How to keep store-bought herbs alive indoors – 5 tips for freshness and flavor

Have you ever bought a potted herb from a grocery store? They're an enticing way to give your kitchen a dash of greenery and your home-cooked meals a boost, but their lifespan is disappointingly short. True, they last longer than those pre-cut herbs packaged in plastic wrap. But still, after a week or so, most are ready for the compost heap.

The main reason behind this is that a shelf in a store is far from the optimum growing conditions for these plants. This means, if you want them to survive beyond the usual expectations, they need a good dose of care once you get them home. 

Nursery-grown herbs are undoubtedly more reliable additions to an indoor herb garden. But, there's no harm in trying the following tips next time you pick up a potted herb from your local store. With a bit of luck, you'll be able to harvest from it for weeks, or even months – and it'll stay looking pretty, too.

5 ways to keep your store-bought herbs happy

Look after these kitchen plants carefully and you may be rewarded with a fragrant and flavorsome harvest for longer.

1. Choose healthy plants

The first step in keeping store-bought herbs alive starts before you've even bought them. 

A quick inspection can help you choose the ones with the best chance of survival beyond a few days. Avoid ones with brown or wilted leaves, or any that are overly leggy. These are all signs that they are struggling and will be difficult to rejuvenate. 

2. Divide your herbs into smaller pots

'The number one tip I would give when trying to keep store-bought herbs alive is to take them out of their pots and separate them into smaller plants,' advises gardening expert Ben Meakin. They are often incredibly overcrowded, which can quickly cause them to deteriorate.

You should be able to gently pull them apart with your hands. Ensure each section has a good system of roots attached. You can then pot them in separate containers filled with a potting soil that's suitable for herbs. 

They will stand a much better chance of growing and thriving, Ben says.

Ben Meakin

Ben Meakin is the owner and founder of Wonky Shed, a growing and well-respected gardening website. With over a decade of growing experience, from dahlia tubers to tomatoes, Ben is well-versed in all of the ups and downs that come from being green-fingered.

3. Don't harvest too much at one time

It's tempting to snip away at your herbs as soon as you get them home, throwing their leaves into every dish possible. But with this approach, they won't last long. So, while regular harvesting will help to encourage new and bushier growth, it needs to be carried out in the right way.

Autumn Hilliard-Knapp of Perfect Plants Nursery advises harvesting just the top growth. Avoid removing more than one-third of the plant at one time, she adds.

Autumn Hilliard-Knapp

Autumn is a horticulture specialist and marketing professional at Perfect Plants Nursery. With four years of experience in the horticulture industry, she has developed a passion for helping people create beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces to enjoy. Her expertise in horticulture encompasses a broad range of activities, including plant care and selection, landscape design, and maintenance.

4. Remember to water them, but not too much

Waterlogged soil can be fatal to any indoor plant – herbs included.

It's a good idea to give your herbs a light watering once you repot them, as it's likely they haven't had much to drink in the store. But after this, proceed with caution.

'Water the herbs when the top inch of soil feels dry, but be careful not to overwater, as it can lead to root rot,' says Autumn. The potting soil should be well-draining – and ensure the container they're in has drainage holes, too.

5. Keep them somewhere sunny

Whether you're growing rosemary, mint, basil, or any other herb indoors, they need to get enough light. A sunny kitchen windowsill is usually just right.

'If natural light is limited, supplement them with full-spectrum LED grow lights, maintaining a distance of 6-12 inches above the herbs,' says Robin Phelps, a gardening and preserving coach. The GooingTop LED Grow Light from Amazon is well-rated.

Robin Phelps

Robin Phelps is a gardening and preserving coach at Sowmanyplants.com, with a passion for nurturing green spaces and preserving the bounties of nature. With over 20 years of experience in gardening, Robin began her journey in a small apartment with a balcony and has now expanded to growing on three acres.

FAQs

If you like the idea of having a bounty of fresh herbs, why not try growing some from seeds, too? There are so many types to try, including drought-tolerant varieties, and seed packets are inexpensive.