1. Unpack your herb pot
Unpack your herb pot as soon as it arrives and remove all packing material. Set any cover pot aside and place the grow pot in the sink.
All guidesBig Herb Pots
Big Basil Herb Pot
Fresh basil in generous handfuls for tomato salads, pasta, and everyday finishing.
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Welcome
More of the herb you love
Your Big Basil Herb Pot is all about one ingredient. Fresh basil in generous handfuls for tomato salads, pasta, and everyday finishing.
A Big Herb Pot gives you a single herb variety in a ready-to-use pot. Keep it close to where you cook and pick what you need as fresh growth allows.
A bigger pot still needs time to regrow between harvests. Match your picking to the plant’s growth, especially indoors or during the shorter days of winter.
First day care
Three steps to get started
Unpack your herb pot, give it a thorough watering, and find a bright spot to help it settle in.
2. Water and let it drain
Run tap water gently over the soil until it is fully saturated and water flows from the drainage holes. Leave the grow pot in the sink for about a minute, or until excess water has finished draining.
3. Find a bright spot
Place the drained grow pot inside your cover pot or on a saucer, then set your herb pot in a bright location. No repotting needed.
Settling in
A few things to know
A note about your pots
Your herb pot grows in a 6.7-inch grow pot that fits inside our optional 7-inch cover pots. Keep your herbs planted in the grow pot; do not plant directly into a cover pot, as it has no drainage holes.
Wait on big harvests
Let your herb pot adjust for 48 hours before heavier picking. This gives the plants time to settle into their new home.
What to expect
A few bent stems or tired-looking leaves can happen after shipping. After the first watering, give your herbs bright light and time to settle. Check the soil before watering again.
Light & water
Keep care simple
Light
Place your herb pot in bright natural light, such as a sunny windowsill, kitchen counter near a window, or covered patio. Basil especially appreciates warmth and strong light.
When to water
Push a finger about an inch into the soil. If that top inch feels dry, it is time to water. If it still feels damp, wait and check again the next day.
How to water
Take the grow pot to the sink, removing any cover pot first. Gently soak the soil with tap water until water flows through the drainage holes. Let it drain for about a minute, or until excess water has finished draining, then return it to your cover pot or saucer.
Rotation
Turn the pot every few days so all sides receive direct light. This helps the herbs grow more evenly and keeps them easier to harvest.
Avoid standing water
Always water the grow pot in the sink. If you use a cover pot, never water directly into it. Empty any water that collects in the cover pot or saucer so the roots do not sit in standing water, which can cause rot.
Harvesting
How to pick your basil
Where to cut
Snip a stem just above a pair of healthy leaves, leaving several leaves below the cut. This encourages branching. Pinch out flower buds to keep the plant focused on leafy growth.
Leave enough to regrow
Start small and leave most of the healthy foliage in place. Avoid removing more than about a third at one time, and wait for fresh growth before another substantial harvest. Use clean scissors and rinse picked herbs before cooking.
In the kitchen
Make it an everyday ingredient
Easy ways to use it
- Tear leaves over sliced tomatoes with olive oil.
- Fold through warm pasta just before serving.
- Add to sandwiches, flatbreads, or a bowl of soup at the table.
Simple recipe
Something to make today
Quick supper
Fresh basil tomato pasta
Ingredients
- 200 g pasta
- 250 g cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Cook the pasta according to the packet directions, saving a little cooking water. Warm the oil in a pan, add the tomatoes, and cook for 5–8 minutes until softened. Toss in the pasta with a splash of cooking water. Take off the heat, tear in the basil, and season to taste.
How to use
Serve immediately, with grated cheese if you like. Serves two.
A little help
Keep an eye on your pot
Wilting
Check the soil before adding water. Dry soil may need a thorough drink; damp soil can point to a drainage or root problem. Move a heat-stressed plant out of intense afternoon sun while you check it.
Slow growth
Short days, low light, and cool conditions can slow new growth. Improve the light where possible and reduce harvesting until the plant is growing again.
Lifespan & refills
Keep fresh herbs coming
Expect around 1–2 months of fresh herbs, depending on care and how much you harvest. These are living plants, so every herb pot will grow at its own pace.
Plan your next refill
Refill every 1–2 months for a fresh supply of herbs. Your new herb pot arrives in its own grow pot, ready to fit inside the same cover pot.
An easy swap
Remove the old grow pot and compost the old herbs. Water and drain your new herb pot, then place it in your empty cover pot or on a saucer.
Subscribe and save
Subscribe to regular refills to save and have a fresh herb pot delivered every 1–2 months. Keep your cover pot and simply swap in each new herb pot.
Need a hand?
We’re here to help
If anything looks concerning, please reach out to us at support@herbwild.com as soon as possible so we can help. We want you to succeed, and your plants are backed by our 15-day satisfaction guarantee.