Growing herbs in pots provides an easy and convenient way to have fresh flavor right at your fingertips. While many popular annual herbs like basil, cilantro, and dill will perish when cold weather arrives, perennial herbs like thyme, sage, oregano, and rosemary can thrive through winter with the right care.
Whether potted herbs can survive the winter depends on several factors – the herb variety, winter temperatures in your area, protection methods, and proper maintenance With some simple overwintering techniques, most hardy herb varieties can remain productive in pots even when the mercury dips
Choosing the Best Herbs for Overwintering Outdoors
Not all potted herbs are cut out for harsh winter conditions. Selecting cold-hardy perennial varieties that can withstand your region’s lowest temperatures gives you the best chance of success.
Some of the best potted herbs to overwinter outdoors include:
- Thyme
- Sage
- Oregano
- Chives
- Rosemary (some varieties)
More delicate herbs like basil, parsley, cilantro, and dill are unlikely to endure freezing weather in pots. Either bring them indoors for winter or treat them as annuals.
Providing Protection for Outdoor Potted Herbs
To help potted perennial herbs survive winter outdoors, it’s important to give them some protection from the elements. Here are some key tips:
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Use larger pots at least 12 inches wide and 10 inches deep to insulate roots.
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Place pots in a sheltered spot like a covered porch or against the house foundation.
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Surround pots with 2-3 inches of mulch such as bark chips, straw, or pine needles.
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Cover herbs with horticultural fleece or blankets on extremely cold nights.
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Move pots to an unheated garage or greenhouse if temperatures drop below 20°F.
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Add grow lights if sunlight is scarce in protected locations.
Overwintering Care Tips for Potted Herbs
Proper care through winter is just as crucial as providing protection. Follow these tips to keep potted herbs thriving:
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Prune dead growth regularly to limit disease risks.
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Check soil frequently, water only when top few inches are dry.
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Inspect for pests like aphids, mites, and treat with horticultural oil or insecticidal soap.
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Transplant rootbound plants into larger containers in early spring.
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Fertilize with compost or organic fertilizer before winter dormancy.
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Remove mulch in spring once temperatures warm up.
Ideal Winter Conditions for Specific Herbs
In addition to basic overwintering methods, some herbs have specific conditions they need to thrive through winter:
Rosemary – Prefers cool temps between 40-50°F. Shelter from hard freezes. Reduce watering.
Thyme – Prune stems back to 6 inches before winter. Tolerates temps down to 10°F when mulched.
Oregano – Cut back leggy growth in fall. Keep soil slightly moist but not soaked.
Sage – Overwinter indoors if temps drop below 15°F. Prune 1/3 before moving indoors.
Chives – Mulch outdoor pots or overwinter in a sunny indoor spot. Cut foliage back halfway in fall.
Overwintering Potted Herbs Indoors
In regions with harsh winters, moving potted herbs inside is often the best option. Here are some tips for overwintering indoors:
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Choose the sunniest indoor spot possible, like a south facing window.
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Rotate pots periodically to equalize light distribution.
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Provide grow lights if sunlight is scarce.
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Water sparingly, allowing the soil to partially dry out between waterings.
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Prune back any leggy growth to encourage bushy plants before moving indoors.
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Monitor for pests like aphids, mealybugs, and treat any issues promptly.
Common Challenges and Solutions for Overwintered Potted Herbs
Even when given proper protection and care, potted herbs kept outdoors in winter can run into problems. Here are some common issues and how to address them:
Drying Out – Check soil moisture frequently, water sparingly when the top few inches are dry.
Insufficient Light – Provide supplemental lighting with grow lights. Rotate pots to share sunlight evenly.
Frost Damage – Cover with blankets or move to a sheltered spot during extreme cold snaps.
Pot Bound Roots – Transplant rootbound plants into larger containers in early spring.
Pests/Diseases – Inspect regularly and treat issues early with organic sprays. Disinfect pots before reuse.
Enjoying Fresh Herbs All Winter Long
While overwintering herbs in pots requires some extra effort, the reward of having fresh flavors through the winter makes it worthwhile. Monitor your potted herbs diligently and provide protection as needed, and you’ll be clipping homegrown herbs like thyme, sage, and oregano for your cooking even when snow blankets the ground outside.
Step two to overwinter herbs indoors
Check your herbs carefully for pests so that you dont have any unwanted house guests for the winter. Prune damaged or discolored leaves. If you see any pests, pick them off or spray the plant with a mix of soap and water. Shop Our Favorite Gardening Tools
Step one to overwinter herbs indoors
Before your first frost, dig your herbs up if theyre in the ground or in a raised bed, taking care not to overly disturb the roots. Use a long, thin trowel or hori hori to dig a wide circle and go an inch deeper than the plants roots before you pull it from its home. Try to keep as much of the soil its currently growing in as possible.
(Another option would be to take cuttings from your mature plants and propagate them indoors. Heres how to easily propagate rosemary, mint, and basil. Your baby herbs will be ready to plant in your garden come the spring. Just note that you wont get leaf harvests over the winter while the plants are developing roots.)
Perennial Power: 6 Herbs That Brave Winter and Flourish Year After Year!
FAQ
Can I leave my potted herbs outside in winter?
Most of the herbs we commonly grow are perfectly happy outdoors in the winter. They evolved in a temperate climate and do fine in the winter cold. What they don’t like is being brought indoors to low light, low air humidity and excessive heat (most need at least a reasonably cold winter in order to thrive).
Do herbs in pots come back every year?
If the herb is a perennial, it’ll come back in the spring. If it’s not, you can always save the seeds from the plant and use them next spring.
What should I do with my herbs in the winter?
Set pots of herbs on a boot tray filled with river rocks or gravel, then add water to the tray. Use a humidifier in the room. Mist herb plants regularly—except for rosemary, which is prone to mildew. Group similar plants together, so they create their own little micro-climate in the room.
Will herbs regrow after winter?
Herbs like lavender, oregano, mint and thyme come back strong spring after spring if you prepare them for the cold weather. These and other Mediterranean herbs are hardy and tolerate low temperatures. They like dry conditions, so soggy ground or repeated freezing and thawing can damage them.
Do plants & herbs survive winter outdoors?
In general you could say that plants and herbs in pots typically do not survive winter outdoors easily. It is in the context of freezing temperatures important to realize that often perennials in pots do not survive because there is too much water in the pot.
Can herbs grow back in winter?
Perennial herbs such as Sage, Thyme, Chives, Mint and Lavender, can overwinter and grow back or continue to grow in spring and this for several years. Annuals like Cilantro, Chervil, Dill, Parsley and Basil will have a hard time to survive the outdoor winter and need to be replanted every year in spring time.
How to protect outdoor herbs from winter?
You can also protect outdoor herbs in the garden from the cold and help them survive in winter by applying some extra protection. A first basic method is to protect the herb and its roots in the ground by providing some insulation from the cold by covering the herb with straw or coarse mulch.
Do herbs need to be covered in winter?
Herbs that tend to keep their leaves through the winter months, such as sage or winter savory, will benefit from a covering of tarp, burlap, cloth or even bubble wrap. Depending on your USDA zone and temperatures, some herbs can survive under covered patios or overhangs provided they receive enough light.
Can herbs grow in cold weather?
Annual herbs such as basil, pineapple sage, dill, borage, parsley, nasturtium, stevia, chamomile, and lemongrass are sensitive to cold temperatures. These herbs will likely not survive the harsh outdoor conditions. Instead of digging these up completely, try propagating them from cuttings and growing them indoors.
Can herbs overwinter outdoors?
Many herbs can overwinter outdoors if cared for properly. You can also preserve herbs in creative ways and overwinter them indoors. Learn how to overwinter herbs with these simple tips. Winter is a great time to grow some fresh herbs indoors. Some hardy herbs do well outdoors in all seasons.