Why do shop bought herbs die ?

[Marb67]

I am frustrated at how many seemingly healthy herbs I buy from shops die off, despite giving them the care they need. In fact, I potted on this parsley and watered from the base. There seems to be some mould but I never had the soil over wet. It's a mystery really

[Lisasbolt]

I have bought many and had the same problem, i wonder if it has something to do with the amount of time it spends without proper light.
Would like to know though

[Gillykat]

Cucumbers are my pet hate....they barely last a couple of days in the fridge before starting to go soft and mouldy Yet this year I grew my own Hana cucumbers and they lasted longer than a fortnight (cropped faster than we could eat them haha) and were still firm and juicy!

It must be the way they intensively grow stuff for shops It's very frustrating!

[veggiechicken]

This may help with herbs http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...rbs_58340.html

[Marb67]

This may help with herbs http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...rbs_58340.html

Thanks. Will have a read.

[WendyC]

I don't buy them but have noticed they are very densely planted, I guess to get a quick crop. Therefore they are unlikely to get to maturity in their original pots. Also most need lots of sun which they are never going to get indoors, especially this time of year. I think I would treat them as slightly longer lasting that cut fresh herbs and not as a permanent pot plant.

[sparrow100]

The seedlings are packed in too closely and grown in forcing conditions to have them in tip-top baby-leaf conditions for the supermarkets. The compost is usually near empty of nutrients when you buy them. I split & feed mine when I get them home and that seems to make them last longer, but they don't last forever for me either.

[Scarlet]

Not only are they packed closely so struggling for nutrients, root room etc You are also chopping the heads off. If you want them to last longer you need a few pots on the go to give your cutting ones time for regrowth.

[Philthy]

Basil lasts about 7-10 days for me. I don't do anything with the pot other than put it on a saucer in the window, as it has such a minimal shelf life it's just not worth the effort. The leaves are mostly used by the time the plant is ready to give up so it works out fine. The price is surely a reflection of the longevity of the plant. A bushy pot of basil for �1.25 from Sainsbury vs a same size plant from the local nursery for a fiver, which should last a summer with a bit of TLC.

I've tried unsuccessfully to keep Poinsettia going beyond Christmas.
No doubt they are grown in the same minimal cost, mass production environment as the herbs, and as such the plants are just too weak to survive for long outside the artificial conditions in which they were raised.

[TrixC]

I've cynically wondered if this was some sort of conspiracy from the supermarkets and/or the growers so that we have to keep buying their herbs. If the plants lived longer their profits would shrink!

I've found the Greek basil from Sainsbury's consistently lasts much longer than the regular basil from same source.

[mothhawk]

I've tried unsuccessfully to keep Poinsettia going beyond Christmas.
No doubt they are grown in the same minimal cost, mass production environment as the herbs, and as such the plants are just too weak to survive for long outside the artificial conditions in which they were raised.

Ahem.......

Not bragging, you understand......

This was a gift last Christmas, I've just nipped into the spare bedroom and taken this.....

(The new bracts are just starting to turn red )

[Philthy]

Hey, brag away Mothhawk!! (I would be too)

That is pretty impressive. Well done

[Aberdeenplotter]

I've cynically wondered if this was some sort of conspiracy from the supermarkets and/or the growers so that we have to keep buying their herbs. If the plants lived longer their profits would shrink!

I don't think it's a conspiracy, it's a straightforward approach to being able to maintain a supply of fresh herbs available for the customer. They expect these herbs to last no longer than a week and for the customer buy fresh on their next visit.

[veggiechicken]

The supermarkets also sell fresh, ready cut herbs. Nobody expects those to last more than a day or two, - but a potted herb should. Its all done for convenience and easy use.
I've never bought a cut herb in my life - but I have bought the potted ones when I've needed basil out of season.

[bearded bloke]

But this plant ..............





Is NOT dead, you can clearly see new growth, the problem here is that the leaves have been cropped faster than the plant is capable of growing new ones.

The solution options are simple either, crop less or buy a much larger plant