Keep Your Store Bought Basil Alive

Ever wondered why the basil you buy from the supermarket never lasts that long? In this video I show you what you should be doing with your supermarket basil to make it last all summer. This is effectively propagation by division.
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[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Get exclusive bonus content at www.patreon.com/sheffieldmadeplants

[@giuseppeguglielmi4390]

What did you put together with soil (the white 20%)?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@giuseppeguglielmi4390 perlite

[@johnhorchler667]

December 19th soon to be 2024 how are your basil plants 🌿 🪴 now ? I put mine in a six inch pot just before Halloween 🎃

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@johnhorchler667 they’ve gone now. Probably ate them. They don’t do great in my winter

[@johnhorchler667]

@SheffieldMadePlants okay thank you and what degree is your winter it is 50% s in Ohio.

[@jeannewitter8419]

I’ve called my home a botanical hospice where plants come to die. Your video is inspirational and has given me hope. Thank you!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great stuff 👍

[@Ladythyme]

That’s too funny ….🤞🏻good luck 😊

[@Realtor365]

😂 SAME

[@MsK-xm7vw]

A little trick I use when transplanting tender shoots: I place half the soil into the side of the pot, lay my roots down, and top them with the rest of the soil. I then stand the plant up, gently tap it down, and add anymore soil necessary. This way I’m not cramping the roots into a hole.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice tip 👍

[@creativecheersoffashionlau7364]

Great tip! Thanks!! I am always struggling with these seedlings.

[@kayo5291]

Yikes, I think I am going need a diagram. 😦

[@markb8954]

@@kayo5291 Turn the pot on edge/sideways then put some dirt inside. Gently place seedling in. Turn over & fill the other half.

[@joacatmcd]

Thank you so much, your the first I've seen that tells the true tale of market basil. Your not buying one plant, your buying 20 - 30 seedlings crammed into one pot.😄😘

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@donalddonney1595]

You’re, not your

[@arriesone1]

@@donalddonney1595 It’s probably predictive text and they can’t be bothered to correct it. Me, I’m fussy like yourself!

[@riley6740]

I’m the same way. Predicative text can be helpful for me because of my failing memory. However, I do know when a word is used incorrectly and the grammar that should have been taught in school. The kids are not taught any more. Hence the need for apps for writing articles, letters and such other than written work.

[@TalentlessCooking]

This is a great video for me, I love basil and I had no idea that it was overcrowding that causes my basil to stop growing.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks, glad you liked it 😊

[@lilithabunni]

me either! i’ve all but killed my daughter’s basil and i guess this explains it! i’m repotting it today as instructed and hoping it springs back to life! 😅

[@annieholbis2430]

I appreciated this video because I often buy basil plants and after having lost a few, I started transplanting them into bigger pots and saw a huge improvement.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice one, thanks!

[@wplains]

Great video. I’ve never seen anyone do that before and it makes perfect sense. Just done that for a plant I bought about a couple of weeks ago and I’m excited to see them grow. Many thanks!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@ALHack29]

I just planted some grocery store basil. Looks like I need to replant them tomorrow!! Thanks!

[@roxyroxieroxann]

Same here!

[@peterszammer3876]

you can also sepparate the plantlets by carefully washing out the soil. then it is easier to separate the roots of the plants and reinsert them sporadically.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍👍👍

[@krazmokramer]

Last year the basil plants at Walmart here in Kansas looked great. I re-potted the entire basil clump into a 15" red clay pot outdoors in the middle of May. By the middle of July the plant was 4 feet tall and quite bushy. I had fresh basil through November. This year the basil plants at Walmart are crap. I bought a nice one at a local nursery.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍👍👍

[@fgrodriguezqac]

The heat from the summer doesn’t kill it?

[@beccogiallo]

Very useful. Thank you. I always wondered why my supermarket basil plants died.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@Realtor365]

Thank you!! I cook with a lot of basil And have killed SO many of these! Never thought to split them up!

[@vBDKv]

I've done this for 3 years straight, and the amount of basil you get (if pruned properly) is insane. I put mine in slightly bigger pots though, half a liter I think it is (Edit: MXC 13, so that's 0.8 liter pots). Also if you're lazy like me sometimes, you can remove the pot and just plant the whole thing in a bigger pot. They'll grow just fine, but obviously not as good as when you divide them into separate pots. Give them liquid fertilizer once every month. Really soak the soil. But only once per month, otherwise they lose their delicious flavor :)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Like it!

[@annieholbis2430]

I do the same thing!

[@2075vj]

Good to know. I will break mine up into maybe four pots. Thanks for sharing.😊

[@marylyon1230]

How much water do they require? I don't want to overwater or underwater!

[@vBDKv]

@@marylyon1230 I usually water mine when they start to slightly droop. However if it's super hot and sunny, I give them some water in the morning before going to work.

[@jlddlw]

Hello. I must say you're videos are very informative. And the way that my ADD is sat up I usually don't watch whole videos. But I watched 4 without skipping so that says a lot and everything you said about the plants is very helpful and also help people from continuing to kill plants. Thanks.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Awesome that you 👍

[@emilschneider9974]

Thank you for showing us this neat way to grow Basil!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

What NOT To Do With Your New Houseplant 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmm6YYybrM-UkLc

[@glow1815]

I bought one from Walmart once never had to buy it again. I put in the ground let seed out when Spring comes all the seed drops from the dead ones grew itself. As long as I keep it moist it just grow. Now I have Basil everywhere super healthy, green and waxy looking. That's when you know they're healthy.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Sounds great 👍

[@kriyayoga98]

Great information. I just came home from the supermarket with one of those plants. 👍

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks 👍

[@susanbrennan5511]

Bought a basil at Lidl last week. Repotted it and it’s growing like crazy! It’s growing so well I had to attach it to a stake. Going to have basil all summer for the tomato plant I bought at the same time. 3.99 and already has flowers! Love Lidl and my deck garden that is going to keep me happy through the summer!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Sounds great 👍

[@gigapig23]

So will the basil be ok outside in the summer? Thank you.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@gigapig23 yes if it’s warm enough it will do well outside

[@kennethnormanthompson2740]

@@gigapig23 best to harden it off first.

[@deniaridley]

Just bought mine from Lidl a week ago and came to YT to see what to do. The leaves were wilting after a couple days; but now I know I should separate them, that they're separate plants!

[@2075vj]

Thanks for the information. I just bought a basil plant at the killing the one I had a few weeks ago. I was told that basil likes shade, but you indicated that it should be in the sun. I am now a new sub.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊. Definitely needs as much sun as you've got.

[@2075vj]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Thank you! I have some coconut coil to add to my potting mix. Would that be OK? I do live in Fort Myers Florida, where the heat is intense. I’m thinking maybe I should put my pots out in the sun in the morning for a couple hours and then bring them in or put in the shade. The afternoon gets really hot. Do you think that’s a good idea? The person that told me that they should be in the shade was a farmer/nursery owner from my area.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@2075vj yes coconut choir is good. Sounds a good idea to protect from the worst heat

[@2075vj]

@@SheffieldMadePlants thank you 😊

[@lisalikesit2]

Hello from USA- well done, great video-thank you! I have wasted so much money buying these over and over from the store, and wondering why mine keep dying..,😂-definitely going to plant them next time!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@julieharris8188]

Omgosh me too! I’ve bought sooo many over the years . Was wondering if I should take it personally! Now I have the solution. TY !👍🏻

[@nevastrong2850]

Me too!!

[@brennybean]

You always have a video for exactly what I need 😅 thanks again!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Happy to help!

[@riley6740]

I’ve taken to soak the whole un potted plant in a small bucket of water. It was easier for me to then separate the individual plants from each other. From there, I could direct plant them into a small garden area and some in a nice couple of pots to use in the kitchen.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Like it 👍

[@redrojulia7031]

Thank you so much for this Information/video. I never thought there were to much plants in a pot and now i know and will make it better in the future.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@charlesrogerson6392]

Thanks very much.....I've always thought that supermarket plants were modified not to actually grow to much.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Seems so. Thanks for watching 😁

[@PetroicaRodinogaster264]

I never knew this. I have always had the whole thing go to waste after a very short time. I am going to try it.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍

[@kerryl4031]

You can also increase the plants and make the stems stronger by cutting the tops off and popping them into a jar of water and they will take root, then pot those up too.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Got a video on that 😁

[@kerryl4031]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Hah! You are ahead of me! :D

[@nadinegoffart487]

Thanks so much for this video! ❤ I will try this out right away

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@ShoutAtMeElmo]

I am shocked and impressed how the quality of your videos improved from this one in a short time, awesome stuff! Video is still great, obviously... if my basil dies Ill come back and delete this sentence though 😛

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I’m amazed you managed to sit through it 😂

[@alg1335]

Man, at all along I thought I was a Basil killer! I am not I am not!!! Happy 💃🏽🕺🏽🙏🏽💜🍀 Gonna try again!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Rock on!

[@tiger8linny788]

Thanks very much!!! Will do this straight away❣️

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@nightmarecastni]

I’ve such a bad green thumb I’ve managed to cause a cactus to die via under watering it 😭 really appreciate this, was super helpful! Hopefully I can get Barry the Basil growing (also from aldi 😂)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You’ve got this ✊

[@pab777]

Excellent channel here. Thank you.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks!

[@guyh.4553]

The reason why they pack all that basil together like that is that they expect you to use it as a living/FRESH herbs. Not a long term plant. Just a transplanting tip for you. Bury the transplant at least 1/3rd way up the stem. 1st, it helps hold the plant up & not break off. 2nd, the buried part transforms into roots thus adding greater surface area for roots to shoot out of. More surface area, the greater the ability to take in nutrients and water to help the plant grow stronger Didn't know this trick, thanks!

[@ttselha64]

Really helpful video and comments. Thanks

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@cantbringmedowntoday]

Would have liked to see how they looked after a week :)

[@Kingfisher1215]

Thank you for showing me this. I love basil, I make a lot of Thai food and have trouble finding the Thai basil so I use sweet basil as a substitute. I would like to see what the plants look like in two week increments over the next two months.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@davidfetterly1067]

Excellent video, little buddy.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching!

[@jonimaricruz1692]

Thank you, what a useful tip!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@AParis-vm4sx]

You’re lucky! The potted herbs in Toronto supermarkets are pretty spindly & anemic. Doubt we could salvage more than 2 offspring! Thank you for the great info, though.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Oh dear. Thanks for watching 😁

[@pateicialane4740]

Interesting for so few stems per pot love you videos

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@Yasha4life]

Man, I bought a nice bushy basil pot from Trader Joe a week later 3/4 of a plant is dead! They were kind enough to replace the plant. I will try this method and see how it works. Fingers crossed.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You’ve got this ✊

[@katieolooney]

Yes I am trying this thank you!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You bet!

[@gordoneyton-williams8777]

Thankyou, this is great info!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@heli0s2003]

Very awesome instructions, thank you! I just need to get some perlite and im good to go

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lauraapsley7433]

Will definitely be trying this out!

[@dreday77777]

I bought a basil plant like this from Walmart and I was wandering if you could cook and eat this before growing it

[@DirkLemaitre]

You can use exactly the same approach to harvest chives well into autumn.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍

[@leomn2075]

You make it so easy!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😊

[@chantalrochon3566]

Thank you for this video 😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@missthunderstormable]

This suggested video defo caught my attention lol. Guilty!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

😁

[@missj9908]

Great tips 😉

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad you think so!

[@kimchinguyen5083]

Thank you !!

[@anitaoconnell3611]

Great video!🇨🇦

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks 👍

[@Mapleheads]

Very helpful buddy

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks!

[@thomasevans1728]

Great video thanks, lve always wondered why it died after a short time.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@stevenmqcueen7576]

Great video.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@nichtverstehen2045]

you are my hero of today :) thanks alot

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad I could help

[@nichtverstehen2045]

@@SheffieldMadePlants i'm really bad at keeping my plants alive. i can make store bought basil root in a glass of water. but once i move it to a pot it eventually dies. i buy best potting mix i could get. i never forget to water it. but still all my plants eventually die no matter what. my only guess is that i live in tropics very close to shore line and everything is getting covered with thin layer of sea salt.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@nichtverstehen2045 hmm sounds very odd

[@nichtverstehen2045]

@@SheffieldMadePlants salt is everywhere. half of my stainless steel equipment has rusted pretty badly in few months sitting without any use. i have to get rid of the rust occasionally and some stuff like smoke generator that is supposedly 304 is all covered with nasty rust spots because of that.

[@DrewGarage]

Loved this. Have wondered for my entire adult life why then dont survive! Here in the midwest US, we say "bay-zul." I think "bazz'l" sounds better.....

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Glad it helped 😁

[@healthyliving9601]

I just planted this type of basil in a pot outside n I kept it all together, though I will cut some for tomorrow lunch 😅

[@Bevieevans8]

Great video thank you 😊

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊

[@lihan1234]

Thanks !

[@javierballesteros3832]

You've gotten a lot more chipper since this video!

[@karonsky1]

And for bushy full sturdy (not leggy) plants pinch the top shoot to promote branches lower down

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍👍👍

[@jaduggleby]

I shall try to keep my basil alive this year. 🤞

[@apgx6032]

Would have been good to see how well they had grown.

[@oddy_gg]

I love Bazzl

[@tapwithheartandsole]

Brilliant. Thank you

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@paulwomack5866]

Well, if you're going to do *THAT* you might as well save money and grow from seed! IMHO the supermarkets aren't selling plants to keep and grow. They're selling basil leaves with a neat system that keeps them fresh for up to a month. This system is called a "basil plant". But (as you note) they have neither the space nor soil to last forever. I think the product is honest and works well. But the supermarket is not a garden centre.

[@barbd5607]

Yep, I don’t.et anything go to waste!

[@kennethnormanthompson2740]

Nope, you get a lot of plants for little (or liddl) money. The plants have been forced in heat, so are much earlier than you can start them. They just need a bit of careful handling.

[@lizstraub6621]

I said to my daughter just this morning "I think I killed another Basil plant" Maybe my devices really ARE listening to me! I'm hoping it's not too late for my Basil. Thank you, very timely video!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

I’m convinced they are 😂 Thanks for watching 😁

[@carollund8251]

Not only listening, I think it's watching too! I just bought one!

[@lizstraub6621]

@@SheffieldMadePlants I didn't kill it!!! It's actually going to make it!! It was very"leggy' so I used a chopstick to support it, with a twist tie and said a little prayer. It worked! It's happily sitting on my sunny windowsill and I can't thank you enough!

[@bonniepoole1095]

When transplanting any plant, if you damage the stem, it probably won't live. Handle the plants carefully.

[@lostpony4885]

Mine are weeks old in 4 inch pots from the store lookin good but havent been placed in the ground yet....

[@NettiGaming]

Thank you my friend ❤️

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Any time!

[@paulinebeckett8222]

THANK YOU

[@corneliafick1736]

Thank you VERY much.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@KTKaute]

Im good at growing veggies, they over the entire garden. But i tend ti be a herb and flower killer. No matter what I do, they die and they die quick! Thank you for this video. I constantly use herbs and im sick of using cut herbs. I thought about growing it all in the garden but this would be better

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@garyhamilton2979]

I bought a similar one from tesco. I just got the roots from putting cuttings in a jar of water for 10days-2wks. I potted the up and took cuttings from the cuttings. Had 3 large pots inside most of the year until aphids got the better of them.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍

[@annieholbis2430]

I've had that happen to my coriander plants, but never to my basil.

[@protorhinocerator142]

I bought one of those things over a month ago. I'm lousy with plants. I stuck the store pot thing in a bowl to collect the excess water. Whenever the leaves start drooping I give it some water. It's doing just fine. Getting bigger.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice 👌

[@sueelliott4793]

I plant my parsley, spring onions,coral/cos lettuce etc from store bought and regrow them.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

👍👍👍

[@micheleinboden3530]

THANK YOU!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

You're welcome!

[@danielledubois1117]

Thank you very much

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

My pleasure 😊

[@janetmackinnon3411]

Thank you!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks for watching 😁

[@kenken6550]

Please do some herb vids and hanging plant videos

[@bahathemagnificent]

I like to see the result as well after a month

[@granmabern5283]

Thankyou 😊

[@TheWendable]

Is it just me or did you all SMELL that basil when he was handling it? 😋Imperative information. Thank you so much 🤗 (can I do this with fresh bought coriander too? 🤔

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thank you 😊. It’s probably easier to grow cori from seed

[@grobweiler]

This is fantastic, thank you. Please can you do another video on coriander as I can't get that to live beyond 3 days! Ever! Many thanks, Ruth from up the road in Donny.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Great suggestion!

[@grobweiler]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Thank you. I love this channel!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

@@grobweiler you rock!

[@robinsoncrusoejr7089]

Sometimes I do it this way, but often I just take 4in cuttings and let them grow new roots in a glass of water. Roots appear in about 4 days, ready to plant up in 2-3 weeks. The shop bought "plant" (remaining seedlings in the pot) can be potted on into a larger pot and left to grow into a massive basil bush, 🤓🌱🌿🪴🪴

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That's a good method 👍

[@DannyDierickx]

Waw, good tip, didn't know it was so bad. I always heard those supermarket plants die quickly because it's a "breed" that grows quickly to be able to sell quickly, and subsequently also die quickly. Are there alternatives for perlite, in case it's difficult to find ? What about mixing in waterbeads, to have more consistent humidity in the soil and not having to water them as often ?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Not used waterbeds before. Pumice is a good alternative

[@SharonKloss.]

thanks for the advice! I gave mine a top trim and watered them with plant food when I brought it home a week ago, however half of them got weak floppy stems now! I don't know what I'm doing wrong... well I divided them yesterday, still floppy today... Sometimes I wonder if uk sunshine is enough for them?? (I'm in Berkshire...)

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

It's probably not at the moment. They need summer sun really. A grow light would help

[@SharonKloss.]

@@SheffieldMadePlants great xx I’ll wait till April to try again😁

[@kelvinsparks4651]

Great advice thanks , though coming fron aldi it's e wonder it was alive before you bought it 😂

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Aldi aint that bad 😅

[@guyrichardson6556]

Great video thanks. What do you feed them with? I don’t want to encourage flowering.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

A balanced fertiliser like Focus or miracle gro

[@TheSouthIsHot]

Thank you for this video. I bought basil and put the plant on the windowsill and it slowly died despite my careful attention. I'm going to try your advice.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Thanks Katrina 😁

[@cassiealcaide2306]

Enjoyed your video. I live in Spain so warm for much of the year and plenty of sun. Ill be buying these plants soon vut my question is; how many times to water? Ive heard the soil has to be kept moist all the time. Is this true? Thanks in advance!

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They do like moist soil. I'd just keep monitoring it. Hard for me to say based on your climate etc

[@cassiealcaide2306]

@@SheffieldMadePlants thanks for the tip!

[@marylyon1230]

How much light do they require? You say they can grow in the kitchen, so wondering if they need to be near window or under lamp.

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

They need as much light as you've got

[@gazmix589]

hiya, i'm in Sheffield & trying to grow Thai sweet basil, got some seedlings to put in pots but they need warmth to grow bushy & woody stems

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Nice! Never tried that but you've inspired me.

[@farfoor4ever]

just a quick question , I am new to trying planting and I often get the watering wrong , how often and at what level do you water the pots ?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Try and water when the soil is dry and thoroughly drench the soil. Make sure it's in a pot with drainage holes so excess water can escape.

[@Rumaelchannel]

Great

[@nataliemorales1695]

nice! i liven miami... basil here often gets black spots on the leaves after a few weeks ion the garden... any ideas on how to prevent that?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

Could be a few things so you need to figure out what caused it. Could be a fungus, reaction to a cold spell, poor soil, soggy soil

[@HeartBreakHigh]

Great vid, thanks. When you say prune back stems, does that mean cut the actual stems? Like the ones I’d take the leaves off of?

[@SheffieldMadePlants]

That’s right

[@HeartBreakHigh]

@@SheffieldMadePlants Thank you 😊