If you are buying the pots of Basil from the supermarkets you keep picking the leaves and when it all gets woody give up, compost and buy new plant. If you are growing from seed then put several seeds in the pot... Basil is not a long term herb.

Thank you, Moon growe. Now I at least know that it was not me being hopless, so I will keep on buying pots as I adore Basil and use lots of it...

For me, the perfume as you walk past the herb stalls on the market means summer has arrived! My neighbour grows it in great profusion from seed, but I never seem to have the touch. My daughter today confessed that the pot I gave her last year was a little bunch of twigs within days, and she still has the dried-up pot in her cellar, frightened that her Italian neighbours will think she doesn't know how to grow it. Successive sowings are the answer, I think.

Warm temperatures, lots of sun, spacing, and pinching out. I put it outside in full sun, about 12 inches between plants, and they get over 2 feet tall. Pinch to make bushy, and pinch off all flower heads, because it will die soon after the seed is ripe (it's an annual, so I dry freeze the extra).

Thank you Wylie. But something tells that you live in warmer climes than me. Perhaps I'll give it one more go. Fingers crossed...

Now what you need to do, Breda, is come and live in Italy...........!

Oh, if only. But alas!!!! Sigh, sigh, sigh...

I had to look up your average temperatures, and you might be able to grow some in the summer outside. You might also try putting in only one plant to a container.

I have tried that, Wylie, and no luck at all but thank you for being so helpful...

One thing that most people don't know, is that Basil is one of the few herbs that needs a constant supply of nitrogen. In pots, or in poor soil, it doesn't thrive, and quickly turns yellow and scrubby. From what I know, also, the only way to grow massive amounts in the winter in the UK is to have a heated greenhouse--or a room with banks of lights, which could get you a visit from Scotland Yard! : )

Have you ever seen the film "Amazing Grace", Breda?........ I think Tugbrethil might have done!

Thank you Tugb. for your comment and I didn't know all that and, also, I haven't got a greenhouse, but I don't think I will try the brightly lit room as I'm a bit old to face a term in jail. Lol...

And, no Gattina, I have not seen the film "Amazing Grace" but I do know the hymn, so perhaps if I were to sing it to the plant it might work a miracle!!! What do you think? and Lol to you too Cara Mia...

Breda, Tesoro, the film is about a widow called Grace, who has to make ends meet because her husband has only left her with debts, so she turns to growing cannabis, which needs a very high level of light, so her greenhouses light up the entire neighbourhood.........It's very funny. Yes, she does get caught. I'm darned sure if I tried singing to my plants, I'd be left with a pile of compost! LOL!

Ciao, Jan. I just love your sense of humour. Looks like you are definitely from the same planet as me. If the film shows at our local cinema I will go to see it.

Tesoro??? I haven't come across that yet, but will look it up; Ciao Caro...

"Tesoro" just means "Treasure", which is used as a common term of endearment, Breda. By the way, you got it exactly right the first time - since I am female, it should be "Cara". You'd use "Caro" to your boyfriend! Hope you don't mind my correcting you. ;-)))

I've been trying to get that into my head and not being very successful. You know? the masculine O changes to A for the feminine etc. but it is gradually sinking in. I'll bet my little great granddaughter who is six years old would find it a doddle. She is exceptionally bright and is on the governments list of gifted children.
Thank you Jan and I do not mind in the least if you correct me. Your help is so, so welcome.

Ciao.

And then you get all the exceptions......... Only teasing - I'll never get used to it myself.
Our daughter was on the same gifted children list, and it became very difficult stimulating her mind sufficiently to prevent her becoming disruptive at school. We had a very hard time with her. They found her a terrible handful and she got into trouble both there and at university, (and at home) on numerous occasions. It's a two-edged sword.
We've strayed from the subject again, haven't we?
Tugbrethil, what you say about basil being nitrogen-hungry is really interesting. I didn't know that. Maybe next year I shall feed them properly and shan't have loads of pots of scrubby, yellowing basil in my courtyard. I'd been nipping off the flowerheads like a good gardener should, but couldn't understand why they didn't last more than a few weeks. We certainly never use the leaves THAT regularly.

You have confirmed my own private thoughts about my little Lotte. I do realise it is a mixed blessing for a child, but so far she seems happy enough and is not disruptive but she is still only six years old, so I hope and pray that life does not prove too demanding for her. Ciao.