a caterpillar on a nearby tomato, it was brown too. Also I found a moth on basil in the polytunnel… Is anyone else experiencing basil being eaten?

[Mateo]

Hello, I’m new to gardening and have been having problems with my winter salads and Kale. Little peppered holes over the Kale and then I checked the winter salads and found the same. I’m hoping people have solutions too. The only thing I can see that sounds relevant, given the tiny holes, is Flea Beetles, but I don’t know if they are native to the UK. They’re described as being very small and hard to track because they hop around. One idea was to put a stick trap to attract them. My Kale is under an enviromesh and the Winter salads is under a cloche, so I’m not sure how the sticky card will work in the damp weather, but last night I saw a lot of small black insects on both cards.

[charles]

Hello Mateo, I think this is not a major issue, perfect leaves are quite rare!
Yes there are still some flea beetles and possibly midges too, often annoyingly invisible and hard to squash or trap, however you sound well organised.
I find that Green in the Snow mustard is prone to having holes, but its great flavour compensates.

Kale for cooking has larger, tougher leaves and here at least I am finding them pretty clean, and some holes do not matter.

[Don Foley]

Hi Liz,

If they are small/tiny holes like as if the leaf has been punctured with a needle I would suggest you have Flea Beatles. They would be attracted to Tomatoes and Basil amongst many other plants. These are really tiny creatures and therefore difficult to spot.
I have had success by spraying affected plants with a Garlic spray. You might try that and see how you get on.

Don.

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