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The great basil debate: full sun or afternoon shade?
My south-facing balcony gets brutal sun from noon on, and I lost three basil plants to scorch last week. My neighbor says they thrive in full sun, but my wilted leaves say otherwise. What's your real world experience with herbs and intense light?
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susanh464mo ago
Ugh, I was totally on the "full sun" team until my plants fried last summer. Honestly, afternoon shade saved my basil this year. They look way happier now.
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verab282mo agoMost Upvoted
Totally agree with you, @susanh46, but I gotta say it's more about the timing than just "afternoon shade." Morning sun is gentler and dries the dew off leaves, so if you shift your basil to get morning sun instead of afternoon blaze, that's the real trick. I learned that after frying a whole batch of Genovese last year (so sad) and now they thrive with just 4-5 hours of that early light. Your shade idea is solid, but try moving them to a spot that catches the sunrise and you'll see even bigger leaves.
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