Growing basil from supermarket plant

[Anonymous]

Can I transplant the basil plants from the grocery store in a 12-inch container with soil and fertilizer and expect it to fluff out to have a lot of leaves—enough for pesto?

[Anonymous]

Yes.

[Anonymous]

In my experience (a couple plants late last year), yes. I am thinking about making my entire crop this year from grocery store plants, rather than purchasing from the local nursery.

[Anonymous]

You can, but there are frequently multiple plants in that container. Each one needs its own space or pot. Maybe 8-12 inch separation.

[Anonymous]

Yes. We get the Trader Joe's ones and plant those. You can spread out the individual plants if you want. Way cheaper than the nursery ones.

We haven't planted our basil yet - it's still been too cold.

[Anonymous]

I have grown basil from the Giant in a pot on a windowsill for years.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Google how to top them though. You don’t want them to flower. You should pinch the top off branches to encourage bushier growth.

[Anonymous]

I got one from Wegmans like a month ago to make something, used the leaves, then stuck it in the veggie garden. It's still alive, and I expect that it will do fine, although it's been a little too cold in the weeks since I put it out.

[Anonymous]

I usually let them grow in water for a couple of weeks first so they develop plenty of rootlets—they’ll thrive in plain water for a very long topime.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I usually let them grow in water for a couple of weeks first so they develop plenty of rootlets—they’ll thrive in plain water for a very long topime.

How do you do that? Rinse the dirt off the roots and put in a container of water, or do you just put the plant, dirt, and all into a container of water?

I've never tried planting the grocery store herbs because I'd always heard they didn't have adequate root system to transplant outside.

[Anonymous]

Just sow a half dozen seeds along with the tomato seeds around the first of March. Stick it outside on May 1. You'll have tons of basil for everything from salad to pesto.

[Anonymous]

I see some people can plant basil or cilantro from a stem or leave. I have tried that before with some water on napkin and they grew a little root/new baby leaves. But they never survive long except a week or so, and then they die once I put them in soil.

[Anonymous]

Yes, but if you buy the little pack with roots attached, it’s a bunch of plants crowded together. They will grow fine but you might also take some cuttings. They root really easily and then each new plant will have more room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just sow a half dozen seeds along with the tomato seeds around the first of March. Stick it outside on May 1. You'll have tons of basil for everything from salad to pesto.

Start by buying a time machine…

[Anonymous]

You can and I do, because I'm a waste not-want not type, but the supermarket basil is generally sweet basil and not as tasty as the Genovese basil you can get at farmers markets (and I guess nurseries, but I'm too lazy for that)