Fresh herbs

I like to have fresh herbs on hand in my house and I've tried growing them in pots on my window sill, but it doesn't get enough sunlight and they haven't survived. I buy fresh bunches weekly, but find that they don't last more then a couple of days in the fridge and I end up tossing them out.
Does anyone have any tips on keeping them fresh or preserving them better?

I buy fresh herbs every week too.  I find that keeping basil in a small glass of water helps.  Mint and flat leaf parsley I just keep in ziplocks in bottom of fridge.  They last about 5 days max.

I'd love to have an herb garden too, but I'll wait until we move back to Cali.

My sister always buys fresh rosemary and keeps it in the fridge. I never did ask her how often she has to toss it though. I would say keeping some of the bunches like basil in water is a good way to try it. Maybe you could test it out by buying two bunches and putting one in the fridge and one in the water?

Lakeland have a thingummy specifically for keeping fresh herbs from going bad that I was eyeing the other day.  I have no idea if it really works, but it looks tempting!

Lakeland have a thingummy specifically for keeping fresh herbs from going bad that I was eyeing the other day.  I have no idea if it really works, but it looks tempting!

A thingummy is exactly what I was looking for. 

I forgot to mention, when I keep things like spinach and lettuce in my fridge, I keep two paper towels folded up in the bag and change them every day or so. Usually it keeps a lot of the moisture from wilting the spinach faster. Maybe that would work on the herbs?

I keep fresh rosemary and thyme in the fridge, but they only last about a week or so. I'll have to try them in water and see if it extends them at all.

I've usually wrapped them in damp paper towel and placed in a ziplock baggie too. I've read that it's the best way to keep most fresh herbs.

I've usually wrapped them in damp paper towel and placed in a ziplock baggie too. I've read that it's the best way to keep most fresh herbs.

I've heard the same thing and know people who do that.

I find they do keep quite well in water.  I know some people freeze fresh herbs in ice cubes too but haven't tried it myself.

I find they do keep quite well in water.  I know some people freeze fresh herbs in ice cubes too but haven't tried it myself.

How do you keep them in water... stems in a glass in the fridge?

Yep just like flowers. I don't put them in the fridge though, just keep them on a counter or window ledge. You need to change the water each day if you don't use them up quickly.

Yep just like flowers. I don't put them in the fridge though, just keep them on a counter or window ledge. You need to change the water each day if you don't use them up quickly.

That's what I do, too, but I'm not good about remembering to change the water. Not a pretty sight (or smell).

I also agree that sticking them in water helps - snip the ends as though they're cut flowers and put them in an inch or so of water.

I also sometimes chop them and freeze them in ice cubes - then just throw an ice cube into your sauce or whatever and you've got fresh herbs in it!

If you have any outdoor space at all it's really easy to grow herbs in pots. Rosemary is really hardy and will last all year (mine has survived everything from snow to heat waves). Basil is OK but I've had trouble with slugs eating it. At the moment I've got: basil (purple and normal), rosemary, sage, tarragon, thyme (also very hard to kill), parsley (eaten almost entirely by bugs or critters - not sure which), mint, chives (quite hardy), and peppermint all growing in smallish pots just outside the kitchen door. The rain hasn't been great for them, but otherwise they're pretty easy to deal with).

Rosemary, thyme, and sage last for ages in the fridge for me. Parsley and basil, not so long. Usually I do keep basil in a glass of water on the counter.

I love growing herbs and have grown them in pots both indoors and out, but you do need a good bit of light, although I think overwatering is harder on indoor herbs than lack of sun. Even if you can't grow them long-term, though, a pot from the grocery store doesn't cost that much more than a packet, and they definitely keep longer if they have roots!