Question
I bought some Sweet Basil cuttings at my local farmer's market (they aren't certified organic but the lady said they never had any chemicals on them).  

I'm a beginner gardener so I put the cuttings in  a glass mason jar and placed them by a window.  They all now have roots and I had planned to plant them this weekend.  But I noticed today that some of the stalks / stems where leaves join at areas have this foamy, white, bubbly froth on them - there are about 5 different areas of this.  I don't know what it is so I've left it on but I want to find out what it is, how to get rid of it and if it still would be safe to eat since I'm growing them to eat.

Also, we're in Texas and SOME of the leaves also have black outer edges / tips to them but I haven't noticed any bugs.
Thanks!! Christina

Answer
Hi Christina,

The white froth on your plants is called spittle and is produced by spittlebugs (nymphs of the adult froghopper insect). The foam itself is unsightly but harmless. The spittlebug that hides inside the foam is a different matter and can, depending on the species of the insect, be everything from an unattractive nuisance to a significant pest.

Go ahead and plant the rooted cuttings, but wash off the spittle, locate and remove any remaining spittle bugs.  (They will be quite small.)  Usually the water spray will remove them, but some can be stubborn.  Keep the plants indoors in bright light (the same window where they rooted will be fine) until transplant shock has passed.  You can minimize the transplant shock by covering them with a lightweight clear or white plastic bag.  The plants still need as much light as possible, and the plastic keeps the plants from drying out in the new environment.  After a day or two remove the plastic, and then place the plants outdoors where the natural predators can control the spittle bug population.  If you are a city dweller and have no plants nearby, you may have to monitor the plants closely for other infestations.

Spittlebugs look like leafhoppers and, like aphids and adelgids, use their piercing mouthparts to feed on plants by sucking out the sap. Each dollop of foam, a mix of slimy sugary insect excretions and air bubbles, encloses a single spittlebug and protects it from drying out and predators like lacewings and ladybugs. Most species are bright green, with big bulging eyes, though they can also be white, yellow, brown, or even pale orange.

Many species of spittlebug are common in North America. Each spittlebug species is most often host-specific, attacking a distinct plant or group of plants, such as holly, pine, strawberry, alfalfa, or juniper, as well as many herbaceous perennials and herbs. Spittlebug infestations are normally small and the damage to mature plants is usually limited to yellow spots on the leaves. The foamy spittle usually appears from May to October in warm humid regions and for a few weeks around the summer solstice in more temperate climates.

You can control spittlebugs by handpicking them from the foam or by washing them off the plants with a strong spray of water. Adult spittlebugs (froghoppers) lay their eggs in weedy places and in plant stubble where the eggs remain through winter. Extended control is often accomplished by keeping the area free of weeds and turning the soil to disturb egg-laying sites. Planting flowers such as alyssum (Alyssum spp. and cvs., Zones 4?) to attract beneficial predatory insects like pirate bugs also helps.