Gardening enthusiasts and cooks can enjoy the bounty of herbs all year. You can keep your herb plants flourishing even during the coldest months through a few simple steps.
To bring your herbs indoors for the winter, you’ll need to start with a few basic steps and make sure you have a bright and sunny window or a grow light. With the right care and attention, you can continue enjoying your herbs’ flavors and benefits all winter long.
In Preparation for the Winter
Before bringing your indoor plants inside for the winter, figure out which plants can survive the transplanting process. Not all herbs can adapt to living in an indoor environment; it’s important to research the optimal temperature range for each herb type and move any perennials that won’t survive cold temperatures indoors.
It is possible to keep certain herbs alive indoors during the winter months, such as chives, parsley, rosemary, thyme, and oregano. These are the most suitable for overwintering indoors.
When to Bring Herbs Inside
To keep your herbs healthy, you should bring them indoors before the temperature drops too low. This usually means bringing them in before the first frost of the season. Depending on where you live, this could occur anytime from late fall to early winter. Check the temperature requirements of your particular herb species, as some may need to be brought inside sooner than others.
Caring for Herbs Indoors
Once your herbs are in a warm and secure place, it’s important to create a plan of action to ensure they last until the warmer weather of spring comes back. Here are some care tips to follow:
1. Get Herbs Plenty of Sunlight
Herbs thrive when they get a good amount of sunlight each day. If you don’t have a south-facing window that provides enough light, a plant grows light is a great option. It has built-in timers to ensure your herbs get the same amount of light each day. You can also use grow lights to start new herbs from seed, so they can grow and be ready to be transplanted outdoors in the spring.
2. Maintain the Right Moisture Level
Maintaining the right moisture level for overwintering your herbs can be challenging. You can do a simple touch test to determine when to water your plants. Put your finger into the soil and check if the top inch is dry. If it is, then it’s time to water your herbs. Different herbs have different requirements for moisture, with some liking it dry, such as thyme, and others requiring more frequent waterings like rosemary.
3. Keep Temperature Optimal
Herbs can be grown year-round, even in colder temperatures. Rosemary is especially sensitive to temperatures and requires full sun exposure, so it’s best to place it near a south-facing window in a cool room. To keep it healthy, ensure the temperature is between 60 and 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. Create More Humidity
Herbs don’t like wet soil, but they will do well with plenty of humidity. To create more humidity around your plants, you can spray them with water each day, get a humidifier for the room, or make a humidifying tray. To make a humidifying tray, put a layer of pebbles in a tray and then put your plant on top. Pour water over the pebbles; the water will gradually evaporate and give your plant the humidity it needs.
Conclusion
Growing herbs indoors for the winter is a great way to enjoy fresh herbs all year round. Watering your herbs regularly, making sure they get enough sunlight, and providing a humid environment are all necessary steps. Additionally, pruning your herbs and repotting them in fresh soil will help them grow strong and healthy. With a few simple steps, you can enjoy fresh herbs during the winter months.
Blossom and Broom is a home and lifestyle blog dedicated to edible landscape gardens, permaculture, shrubs, and more. We are committed to promoting eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle readers can reference when creating their own home gardens and other domestic activities. Visit our gardening blog for more tips about overwintering herbs or growing edible plants in a northern climate. Start living sustainably today!
