Reviving store bought Basil plant?

[brmead]

Hello!

About a week ago I saw a sad looking basil plant in the supermarket and picked it up on whim. I was hoping to try and save it rather than leaving it to die on the shelves. I've re-potted it in to a bigger pot and fed it some all-purpose plant food, and it's living on my kitchen window ledge. It's looking a bit sad and wilted still so I'm not sure if it will make it. Does anyone have any tips for reviving it, or might it just be too far gone Thanks!

[bario1]

Supermarket basil is grown in conditions that promote fast, tender growth, and they're sown very thickly so you get a lot in one pot. Unfortunately that makes them quite hard to grow on in 'normal' conditions...

[Nicos]

Try pinching out the tops if they are leggy.
They should produce new leaves lower down the stem and bush up.

[toomanytommytoes]

Last supermarket pot of basil we bought had 30+ plants in! Try thinning to the strongest looking plants, then split the root ball and put each into its own, bigger pot. Keep them shaded until they recover.

[brmead]

Thanks! Sorry for the newbie question, but how do I know if they're "leggy"?

Try pinching out the tops if they are leggy.
They should produce new leaves lower down the stem and bush up.

[brmead]

30! Wow. Ok, will do. There's definitely at least a dozen in this one. Thank you

Last supermarket pot of basil we bought had 30+ plants in! Try thinning to the strongest looking plants, then split the root ball and put each into its own, bigger pot. Keep them shaded until they recover.

[Nicos]

Thanks! Sorry for the newbie question, but how do I know if they're "leggy"?

Longer than they 'should be 'and floppy generally.
Basil tends to grow about 8" max...much more than that and I'd consider them leggy.
I often reduce (i.e. Eat!) mine to about 4" , then leave them to recover.

[Bren In Pots]

Try pinching out the tops if they are leggy.
They should produce new leaves lower down the stem and bush up.

When you pinch out the tops pop them in water, after a week they will produce roots. After that you have a new plant to pot up.