[hubballi]

I planted some basil seeds at the end of summer. I have kept them in a pot in the kitchen window and watched them grow slowly. I have even protected them from cold by putting a plastic transparent pot over the top like a mini greenhouse.

Suffice to say all but one have died, the remaining about to go into the last throws as it has keeled over.

Had to pick a few annoying white fly off (why do the aphids stick around when still cold?) but they were not infested or anything.

 

[mumofstig]

I think most people have trouble with Basil once it turns cooler.
There's really not enough warmth or sunlight to keep it happy.....in fact it even used to die about now when I lived in Greece, so no chance in the UK

[shokkyy]

I've got a couple of pots on my kitchen windowsill and they're looking pretty sickly too. Really annoying when you go in the supermarket and see their super healthy looking basil pots, isn't it.

[hubballi]

I just remember Pipa Greenwood (why do a lot of gardening celebs have plant/garden/countryside related names?) saying you can grow basil all year round at home.

[wighty]

This is going to sound very weird.  I keep mine in the shower room, it seems to like the extra warmth and humidity. It's on a west facing window cill and is doing fine. I don't know now that I want to admit to this!

[shokkyy]

My kitchen windowsill is south facing and the window is brand new double glazed with no drafts at all, so maybe it's the humidity they're liking in your bathroom.

[JayG]

Basil is definitely one of the more tender Mediterranean herbs and I've never been able to grow it outdoors here even in summer.

I've got a pot of 3" basil seedlings on the go in my kitchen at the moment - despite it being double-glazed and south facing the ungrateful plants still don't seem to think much of our typical British winter. 

Expecting harvest to be good though (provided I can find a small enough tomato and a medicine dropper to dispense the balsamic vinegar to go with it!)

[shokkyy]

And you only have to get the slightest drop of water on their leaves and they instantly go down with botrytis, or at least they do for me.

[SG6]

It is probably caused by the shorter days, they register the lack of light and will I suspect go into a sort of "end of life" stage.

Being inside suplies a warmer environment but you can do little about the hours of sunlight. Supermarket offerings could be grown under artifical light to get round this. Or imported from places that do not get as great a difference, the Med, and south of there, south America.

[gavinjconway]

Just buy more at Tesco or Aldi.... or grow more  simples!! 

[mikegee]

As has been said.. it is due to the lack of light at the right frequency and duration, supermarket plants are reared in factories with controlled heat light and humidity, also the growing medium has just enough nutrients to get the plant to point of sale. But hey we can grow great thyme rosemary and bay to pick all year!!