Q. Please, I would like to know what is the best way to
grow Cilantro, Italian parsley and basil in Las Vegas. I have tried several times growing them in pots from
small plants or directly transplanting them to the raised bed we have. I am not sure if I water them
in excess or not enough but the leave start falling out or dry out.
grow Cilantro, Italian parsley and basil in Las Vegas. I have tried several times growing them in pots from
small plants or directly transplanting them to the raised bed we have. I am not sure if I water them
in excess or not enough but the leave start falling out or dry out.
A. All three of these are pretty easy to grow here if you
have prepared your soil adequately and growing them at the right time of year.
All three can handle full sun but they should not be put into areas of the
landscape that are extraordinarily hot due to reflected heat from walls in the
late afternoon.
have prepared your soil adequately and growing them at the right time of year.
All three can handle full sun but they should not be put into areas of the
landscape that are extraordinarily hot due to reflected heat from walls in the
late afternoon.
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| Basil test plots in North Las Vegas. Here we grew 17 varieties of basil and all of them did well under drip irrigation. |
I have grown all three of them frequently and have had no
problems with them except some insect management. Basil loves the heat and
should not be put in the garden until temperatures start to warm
problems with them except some insect management. Basil loves the heat and
should not be put in the garden until temperatures start to warm
up, perhaps
late March or early April if temperatures are warm. They do not like cool
temperatures below 55° F.
Cilantro and Italian parsley also do very well here but
prefer cooler temperatures of spring and fall rather than the heat of our
summer. A great time to plant cilantro and Italian parsley is in the early fall
or late summer when temperatures begin to cool off.
prefer cooler temperatures of spring and fall rather than the heat of our
summer. A great time to plant cilantro and Italian parsley is in the early fall
or late summer when temperatures begin to cool off.
 |
| Italian parsley growing in North Las Vegas with drip irrigation |
If we have a hard freeze you might lose them during the
winter months but if winters are mild and you place them in a warm part of the
landscape protected from wind they will probably survive the winter. After it
gets established and growing well, basil can handle temperatures all the way
down to freezing but nothing below freezing.
winter months but if winters are mild and you place them in a warm part of the
landscape protected from wind they will probably survive the winter. After it
gets established and growing well, basil can handle temperatures all the way
down to freezing but nothing below freezing.
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| Parsley Hamburg growing in North Las Vegas. The only problem I had with it was dodder one year. |
When temperatures get cold in the late fall and you fear
a freeze, throw a light sheet or even better a crop cover over the top of them
just before sundown when soils are still warm. This will protect them 5 to 6° F
below their freezing point.
a freeze, throw a light sheet or even better a crop cover over the top of them
just before sundown when soils are still warm. This will protect them 5 to 6° F
below their freezing point.
Your basic elements of success in this order will be
planting at the right time, soil preparation, watering correctly, protection
from bugs and location in the yard for protection from cold and wind.
planting at the right time, soil preparation, watering correctly, protection
from bugs and location in the yard for protection from cold and wind.
 |
| Leaf cutter be damage to basil |
Insect problems, generally speaking, include aphids and “worms”
which are larva of moths mostly. I would focus on for organic options;
insecticidal soap, oils such as horticultural oil or Neem, Bt or Spinosad and a
pyrethrum product for fast knockdown. I would use them in rotation as pests
begin to appear in the spring and as needed. Leaf cutter bees can be a problem
on basil but I do not recommend any insecticides. It is better to cover basil with
insect netting or ignore it.