Wintering
Herbs Indoors
My husband and I live close to the Rillito River, where temperatures are lower at night than they were when we lived closer to the University. I've been warned by my gardening colleagues that I must be more concerned about frost here. When we moved, we transported our entire garden of herbs, perennials, and some vegetables to our new house in pots. Surprisingly, most of them are doing marvelously well. Due to forces beyond our control, the garden will not be ready for fall planting, which means that we will continue to garden in pots throughout most of the colder weather.I came across an interesting article on wintering herbs indoors in the October/November, 1993 issue of the Herb Companion. Since all of my herbs are already potted and their quantity is limited this year, I think I'll try some of their suggestions. For you apartment dwellers or container gardeners or for anyone with that "special" frost tender plant, this may be something for you to experiment with.
The article begins by suggesting that you choose carefully among your plants when considering which to bring inside. Avoid summer annuals such as savory, cilantro, and borage. Basil is included in this group, but I prefer to snip the blossoms before they seed and usually I can keep my basil for many seasons. To save space, also avoid perennial herbs which are available in dried form during the winter, unless you cannot live without fresh leaves. For your huge tender plants, consider rooting some cuttings instead of bringing these in. As always, select only the healthiest plants.
I plan to bring in my basils, a smaller pineapple sage, my scented geraniums, and perhaps an oregano and marjoram. If your plants are currently in the ground and in need of potting, make a porous potting mix of equal parts peat moss, coarse vermiculite, perlite, and compost. Leave some garden soil on the root ball and surround this with potting mix. Pots should be cleaned well and should be slightly larger than the root mass.
Place pots in the sunniest window of your house. As the light diminishes later in the season plants will usually stop growing. Water only when the soil is dry and don't fertilize. Begin fertilizing when new growth appears. Watch carefully for signs of insects or disease and treat accordingly.
Begin hardening plants off as soon as weather permits by placing them outside where they will get morning sun. Leave them out on nights when no frost is expected. Replant in the ground as soon as all danger of frost is past.
With garden plants, I use other "out of doors" methods to winter my plants, but I know I will always have some favorites that I may want to bring indoors. Maybe some of you will find that wintering your "favorites" indoors will be the perfect cold weather solution. Happy Gardening!
By Mary Sisson Eibs
Email the author at momherb02@yahoo.com
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