How I Grow Basil from the Grocery Store Instead of the Plant Nursery

In this episode, you will learn how you can get large basil plants for the same price as smaller basil plants from the plant nursery.

You will learn why John goes to Trader Joes to purchase the basil plants that he grows in his garden each summer.

You will learn more about the ready-to-eat basil and how they are grown, as well as learn the specific method and tips on planting these ready-to-eat plants in your vegetable garden so you can have basil to eat all season.

You will see John purchase over a dozen basil plants and plant them in his garden. You will discover the specific soil amendments he uses to ensure he is growing the highest quality herb.

Jump to the following parts of this episode:
00:15 Episode Starts
00:20 Visit to Star Nursery
02:10 Buying Basil at the Trader Joes Grocery Store
02:54 Buying Basil Tips at Trader Joes
03:50 Root Ball of Potted Basil Plants
04:38 More about these Potted Basil Plants
08:54 Pros of Buying the Greenhouse Grown
10:20 Plant Spacing and Growing Basil in Raised Bed
12:15 How I plant each basil plant in my garden
17:10 Fully Planted out Raised Bed
17:43 Most Important Step - Shading Basil
19:32 Don't Plant Basil unless it is this temperature
19:55 Rooted Basil Plants at the Dollar Store

After watching this episode, you will learn where you can purchase some of the largest and healthiest basil plants to grow in your garden during your growing season and how to plant them into the ground and take care of them.

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Related Episode:
Easiest Vegetable Your Can Grow from the Grocery Store (Watercress)

How to grow 19 varieties of Basil

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[Goodtimes]

Hi John - you have helped me in my garden when I started watching your videos must be at least 3 or 4 years ago and your one of my favourites. I do have to say that 4 years ago I bought 1 pack of basil seeds - started them indoors and they have given me seeds every year - no need to buy the plants. But I do like watching you go to these different place because it gives me a chance to see what it looks like down in the states where you live - I’m in Calgary Alberta. Take care.

[AuthArtist]

John - "I grow big, and now I'm going home, actually."
This was an excellently educational video full of practical and helpful tips. Thanks, John.

[coryd]

I’ve been buying my basil plants from Traders for years and they never lasted too long in my ground! You explained a lot!!

[roseannamarotta]

I to live in Las Vegas and find your videos excellent on how to grow in this desert heat... A few yrs back I had 20 cherry tomato plant growing.. I started seeds late Feb..by May I had them in the ground.. I was still picking tomatoes in Feb... I am hoping where I live now I will have success with the small area I have to grow... Thanks again for all your great videos....

[MsRESPECT]

I just really appreciate John's honesty and integrity.

[joeytunez]

That grow big or go home was a nod to MI Gardner 😉

[Raiken]

I get basil from pho restaurants thanks to their basil clippings for adding into pho. For about a whole year and more, basil was growing. And after two or three years the trunk of a single plant was like 2 inches thick and still growing. We removed them eventually, the massive root system was a pain in the ass to remove. But yes we had free basil which is awesome.

[williamnewman]

Hello John. It is me William again. I am very sorry that I haven't been on here for sometime. I have always enjoyed all your videos from all your channels. All your videos are always exciting and very informative full of rich valuable content. Your videos have always been some of the best educational tours and topics here on YouTube. Hopefully one of these years in the near future I will get the chance to apply what I have learned in gardening from you. I aready eat better and juice often for good health and detox. This is in thanks to you and a few others like minded health-conscious video makers teaching wise caring healthy education. I am almost completely raw vegan now except I still like to cook veggie burgers and a small amounts of other partially cooked vegan meals. I am striving on the right track to be fully raw vegan hopefully within the next year or two. Hopefully also someday I will get the chance to thank you personally at a seminar somewhere or my own future garden tour on one of your shows.

[nikaela]

Love watching you! I am here in Las Vegas and I struggle watching gardeners who understand the climate.

[theUrbanGardener]

This video turned out pretty good! Thanks for letting me help you with this project. I can't wait to see an update later in the season on those plants.

[johnwilks]

Thank you. I am having great luck with the trader joes quart basil.

[annlambert]

You have great energy. Looking forward to your videos.

[ontheroadwithjoy]

This is the year basil is King in our N. E. garden. Somehow we have 15 plants of it, plus an indoor one from a grocery store start, and a volunteer, in a flower pot. All are thick, bushy, and healthy. We are giving it away to everyone we see!

[richardromano]

I enjoy this video I'm a big lover of Basil I'm here in Pennsylvania so I will start it now from seed and it grows really great all summer long into September so thank you for sharing your tips.

[TheGreenThumbGardeningChannel]

Your videos keep me coming back for more John! Never thought of buying basil plants from the grocery store, smart!

[espesp]

John, Home Depot sells a 24” Ames planting auger that you attach to a cordless drill. It made planting super fast (and fun). I just bought it today for $16.98 plus tax and wondered why I didn’t discover this tool earlier. Hope you look into this...it’s a game changer! Thanks for your videos.

[pershop]

Thanks for the video. Good alternatives for not just buying from nurseries all the time.

[GretchensVeganBakery]

Wow! Thank you John!! I was just today wondering if I could do this!!!! I thought maybe the supermarket ones are “weaker” for abundant growing. But I also did not want to spent $3.48 vs the $1.99 at Whole Foods for bigger plants! Thank you for all your videos! I’ve been binge watching all winter and just planted my containers today! 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼

[evek]

This is great when you live in a short growing season like we do. Thank you👍🏻

[superman-rpfu]

Skip to 10:20 if you don't live in crapifornia and just want to get to the planting portion.