[blatz]

I have an organic herb garden and pretty much everything grows well, including my basil.

I use Neem oil to try and keep pests at bay, and rip off the hole-y leaves, but my basil keeps getting attacked and it looks like I am going to lose plant #3 now.

Any other ideas out there? 

Most google searches bring me to neem oil.   perhaps i need to apply it more often than prescribed.

[Stevie]

Do you know what is attacking them? I had an issue with squash bugs. The best response was to, well, squish them.

[kramerog]

You might not be applying enough oil.  In addition to having a pesiticidal active ingredient, neem (and other oils) can be used to coat and suffocate insects.

If insects are the problem you can use insecticidal soap (basically soap that is safe to plants, some people just use dish soap) to strip oils from the insect causing them to dry out and die. 

My advice is general in nature.  I haven't had any issues with my basil.

[blatz]

thanks steve - i will try to catch "it" in the act.  my gf said she thought she saw a small caterpillar like bug on a leaf 2 nights ago, but he was gone when I went to find him.

[blatz]

dishsoap - will try it.

[kramerog]

dishsoap - will try it.

Google it to see what the dilution should be. 

[erockrph]

Neem works OK on most bugs and beetles. You need to apply once or twice a week and after every rain, as it washes right off. You will still see some damage, but it should be greatly reduced.

For caterpillars, Bt is generally the best option. Diatomaceous earth is another option for anything that crawls.

[pete b]

If you have a small enough patch you can put row cover over them until they get bigger. Inspect them to make sure there are no bugs on them first. Basil is delicate so make supports with sticks so the weight of the cloth isn't on them. My zucchini always gets decimated by squash bugs so I put row cover on them when I transplant, leaving slack so they can push it up. I take it off when they are about to blossom. By then they are big and strong and the bugs have settled in on someone else's squash.

[kylekohlmorgen]

Birds are taking all the basil out of my porch planters. 

[Stevie]

Birds are taking all the basil out of my porch planters. 

They don't touch my basil, but they love my little tomatoes.

[gmac]

Squash bugs have piercing mouth parts and aren't that likely to make holes unless the holes come from the necrotic tissue around the point that they sucked from.

Dish soap is likely the best best if it's a soft bodied insect such as a caterpillar.  Catch one and post a picture and someone will likely be able to ID it for you.  I took a tonne of entomology courses in my younger days and I'd be happy to try to help.