How to Care for Frost-Damaged Basil

Basil, an annual herb, grows outdoors only during the warm, frost-free period of summer. A late spring or early fall frost destroys the plant foliage and can result in the death of the herb. Basil sometimes survives a light frost if the roots aren't damaged by the cold, but the foliage still blackens and shrivels from the exposure. Saving the plant so it can produce further harvests is sometimes possible if you act quickly to treat the damage soon after it occurs.

Pruning shears
Cloche or milk jug

Instructions

- 1
  Bring potted basil indoors and place the plant in a warm sunny area as soon as possible after frost exposure. Keep both indoor and outdoor plants sufficiently watered, as damaged plants and dry soil may result in too much stress for the basil to survive.
- 2
  Trim back the dead and damaged leaves and stems to the nearest healthy leaf node. If the entire top of the basil is damaged but the stems near the base are still healthy, cut back the basil to within 2 or 3 inches of the base. The plant may grow back from the healthy stems.
- 3
  Fashion a frost covering for outdoor plants if the damage occurs at the beginning of the growing season. Place a purchased plant cloche over the basil when cold temperatures are predicted to prevent further frost damage. Alternatively, make your own cloche by cutting the bottom from a plastic milk jug. The covering retains warmth around the basil and prevents light frosts from settling on the foliage.
- 4
  Dig up garden basil in fall and pot the plants. Trim back the damaged plant foliage and bring the plants indoors for continued winter production. The basil may survive light frost damage and repotting, allowing it to produce one or two more harvests indoors.

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