Hi - My husband and I do not agree on a question - I need more opinions!!! My basil leaves are partially-eaten. I believe it is beetles that done the damage! He says those leaves are still okay to harvest - what do you think??
B-)

Well - when I think about the chemistries people are willing to ingest through their foods - a few bug chomps are not going to hurt anyone. Just rinse the leaves well, make sure no teeny things are on them, and you'll be fine. Although if there were any little bugs on there chances are you could eat them and come to no harm. Just rinse 'em if you're feeling unsure.

I eat them. I usually just tear the chewed places off and use the rest of the leave.

Welcome, Chrisc! My basil leaves have been chewed here and there by grasshoppers, although the preying mantis is doing a good job of chomping the hoppers.I just rinse them off. I also give all my leafy vegetables and broccoli a brief salt water bath which causes any bugs to let go and float away. Some stores here carry a vegetable wash, but I find the salt water works as well. I actually check all leaves for bugs, as we have a religious prohibition against eating them, except for some kinds of locusts. Fortunately, no one knows which ones are kosher, so I don't have to even go there.

Are there really kosher bugs? Very cool. I never knew that. The things one learns. I don't suppose they could be eaten with kosher salt, then. lol.

B-)

I know locusts are eaten roasted or fried in the Middle East and some parts of Africa. Nothing I'd want to try. The biblical plague of locusts didn't work so well as the Egyptians packed them up, however they preserved them in those days, and made good money selling them. They got theirs in the end anyway.

The main problem I have with basil being eaten is slugs. Even in dry weather, when I become sort of lax, they are there, and if I forget to put some slug pellets down I start seeing holes again. And anytime we get a downpour I really have to be diligent.

Dave