Queenette

Check the undersides of leaves for small sap-sucking insects (often aphids) and look for leaf spotting that spreads after cool, wet weather—both commonly flare in crowded, damp foliage. Remove badly affected leaves, water at the soil line (not on the foliage), and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves don’t stay wet. If aphids are present, rinse them off with a strong spray and repeat every 2–3 days until new growth is clean.

Start harvesting when plants are about 6–8 inches tall and have multiple sets of true leaves—typically around day 45, depending on conditions. Harvest in the morning by snipping above a leaf pair to encourage branching; take only up to about one-third of the plant at a time. When flowering begins, leaves can taste sharper, so harvest regularly before heavy flowering for the best flavor.