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Saw the price of fresh basil at the farmer's market and had a moment | Budget Friendly Meals - Vivisector

Saw the price of fresh basil at the farmer's market and had a moment

I stopped by the Elm Street farmer's market last Saturday and noticed a single small bunch of basil was going for $4.50. That got me thinking about how much I've been spending on herbs for just a few meals each week. Has anyone here had better luck growing their own on a windowsill or balcony?

3 comments

3 Comments

nancy_king295mo ago

Oh man, honest to god I used to think paying $4 for a bunch of basil was just no big deal. I'd grab it without even thinking about it, like it was just part of grocery shopping. But then I actually added up what I spent over a month on just fresh herbs and nearly choked. I grabbed a little basil plant from the grocery store for like $4 and stuck it on my kitchen windowsill, and I haven't bought a bunch since. Now I just snip off what I need for a recipe and it keeps growing back, way cheaper in the long run.

lily_cooper5mo ago

I remember last June I paid $5 for a little bundle of basil at the Westside market and it wilted in two days. I get the appeal of growing your own, but I've tried the windowsill thing three times now and the plants always get leggy and quit producing after a month or two. My wife keeps the house around 68 degrees in winter and the basil just sulks and drops leaves no matter how much light I give it. Plus honestly, for someone like me who only uses herbs a couple times a week, a $4 bunch lasts just fine if you wrap the stems in a damp paper towel and stick them in the fridge. I'd rather just pay the market price than fool with a fussy plant that's going to let me down.

the_robin5mo ago

Oh wow, I gotta say I totally get where you're coming from. I've had the same thing happen with basil on my windowsill more times than I care to admit. For me, it just feels like a hassle when I can grab a fresh bunch for a few bucks and it lasts in the fridge for a week with that damp paper towel trick. I mean, idk, maybe it's just me but I'd rather spend the $4 and not have to water and worry about a plant that's gonna get all leggy and give up on me.