By ClairW

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 10:47

Have recently invested in a couple of 'living' herbs. (From Sainsbury's in a pot). Anyway - whilst the basil is thriving my coriander looks a little bedraggled. I'm carefully following all the instructions and only watering if the pot is dry. It is also sitting in a sunny place on my windowsill as instructed. Does coriander normally look so bedraggled and floppy?! Thanks for help in advance.
Clair x

Replies

By Rob!!

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 11:07

i bought some of them ages ago Clair...killed 'em all lol...not sure what I did wrong...the thyme dried up and died, the coriander slowly committed suicide i think at the prospect of living with me, and the dill also slipped from this mortal coil...garden plants seem to be my thing as indoor plants are a complete no go for me....sorry i couldnt answer your question lol...but thought i would share my story!!!

good luck!

By squeaky

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 11:11

I'm convinced these herbs are not meant to survive Clair - they seem to wilt after a week or so don't they? My latest Greek basil from Tesco is doing well but only because I repotted it in fresh compost immediately and fed it. Try that with your coriander, or go mad and plant some seeds? Let us know how you get on.

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By Sheelagh, Rossett nr Chester

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 11:12

Clair - we must be in a parallel universe! - as on my windowsill I also have a pot of basil which is thriving and a pot of coriander looking very sorry for itself!
I never have much success with the coriander - but always buy it again in the hope that I will do better next time around!

By ClairW

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 11:21

Thank you for all your replies. You've reassured me that it isn't me doing something awful to my plants! I'm not a gardener at all so i always just presume I've committed some awful mistake that nobody else would make! Rob - your story in particular cheered me up!

Perhaps the coriander is notoriously difficult to look after? Might just buy the dried stuff in future! Or if I'm feeling brave I will try your suggestion Squeaky and re-pot.
Clair x

By Francisca

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 11:25

I bought a pot of chives a while ago and they did really badly after I started cutting the tops thinking that it was the way to do it. Then we were in London and I saw a nice white pot at M&S where you could plant several kinds of herbs as it has separate holes. Nothing came of it though. It seems to have some rocket but the whole thing looks so bad that I am going to throw the ground away and store the pot somewhere (it is useless, you can't even plant something else in it, a waste of money). I have bought a pot with rosemary which is thrivint though! The only problem is that I have it in the living room as it is a bit too big for the windownsill and as I cut it regularly there isn't much left. I am about to give up on all the stupid herbs, I have had enough. Maybe when we have a garden I will try again..........

By *Bramble

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 11:54

The problem with supermarket herbs in a pot is that they are sown so thickly - like mustard-and-cress, you haven't just got one plant you've dozens, all choking each other.
To grow them yourself you're better buying seeds, and thinning the seedlings out when they get to a few inches high - you can use the discards in the kitchen! Either that or go to a nursery and buy them in pots that are meant to grow. Supermkt ones are meant to use within a few days.
Last year I split out a pot of parsley and one of coriander from Tesco, but they were weedy little things and didn't do very well in the garden, I have much better ones this year from the nursery.
Can you put your rosemary outside Francisca? It wants a bigger pot, but it's worth it and when you do have a garden you'll have your rosemary bush to go in it:-)))

By Guacamole

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 14:15

I have always found that supermarket herbs are only really designed to last a bit longer than the 'cut' version in packets. If you want a good quality plant, that still has all its roots and will regrow once you eat some, you need to buy a proper plant from a garden centre.

By ClairW

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 14:40

Thanks again for some useful advice. It seems as though we are all in the same boat with these supermarket herbs. Will have a look at proper plants next time I visit a garden centre. Although - at the moment my supermarket basil is looking good!

Clair x

By Saffy.

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 14:48

I've been told they don't like tap water - water with cooled boiled water or rainwater. My Basil always does well, but the parsley is useless. I've just planted my herbs up in a tub by the front door - as others have already said - herbs from the garden centre usually do much better.

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By squeaky

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 15:18

Splitting them up sounds worth trying Clair, what a good idea. I bet the compost they're started off in is for seeds and useless for more mature plants.

Saffy - my neighbour grows the most spectular hanging baskets of supermarket basil which I nick regularly. The only herb that seems to like me is marjoram.

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By Essex Girl

Re: Herbs in a pot
20 May 2008 17:31

Tesco's Greek basil lasts very well. Just water it when it starts to droop - it doesn't take long to revive! I love corriander but now only buy it already cut from the supermarket as and when I need it.