herbs

why is it when i buy herbs in pots they seem to die.  i keep them in my kitchen and have even tried them on my window sill but they still die after just taking a few leaves from them.  Is it better to have a herb garden outside.  if so can i grow corriander and basil outside.

Hi Tracy

 

I'm assuming you mean the little pots of herbs sold in supermarkets alongside the veg and fruit? These are raised commercially and grown on fast and they seldom last so it isn't you just the way they have been forced on.

 

Growing your own herbs is actually easy and is much less wasteful - just think of all those plastic pots, plastic wrappers etc.

 

I would get yourself some small potted plants from a garden centre - these are around the same price but will be planted up and grown on for growing if you understand what I mean. Good plants to buy this way are sage, mint, rosemary etc.

 

Coriander and basil are best raised from seed so you can sow every couple of weeks as they are prone to running to seed. Buy packets from garden centres. Basil is tricky because it is very sensitive to frost but once it is warner you can sow in quite easily.