Grow fresh basil for free

tommum

Well, almost free. Buy a basil plant from the supermarket ( around 60p) and cut as many stems off as you want to grow. Stick the stems (all together if you want) in a tall glass of water or jam jar. Make sure the bottom of the stems are under the water.
In about a week the stems will have new white roots forming. Take them out the water and plant in small pots of compost and keep on the windowsill.
As they grow, repeat the process, grow some more plants and you'll end up with loads to keep or better still, give to friends.
You'll never need to buy another plant. Try it shredded on pizzas, in tomato sauces, salads etc.

Olliebeak

Thanks for that, Tommum :T ! Will give it a go. Wonder if it would work as well with other herbs .

jtb2412

Thanks so much for this - bought one only last week and was wondering how I could take a cutting and grow some more (beginner gardener here lol). Perfect !

mary43

Hadn't realised that. Normallyt have Basil growing in the garden and have a pot on the window sill (supposed to keep flies away but doesn't work very well.........lol) So might try that. Make nice little pressies for people as well

Gingernutmeg

I just buy the plants from the supermarket (Lidl's were surprisingly good) and 'split' them when I get home. Apparently you can get about ten 'clumps' from one pot, but I normally just divide it into three or four. Then I pot them up as normal, water and leave them on the windowsill. I end up with forests of Basil on the windows lol, it's great for pesto

beaney50

Same goes for mint.Cut off the tips(2pairs of leaves) and put in water. The rest of the stems will branch off and grow more vigourously. Plant the tips in seed tray and pot on the ones which "take".

maypole

What about Coriander and parsley, will that work just the same?

MrsTinks

Works for rosemary too... Hence I have lots of rosemary plants in the garden as do my neighbours and friends :rotfl:
In fact it works for a lot of plants - doubt it will for parsley - but this thankfully thrives in my garden! Would have thought splitting parsley would would tho?

Natlou_2

Thanks very much for that tip - I love basil and will definitely be giving it a go!

purpleivy

maypole wrote: »

What about Coriander and parsley, will that work just the same?

My best effort has been with parsley. I get a 6" pot and fill with compost. I break the parsley from the shop into 3-4 clumps, put them in the compost and then water and feed, feed, feed. bit of sunshine helps too LOL:rotfl:
The pots of herbs are intensively grown and not designed to keep going for long. They become grossly undernourished very quickly in those tiny pots.

maypole

Thank you, I am going to try this.:beer: