Introduction
Basil is one of the most popular kitchen herbs ever. Maybe it’s because its smell makes us think of a warm summer evening and Nonna cooking the best Pasta Bolognese ever—at least that’s what I imagine when I put basil all over my homemade pasta dishes in a pseudo-virtuos manner.
So if you’re a basil addict like me, you might have been tempted to buy one of these good- and fresh-looking basil pot plants from the supermarket. In most cases, they’re basically a way too voluminous plant in a way too tiny pot—which you’ll probably realize after buying it, harvesting once or twice and having it around for a few days: The basil might not look as fresh and happy anymore then. So let’s step right into making it last long!
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Here's what you need to prepare:
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Your supermarket basil giving you that sad look that’ll make you finish this guide in less than 30 minutes.
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2–3 pots depending on the size of the plant.
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Some garden soil and a little spade.
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Some pebble stones (alternatively clay fragments).
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Fill each pot with a single layer of pebble stones (alternatively clay fragments).
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Tool used on this step:Spudger$3.99
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Now it's time to gently liberate the basil plant from its initial pot.
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Split the basil up into two or more halves—depending on the size of your plant and the new pots.
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After removing surplus soil if needed, you can place the split-up plants in their new pots.
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Gently press them into the earth, fill the pot up with soil just under the rim and stabilize the sprigs by surrounding them with enough soil.
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If there are wilted sprigs, remove them so they don't rob the healthy parts' space and energy.
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To help the basil sprigs recover, you can collect some branches and stick them into the soil as a prop.
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As a last step you can place the plants in some nice-looking cachepots aaand...
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...don't forget to put it in a sunny spot where it's hopefully safe from wild animals and can flourish in peace.
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You made it! Now you can watch your basil recover and grow big. Don’t forget to regularly harvest its shoot tips (not just single leaves!) to support its regular and healthy growth.
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