The Great Supermarket Basil Rescue: How to Keep Yours Alive (For Real This Time)

We’ve all been there. You pick up a lush, vibrant basil plant from the supermarket, dreaming of fresh pesto and caprese salads. Fast-forward a week (or two if you’re lucky), and it’s a sad, wilted mess. If you’ve murdered more basil plants than you’d like to admit, don’t worry—you’re not alone. But before you swear off fresh herbs forever, let’s give it one last shot. Here’s how to keep that basil alive (for real this time), even in a tiny student apartment.

Supermarket basil plants are overcrowded—think of it as 50 people crammed into a single tiny room. They compete for water, nutrients, and space, which is why they often die so quickly. The fix? Gently separate the plant into smaller clusters and replant them into different pots. This gives each basil bunch a better chance at survival, and also makes for a really nice nara smith/ homestead core vibe around your really messy student kitchen (one can dream).

If you’re still keeping your basil in that crappy supermarket pot, it’s time to get a bigger pot with drainage holes—basil hates sitting in soggy soil. It doesn’t have to be expensive. Go to Kringloop or Action (there’s one super close to uni) and find yourself a few pots. And if you’re in a pinch, poke some holes at the bottom of a plastic take-away container and your plants will say thank you to you.

Basil is dramatic (relatable). It hates being too dry, but it also despises soggy roots. Water it when the top inch of soil feels dry, but make sure excess water can drain out. The rule is: If the leaves start looking droopy, give it a drink BUT If they’re yellowing, you’re probably overwatering. And if you’re not sure, run a little experiment on your basil plants and see what works best (or just google it). Think of basil like a house cat- it wants attention, but not too much.

Basil loves the sun—at least 6 hours a day. I know it’s nearly impossible in the Netherlands, but spring is here and so maybe your plant has a chance??? If you have a sunny windowsill, that’s prime basil real estate. No natural light? A cheap grow light can work wonders, and your basil will thank you by staying alive (for once).

Want your basil to grow bushy instead of leggy and weak? Trim it often, but the right way. Cut just above a pair of leaves, and new stems will grow from there. And yes, this means you should eat your basil regularly—it’s a win-win. And if you are struggling wth that, here is a super easy pesto recipe that you and your friends will love (https://www.loveandlemons.com/pesto-recipe/)

A little plant food goes a long way. Feed your basil a diluted liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks, but don’t go overboard—too much and it’ll grow fast but lose flavor. You can again buy this at action or find ways to reuse your food-waste and make home-made fertilizer (https://celebratedherb.com/best-fertilizer-for-basil/)

Keeping supermarket basil alive isn’t impossible, it just takes a little strategy. Give it space, light, and the right amount of water, and you’ll finally have a basil plant that thrives. And if all else fails? Well, at least you tried, and maybe you’ll find someone with a green thumb, and you can steal from their basil plant.

Carpe DM us and tell us if this helped you fulfil your pesto dreams!