July 14, 2025, 3:28 am | Read time: 7 minutes
Caprese, pesto, or garnish for summer drinks–basil is a true all-rounder in the kitchen. Sometimes, however, the leaves of the basil are riddled with holes. myHOMEBOOK explains the reasons and solutions.
A basil plant from the supermarket rarely survives more than a few weeks. Those who manage to turn the potted plant into a permanent resident in the kitchen, on the balcony, or in the garden, or even grow their own basil plants, can enjoy a bountiful and aromatic harvest. It’s frustrating, though, when holes suddenly appear in the basil leaves. What are the causes? And how can the holes be prevented?
Overview
Reasons for Holes in Basil Leaves
Basil needs sun, warmth, and plenty of water. Yet, despite all the care, the leaves can suddenly become riddled with holes. The cause often lies with animal visitors–and sometimes with care mistakes.
Snails
Especially with basil that is outdoors, snails are among the most common culprits. They feed on the leaves at night, leaving large, irregular holes. A telltale sign: slime trails on the soil or the plant’s leaves.
Tip: Place the pot on a raised surface or attach copper tape around the pot’s edge–this keeps snails away. Coffee grounds or mandarin peels can also be effective against snails.
Aphids and Thrips
Aphids and thrips suck the cell sap from the leaves, leading to small holes. Often, the insects are hard to spot with the naked eye. Aphids reveal themselves through sticky honeydew, and thrips through shiny spots on the leaf surface. The leaves are often not only holey but also deformed over time.
Tip: A mild soap solution (such as castile soap) can help, as can hand-picking or using coffee grounds or mandarin peels.
Caterpillars and Beetle Larvae
Especially certain types of beetles and caterpillars like to lay their eggs on basil leaves. The emerging caterpillars then eat through the leaves.
Tip: Check the leaves for eggs or larvae and carefully remove them by hand.
Burns
When basil is watered during the heat of the day and the leaves get wet, small tissue damage can occur due to the magnifying glass effect, which later looks like feeding damage.
Tip: Water basil in the morning or evening directly at the root area, not from above over the leaves.
How to Keep Basil Healthy
- Location: A bright spot with plenty of sun and warmth. Ensure the plants have enough space between them to allow light and air to circulate.
- Watering: Basil needs a lot of water, but waterlogging should be avoided. Check the soil moisture with your finger. The soil should never dry out completely.
- Air circulation: Ensure there is enough space between plants to prevent fungal infections and to allow light and air to reach each plant.
- Repotting: Supermarket basil often suffers during transport. Repot it and trim it slightly at the start to prevent it from falling apart with long, thin shoots.
- Watering: Basil needs a lot of water, but avoid waterlogging. Check the soil moisture with your finger. The soil should never dry out completely.
Using Basil: Not Just for Italian Dishes
If you manage to keep your basil healthy by following these care tips, you can use the aromatic leaves for a wide range of dishes. It doesn’t always have to be just for Italian dishes. You can also use it as a garnish for summer drinks.
Ingredients:
- 200 grams of sugar
- 200 ml of water
- 20 basil leaves
- Grated zest of one lemon, then halved and juiced
- 250 grams of yogurt with 3.8% fat
Preparation:
Boil sugar and water to create a sugar solution, then let it cool. Grate the lemon peel, then halve and squeeze the lemon. Add the lemon zest and yogurt to the sugar solution. Add just enough lemon juice to create a smooth mixture. You can also prepare it in an ice cream maker.
Reasons for Holes in Basil Leaves
Basil needs sun, warmth, and plenty of water. But despite all the care, the leaves can suddenly become riddled with holes. The cause often lies with animal visitors–and sometimes with care mistakes.
Snails
Especially with basil that is outdoors, snails are among the most common culprits. They feed on the leaves at night and leave large, irregular holes. A tip: Place the pot on coffee grounds or mandarin peels to keep snails away.
Tip: Place the pot on coffee grounds or mandarin peels to keep snails away.
Aphids and Thrips
Aphids and thrips suck the cell sap from the leaves, leading to small holes. Often, the insects are hard to see with the naked eye. Aphids reveal themselves through shiny spots on the leaf surface. The leaves are often not only holey but also become deformed over time.
Tip: A strong jet of water, hand-picking, or spraying with a mild soap solution (such as castile soap) can help.
Caterpillars and Beetle Larvae
Especially certain types of beetles like to lay their eggs on basil leaves. The hatching caterpillars then eat through the leaves.
Tip: Check the leaves for eggs and remove them by hand.
Burns
Watering basil during the day and getting the leaves wet can create a magnifying glass effect, causing small tissue damage that later looks like feeding damage.
Tip: Water basil in the morning or evening directly at the root area, not from above over the leaves.
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Keeping Basil Healthy
- Location: A bright, warm, but sheltered spot is ideal–indoors or outdoors. Avoid midday sun.
- Watering: Basil needs plenty of water, but waterlogging should be avoided. Ideally, give a small amount of water daily, leaving no water in the saucer. When in doubt, check the soil moisture with your finger. The soil should never dry out completely.
- Air circulation: Especially with dense planting, fungal infestation can occur, or the plants may block each other’s light and air. Ensure there is enough space between the plants.
- Harvest: Regularly harvest entire shoot tips–this stimulates growth and ensures a well-branched basil bush.
- Repotting: Basil from the supermarket often suffers during transport and is usually planted too tightly in a small pot. It helps to move the plant to a larger pot and trim it slightly at the start to prevent it from “falling apart” with long, thin shoots.
Using Basil: Not Just for Italian Dishes
If you manage to protect your plant from holes in the basil leaves and follow other care tips, you can use the aromatic leaves for a wide range of dishes. It doesn’t always have to be just a topping on pasta, pizza, or Caprese. In summer, you can also prepare refreshing basil ice cream.
Ingredients:
- 200 grams of sugar
- 200 ml of water
- 20 basil leaves
- one large organic lemon
- 250 grams of yogurt with 3.8% fat
Preparation:
- Boil sugar and water to create a sugar solution, then let it cool.
- Wash basil leaves and pat them dry.
- Grate the lemon peel, then halve and squeeze the lemon.
- In a blender, first puree the basil leaves with the sugar water, then add lemon zest and yogurt. Add just enough lemon juice to create a smooth mixture.
- Pour this into a bowl and place it in the freezer for four hours. If you have time, stir occasionally for more creaminess. You can also prepare it in an ice cream maker.