How do I keep basil alive on my windowsill?

[Houseplanter]

The supermarket plants die within a really short space of time.. is this because they're so tightly packed in the pot?

Should I grow from seed? Buy a plant but divide it?

If you can successfully grow basil indoors please tell me how

I'm pretty sure it's because they're actually dozens of tiny plants, I'd try splitting them.

Yes split them. Also ime basil doesn't actually want bright light - they prefer it a little bit shadier.

I've successfully split supermarket basil to several pots and it's still going!

Take it off the windowsill,too much light and heat. And re pot.

Mine last ages - I put them in a bowl and water the bowl not the plant

Keeping sybil out of the kitchen might help
(Sorry, so pleased it's cooler my brain's gone doolally 😄)

Split them then replant. Have inside not in direct sunlight. Water from the bottom.

Ask Sybil to feed him?

www.instagram.com/reel/C8Ytu3-NQjo/?igsh=c3FoNXJoZDQyMW9y

I grow from seed.

The thing to remember is Basil is from India, not the Mediterranean. It’s not built to survive dry hillsides. It does enjoy plenty of light, but needs to be kept watered and warm.

What @MereDintofPandiculation said.

I have 6 huge pots with different varieties outside since May.

A sunny sheltered spot. They need feeding one a week really too. Plus harvesting correctly to keep them growing well.

I keep mine on a shady windowsill, water as soon as it begins to look droopy. You can easily propagate more by putting cuttings in water on a sunnier windowsill, they root really quickly.

I find the secret is to buy them as soon as they appear, and split them up into several small pots. Harden them off and than plant in clumps outside. Cut off any flowers.

You have to split them up, each one is a separate plant. They need to be carefully split then repotted with space around each one. They love the sun and should thrive. But if they flower you must pluck them off as that stunts the leaves.

More water than you think. I'm lazy and haven't repotted yet but my lidl basil is still going great 4 months after purchase. The one before that lasted a year and only died when I went away and dh didnt water it.

I always repot and split the supermarket ones. Put in the windowsill with lots of sun and wait until it’s droopy to water.

and always water from the bottom to stop the little flies. They tend to lay eggs in the top inch or so of soil. So if the top gets really dried out the eggs die.