I grow basil too but it doesn't look like the supermarket monsters. Mine always has a much more bushy appearance - I guess real sun, real wind, and real rain do that. While I don't know for sure, I suspect the supermarket basil is primarily hydroponically grown.

Have other vegetables grown in exactly the same place the basil is now? Successfully from seed? I've had similar problems with one of my garden beds that I have yet to do much with. The beds were here when we bought the house and much of the soil was badly spent. Seeds are nearly impossible to start in that bed and the seeds that do sprout are sad little things.

Of course basil has had a problem with disease over the last number of years. Go to google and I'm sure you can find more information on Fusarium Wilt. See if any of those symptoms match your basil.

FataMorgana

What is triple mix? Thyme likes lean soil and really good drainage. If you over water it, it won't thrive. Other than that, without more specifics on what you gave your plants, I couldn't guess.

I usually grow basil from seed every year and plant out in the veggie bed...usually get nice lush plants. THIS year however was completely stupid for Basil and I don't know why. They grew no more than 6" tall and flowered. I didn't try to save seed from these just in case.
Thyme as mentioned doesn't like to be babied. I leave mine alone except to harvest a few times a year....thyme is one of those that the more it's harvested by haircut the better it grows. The soil is dry/gravelly and I've had the same clumps for 5 years.

Vera

Triple mix is a soil containing peat, compost and soil. I grew my seeds under lights in jiffy pellets then into a pot of dirt and left it on the south facing patio deck railing. I didn't fertilize as I thought the triple mix would be enough.
Does thyme come back each year?

yeah, don't put potted plants in dirt! EEK! I volunteer for a Master Gardener who does plant sales for charity and he won't accept plant donations in dirt either. It's just not good for them, the soil compacts and it does rewet easily... that's why they made potting soil.
Don't even get me started on jiffy pots. Some people have good luck with them, they are the bane of my existence.
Not to be negative, these are some reasons why your plants aren't thriving.
Thyme may not come back in your zone... unless you protect it or bring it in.

Thanks for the info. I started a three inch pot four days ago in the kitchen window using Pro-Mix potting soil. The seeds have already germinated and are 1/4 in high leaning to the sun, so turning them daily. What a difference from the three week germination in the jiffy pellets. I sprinkled some water on the top again and still have a plastic bag as a greenhouse. I'll thin to a few plants when 1 in. high and see what happens, then the best will go in a pot of their own. Will use a water based fertilizer (20-20-20) when the plants look like they need a boost.
If that's O.K. I'll start some thyme as well. Maybe I'll have a small herb garden in the kitchen window over the winter if all goes well.
Does that sound right?

Rory

:o) Sounds right. Usually you don't need to fertilize seedlings too much, and definitely don't fertilize the thyme, it likes it's soil on the lean side... like on the side of the road. :o)

OK. Now I am confused. Good soil for basil bad soil for thyme. My understanding is that most herbs are of Mediterranean origin and poor rocky soil is the norm. I have seen Oregano grown in hard clay. Does anyone know of a site that states which herbs for which type of soil? I tried growing garlic in good soil and it failed but was good in really lean dirt. On the garlic what is the difference between the white and red bulbs. I know the French garlic is red skined and want that one.