How can I get Basil to grow without dying?

Every time I bring a basil plant home it last for a few days to a week then it will turn brown and die a slow death.

Following along, as I've had similar 'not successful' growing basil - both indoors and outdoors (in a pot, in-ground; Virginia Sunny, "part-shade", etc.); the end result is always the same: the leaves look perfectly fine for a week or two, then the trunk itself starts to turn brown/woody from the bottom of the plant (at soil line) upward. I'd love to have bushy plants to pinch leaves off and make fresh pesto.
  10 answers
  • Steven Boulanger Steven Boulanger on Apr 05, 2017

    Grow your own from seed. Its easy and the plants last the whole summer.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Apr 05, 2017

    www.hometalk.com/diy/grow/plants/how-to-harvest-basil-for-strong-and-productive-plants--17708467

  • How about trying a hydroponic variety? I picked one up on sale just to try, and so far so good. Still going to transplant my seedlings though. My basil goes "woody" too sometimes, but it still grows happy and healthy. The more you pinch and eat, the more it produces new tender growth.

  • Mitzi Smyth Mitzi Smyth on Apr 06, 2017

    Basil is a tough one to grow but I've had basil growing in my house for several years now. Yes, years. Basil loves a lot of water. My plants are all in old fashioned clay pots with deep clay dishes to catch excess water. They are placed on a bathroom tile with rubber stickers on the bottom to prevent water stains on furniture. I do use Merical Grow every other watering and pinch off any flowers that bloom. Pinching off is also a great way to help plants survive. Basil does have a tendency to attract all the wrong bugs and fungus you can imagine. So, I would suggest that you grow your basil either in a green house or as a house plant. You also need to realize that I live up north and the weather is not very cooperative for plant growth. However, I'm sure those of you who live in better climates can grow basil outside. I'd still use a clay pot with clay saucer and remember to water constantly.

  • The Curb Appeal Fixers The Curb Appeal Fixers on Apr 06, 2017

    Great...sounds good...☺


  • Judy Judy on Apr 06, 2017

    I WOULD GET SOME VIOLET SOIL, AND ASK THE MAN AT THE STORE, WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD PUT IN THE SOIL, TO BALANCE THE SOIL. IF THEY WON'T GROW ON VIOLET SOIL, I WOULD BE AMAZED, FOR THIS IS EXCELLANT SOIL. BEST WISHES.

  • Allison Allison on Apr 07, 2017

    Sounds like you may be over watering. They like to get dry between watering and full sun. Most herbs love the heat. I plant mine next to tomatoes and they outpace them all season long.

  • Cat Cat on Apr 07, 2017

    i keep mine, grown from seed, outside. i also use a long windowbox type planter so i have lots of it. good luck!

  • Dfm Dfm on Apr 07, 2017

    basil..... i can't kill it. it keeps re -seeding in the 12inch pot. my over wintering area is a basement with a temp of 60 degrees. most herbs don't like "wet feet" so let the plant dry up a bit before the next go at watering.

  • The Curb Appeal Fixers The Curb Appeal Fixers on Apr 26, 2017

    I planted basil both by seed and plant outside in full sun in my garden box and its thriving.