Basil is an herb known for loving sun and warm weather conditions, so it might be alarming to suddenly see the shiny, fragrant leaves shriveling up, and beg the question: why is your basil wilting? There are a handful of care requirements to pay attention to when you're growing basil, and there are a few specific factors that could be responsible for wilting leaves. If you noticed your basil taking a turn, it's not too late to save it. We spoke with two experts to help revive your basil. Meet the Expert Ward Dilmore is a landscaping expert and founder of California-based Petrus Landscaping. Samuel Davis is a horticulturist and the CEO of London Gardeners. Why Your Basil Plant Is Wilting Too little water: Landscaping expert Ward Dilmore cites watering issues for wilting basil plants. Underwatering can cause wilt, but watering too often can, too. Too much water: When basil is grown in larger pots, some gardeners tend to overwater. In doing so, Dilmore says wilting, root rot, and leaf spot can occur. Intense heat: Horticulturist Samuel Davis also notes that intense summer heat and highly fluctuating moisture levels can wear down a basil plant. Bolting: They can also start to wilt if they've bolted, meaning they're going to seed and will slowly stop producing tasty leaves. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! 5 Ways to Revive Basil Plants A wilting basil plant can make a comeback. Here's what the experts say you should do to get this fragrant herb back on track. Nail Down Your Watering Schedule Dilmore says that your basil's soil should be slightly moist and not oversaturated. Usually, watering every two to three days is enough for these plants. If the temperatures get hotter and the soil dries out faster, you can bump up the frequency. Water Early in the Morning Basil tends to wilt in the summer because of the temperature change, which affects the moisture of its soil. Hotter days mean water will evaporate more quickly. To buffer this, Davis says to water your basil plants early in the morning so the soil stays moist for longer. You can water more if the soil fully dries out by the end of the day. Amend the Soil The right soil is necessary for successful basil growth. If you chose a random bag from the store, it might be time to switch. Davis says the herb requires soil that's well-draining and rich in organic matter. This helps retain nutrients and keep moisture locked in—but not for too long, which can lead to root rot. Give Your Basil a Little Shade Although basil plants love bright sunlight, they may need a little shade now and then. If your garden is located in a zone that gets extremely hot temperatures during the summer, Davis says that during the hottest part of the day, it's smart to cover it with shade cloths or move it into a covered area. Bring Out the Mulch Another way to help a wilty basil plant is through mulch. This will help retain moisture and keep the soil temperature more consistent. Davis says to spread a layer of mulch around the base of the plants for best results. 4 Additional Tips to Grow Beautiful Basil If you'd like to keep your basil plant healthy and happy for the rest of the summer and beyond, here are a few other care tips: Pinch the top leaves:Pruning is extremely important for growing a bushy and healthy basil plant. If you let it grow too tall and flower, it will no longer produce loads of leaves or become voluminous. To avoid this, pinch the top leaves and prevent them from growing taller than 8 inches. Fertilize your plants: Fertilizers can be instrumental in helping your basil plants thrive. Davis says to choose balanced, organic fertilizers, which will provide ample nutrients and encourage more leaves. Use deep, large pots: If you're creating a container garden of basil, you'll want to ensure the pots are deep enough and big enough to prevent overcrowding. Pick sick leaves and prevent pests: Basil is susceptible to a few different diseases and pests. Keep a watchful eye and pick off any leaves that are completely shriveled or covered with disease. To deter pests like aphids and slugs, you can create a solution with dish soap and water to coat your plant as an armor of sorts.

‘Fuji’ apples are one of the most popular apples in America. A low-chill requirement, long growing season, and fruit that stores well make this tree an excellent option in garden zones six through nine. In this guide, gardener Jerad Bryant tackles everything you need to know for a successful apple harvest. ‘Fuji’ apples aren’t only delicious, but their trees are stunning ornamentals with beautiful flowers and remarkable fall color. They add to the local environment with flower nectar, abundant fruit, and luscious leaves. Pollinators and birds delight at the sight of an apple tree. You can grow a ‘Fuji’ in your backyard for a lifetime’s supply of sweet apples. Its apples store exceptionally well compared to others, lasting four to six months when kept in the refrigerator. This means you’ll enjoy crisp apples throughout the winter and early spring! An all-around favorite, ‘Fuji’ is the variety to grow for gardeners in USDA zones 6 through 9. It has a long growing season and a low chill requirement, making it a perfect specimen for Southern California gardeners who struggle to grow other apple varieties. Here is everything you need to know about this classic fruit tree. What is a ‘Fuji’ Apple? The ‘Fuji’ apple variety is a hybrid from Japan. Its parents are ‘Red Delicious’ and ‘Virginia Ralls Genet,’ and it combines the best of both varieties into one. The full size of this tree, as in all apple trees, depends on its rootstock. Dwarf rootstock trees mature to ten feet and semi-dwarf to fifteen feet. Apples are an iconic fruit eaten and recognized worldwide. The internet is full of recipes for apples, and home cooks make apples into juices, ciders, sauces, desserts, and more. ‘Fuji’ apples are a great option for home chefs as they last long and easily cook down to a decadent sauce. Native Area The ‘Fuji’ variety’s parent trees grow in Japan, but the original parent is Malus domestica. This wild apple species is native to Central Asia and Afghanistan. Breeders combine this apple’s DNA with other wild species and they produce the thousands of cultivars we grow and love today. Characteristics ‘Fuji’ apple trees are dwarf or semi-dwarf, growing ten to fifteen feet tall. They bloom dainty pink-white flowers in early spring after the cherry and plum trees. Apple leaves are glossy green with slight serrations on their margins. ‘Fuji’ fruit is firm, sweet, and crisp. The skin starts yellowish-green and slowly matures to have red lines and splotching. After testing the flavors of most apple varieties at grocery stores, I’ve found ‘Fuji’ to be my reliable favorite. These trees are not fully self-pollinating and require another variety planted close by that blooms at the same time. ‘Gala’ and ‘Granny Smith’ are two potential options for optimal pollination and fruit formation on both trees. Propagation What’s better than one apple tree? Two! If you can’t get enough of your ‘Fuji’ and want more, try propagating it. Although you can grow apples from seed, apple trees grown from ‘Fuji’ seed will differ from their parent. Apples use pollen from other apple trees to pollinate themselves and grow fruit, so your seed tree could grow completely different apples than a ‘Fuji.’ Do not let this discourage you from growing apple trees from seed. It’s still a fun experiment, and you may have a delicious new apple variety!

’Jubilee’ bush watermelons bring exceptional sweetness on a compact, bushy form. Versatile across garden scales, including in pots and small spaces, the dwarf variety makes growing the hallmark fruits of summer achievable. Garden expert Katherine Rowe explores the merits of ‘Jubilee’ bush to highlight the warm season. ’Jubilee’ bush watermelons celebrate the flavor of summer. The dwarf melons boast superior sweetness on compact vines. Made for hot weather, the relative of a favorite southern heirloom stands up to heat and humidity for refreshing rewards on long summer days. An excellent melon for hot climates, ‘Jubilee’ bush is also a space-saving option with shorter vines and smaller fruits than the classically large oblongs. They’re a fit for containers and raised beds, and can grow vertically to free up ground space. ‘Jubilee’ bush expands the options for growing sweet, juicy fruits across climates and garden situations. Savor the delicious taste of summer by planting now and enjoying them later in the season. What are ‘Jubilee’ Bush Watermelons? ‘Jubilee’ bush is a prized watermelon variety for its flavor, manageable size, and ability to withstand heat and humidity with good production and disease resistance. Its high sugar content makes it a sweet selection among bush types, which aren’t always as sweet, juicy, and tender as their full-size counterparts. ‘Jubilee’ bush has lineage in the favorite heirloom ‘Jubilee’, a result of several crosses introduced by the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station in the early 1960s. ‘Jubilee’ is tops for its large, flavorful melons and resistance to wilt and anthracnose, setting it up for good yields in humid conditions. Like all melons, ‘Jubilee’ bush is in the Cucurbitaceae family along with squashes and cucumbers. Watermelons are long-maturing, soaking in the warmth and sun of summer days as they fill and sweeten. Characteristics ‘Jubilee’ bush produces light green, oval fruits with dark striping. The bright red flesh has a fine, crisp texture to complement the sweet taste. Ready for harvesting in about 90 days, ‘Jubilee’ bush produces three to five fruits per plant. The oval melons weigh 10 to 13 pounds, as compared to the 35-pounders of the standard ‘Jubilee,’ which reach over two feet long. The manageable vines spread three to five feet with resistance to common cucurbit diseases of Fusarium wilt and anthracnose. Native Area Citrullus lanatus is native to North Africa, with wild ancestors in southern Africa and the Kalahari Desert. The drought-tolerant species weren’t necessarily sweet, but they contained water for hydration. The fruits made their way to Egypt, where cultivation began for improvements in water content and sweetness. The ancient watermelons even appear in tombs in painted depictions and as physical seeds. The crop later presents in historical references in Israel, Ancient Rome, China, and Europe. The fruits traveled through colonization and the slave trade from Africa, making their way to North America. Cultivation dedicated to disease-resistant, table quality crops heightened during the last century and continues to innovate. Warm, sun-drenched growing conditions remain essential for their development. Planting In the ground, direct sow watermelon seeds or seedlings into low mounds to improve air circulation, drainage, and minimize damp conditions that lead to disease issues. Mounding also reduces root and vine competition for moisture, nutrients, and sunlight. Two to three vines planted in low, 16-inch tall mounds give vining stems room to run while elevating the crowns. Allow six to seven feet between mounds for vines to run.