General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Basil and flies:

Lot of web sites say it deters flies!

Problem is, just as many dealing with problems of flies on basil!

Maybe it varies with the type of fly?

My own experience:

I have a four foot long wooden trough of mature, (about 12 inches high) basil on my window sill. I cook Italian, so get through it at a rate of knots: I reseed as I harvest, to try and maintain a perpetual supply.

It seems to have no deterrent effect upon flies entering through the open window. (Usually wide open in this weather.)

True, the leaves of the basil are not peppered with holes caused by cabbage worm/ cabbage fly and the likes, as are the lettuce and similar stuff growing alongside.

The basil is starting to succumb however. Two or three holes apparent, and from experience, I know it is in the latter half of Summer that the basil gets eaten. It will be shredded by late September!