You need to tell us a little bit about you do when you bring your 'victims' home. Start by telling us if you are growing them inside or outside.

Well, I usually leave them inside but I have tried growing the basil outside, inside the plant sits up on the bar which gets a generous amount t sunlight with sun coming in on three different angles, and when I grow it outside on the patio.

What does it take to grow basil?

Following along, as I've had similar 'un-success' growing basil -- both indoors and outdoors (in a pot, in-ground; TX 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.

Javiwa - Basil always always goes woody looking at the base. It is totally normal and not a problem.

Inner Circle - Perhaps you could try starting basil from seed rather than buying plants. It germinates very easily. Bought in plants may have been grown in a greenhouse environment and can't cope in your house.

I agree with floral (as usual!). I used to start basil indoors and they usually started off well under the lights but then they usually stalled and died or got leggy when I attempted to harden them off. Now I just sprinkle a few seeds in the corners of my tomato and pepper beds in early May and they do great with little fuss other than a little water. By the time my tomatoes are ready for harvest the basil is as well.

LoneJack, I should have been more specific when I said sow seeds. In fact, in my climate there's no way you could get basil to germinate outside reliably enough to grow a decent crop. I always sow and grow all my basil in a glass porch attached to the house. I don't use lights. But I never buy plants. Sorry for the confusion.

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 Miracle Gro, 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. 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.

Floral_uk ... I assume they have a time warp field, borrowed the deLorean, or stole the Tardis and got 5 years experience in growing basil since last Wednesday.

Well this was a confusing and seemingly pointless thread. Did you get bored and decide to come up with a fake problem to see what kind of answers you'd get?

Rodney

I try really hard not to judge, but I thought that was kind of an odd turnabout by OP, too. Regardless, I learned something (thanks, floral!) and will try again this spring, NOT to be dissuaded by woody trunks.

Has anyone really been able to keep a basil alive for years? If so I'm curious about the flavor. My basils always start to taste pretty bitter after a hot summer , whether they have bolted or not so I'm not sure it's even worth trying to keep a basil alive for years.

I grow sweet basil each spring to summer then summer to fall here in Texas. During the hottest part of summer they usually get bitter and I let them die.

I am growing basil from seeds, and I do understand what you are trying to say. But as someone already wrote, that is normal if u buy it already in a certain stage. If you grow it yourself, you will have it longer. And also depends on the type, I don t know if you guys are familiar with that. For example I grom FIN and GRAND, I find FIN so easy and not as demanding as grand. And it has a nice straight structure.

You cannot have it for a very long time, I have it from the seeds up to 2 months.
Regarding FIN, that one can last definitely longer.

My advice to you would be to have a look on the internet for different types and start from the seeds.

Regards,
Emma