[GUS]

HI to all-First time user-wondering who can tell me why my fresh basil leaves turn black after a couple days in refrig: Thanks-GUS

[Mezzaluna]

Hello Gus!

As your post is mostly a food-related question, I will move it to an appropriate forum.

We invite you to return to the Welcome Forum to post a bit about yourself so we can give you a proper welcome.

Regards,
Mezzaluna

[Quinn01]

Hi Gus. Welcome to CT.

To anwser your question, Basil can't stand temperatures below about 50 degrees (F), so by putting them in a refidgerator that blows 43 degrees give or take is killing the plant. Basil is not a winter loving plant so if you arent going to use it quick enough, the best way to preserve basil is to dry it. It keeps just as much punch, looks great hanging in the kitchen, makes good gifts (dried herb bouqet) and will keep fairly well for weeks or even months.

Hope I anwserd your question!

[Maywen]

Just buy a pot of the the fresh stuff from the plant shop and keep it on your windowsill. Cant beat fresh picked. Quinn01 is right, you kill it in the fridge.

[Quinn01]

Thanks Maywen, speaking of your post I would love to grow my own on my window silt, I mean I used to watch Jamie Olivers shows on Food Network and he would always open his window and just pluck different herbs and close it but first I dont have the need at home for so many herbs and if I grew it inside my cats would use it more than me.....and we all know what happens to cats bowels when they eat fresh greens.......

Seriously tho, I would love to just have it growing in my kitchen or house wether I use it or not.

Whats the average life span of fresh basil as long as its kept at a reasonable tempature? That I do not know.