Help, my Basil looks sickly!!

[mithril]

Hi all, I don't know if this is down to something I'm doing (probably,) or if it's because of where it's come from, but, I bought a Basil plant in a pot from a local supermarket and it really didn't last long at all. It seemed to shrivel in on itself iykwim? Anyway, I left it out in the greenhouse covered thing we have and the dogs ate what was left of it so I bought another one, got it home and repotted it in seed/cutting compost (ok, not the best thing but the only thing to hand) it was root bound but I put it in a pot many times bigger than the one it was in. It seemed fine for a day or two then husband gave it a drink of tap-water (i'd used filtered water just in case and it seemed to like it) and it looked like it was really struggling to survive, so I tipped out the excess tapwater from the trough under it and after a light covering in filtered water and leaving it out in the sun for a few hours it picked up a bit. It's now back on the windowsil and looking overall not too bad but in places very sad. Any suggestions? Thanks, mithril.

[mattachinelee]

Commiserations: I've got the same thing happening with Basil and another herb (can't remember its name right now!) begins with C....

Still, may not be an issue for long - OH is tearing the leaves off and eating them undiluted

[adekun]

I have trouble with Basil too. My second attempt isn't looking much better. Every time I transplant some, it pours. I need to do some reading, but know it needs lots of sunlight and doesn't like to be kept wet.

[ohareward]

Basil requires well-drained, moist, medium-rich soil and full sun. It is propagated from seed, which must be sown after any danger of frost in cool regions. In cold, wet, northern summers it may need to be grown on under glass, but flourishes as a container plant and should be kept outside in hot, dry spells to develop the best flavour.

Robin

[Wombat]

I planted seeds early and then progressively from then on. I found that it really didn't thrive until the hot waether came. It either just wombleed around or out and out carked it! So I am definitley going with Robin on this one!

Nev

[the.fee.fairy]

I had some supermarket basil last year. It needs repotting asap. Then it basically needs to be watered occasionally and left to its own devices. It doesn't particularly like being handled and moved a lot.

It only lasts for one season, so it could be that you've got a dodgy one thats been sown too early and is now coming to the end of the season.

I have been told that basil doesn't like wonderful soil, its another of the 'leave it alone' herbs that doesn't like a lot of fuss.

Last year, i had mine in a trough under the kitchen windowsill. It had regular dousings of tea and tea leaves, but other than that, it was fine.

[Clara]

Perhaps the only piece of gardening advice I have managed to retain from Radio 4.....

Basil is a tropical plant and as such likes to be wet but not cold and wet. Therefore it is essential to water only in the morning. Also if you are raising it from seed, water the seed well and then do not water again until it has germinated.

Following this advice I´ve never had any trouble with raising basil. My seedlings this year have survived 3 consecutive nights at -5, covered with the cut off top of a plastic bottle.

Clara x.

[mithril]

Just wanted to say thanks and up-date you all. I've been keeping the soil moist rather than wet and putting it up in the top corner of my garden for most of the day (sunshine all day) and it is doing fantastically!! It has sprouted lots more leaves along it's stems and the taste is stronger too. Wonderful! It would probably be in the composter by now if not for you guys so thankyou!
mithril.