Which herbs grow best in winter
Gabriel Cooper
Updated on April 17, 2026
To grow herbs in winter, choose a truly sunny window (southern exposure) that gets at least six hours of sun per day. Because that can be a hard requirement to fulfill, many gardeners prefer to use grow lights instead or in addition to window light.
Can I grow herbs through the winter?
To grow herbs in winter, choose a truly sunny window (southern exposure) that gets at least six hours of sun per day. Because that can be a hard requirement to fulfill, many gardeners prefer to use grow lights instead or in addition to window light.
What herbs and vegetables grow in winter?
HERBS – plant chives, cress, curry, dill, mint, parsley, sage and thyme. FRUIT & VEGETABLE – plant artichoke, asparagus, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, endive, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, snow peas, silverbeet, spinach and radish.
What herbs grow well through winter?
Many winter herbs thrive easily in the Great Outdoors in Zones 6 and warmer. The list includes sage, common thyme, oregano, chives, chamomile, mints, lavender and tarragon.What herbs live all year round?
- Bay. Bay laurel is a perennial that actually does best using the container gardening method. …
- Chervil. Chervil is a delicate annual and a favorite flavor in French cuisine, hence its nickname, “French parsley.” Start chervil seeds in spring or late summer. …
- Chives. …
- Oregano. …
- Parsley. …
- Rosemary. …
- Sage. …
- Tarragon.
Does rosemary grow in winter?
If you live in USDA plant hardiness zones 7 or below, rosemary will only survive if you bring it indoors before the arrival of freezing temperatures. On the other hand, if your growing zone is at least zone 8, you can grow rosemary outdoors year round with protection during the chilly months.
Can rosemary survive winter?
Although rosemary is a true Mediterranean plant and will not survive extremely cold winters, it can be grown in pots with the following care. … Set the plants outdoors in the summer, taking care to water them well. About one month before the first frost is expected, bring the plants to a protected area near the house.
Do I need to bring my herbs inside for the winter?
For long term indoor storage, a cool bedroom or dining room is better for the plant than your moist kitchen. Most herbs will stay dormant in a cool room making them much easier to care for. Return the herbs to a sunny, warm room late next winter to bring the plant out of dormancy and ready for another season.Will my herbs grow back after winter?
Herbaceous herbs, such as mint, which die back over winter then regrow in spring, should be cut back to about 4cm above the soil after flowering. … Perennial herbs are easy to grow and will enhance your garden, and your cooking, year after year.
What can I plant in the spring for winter?- Flowers: Alyssum, butterfly weed, calendula, coreopsis, cosmos, foxgloves, hollyhocks, petunia.
- Vegetables: Beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard, carrots, kale, mache, radishes, spinach.
What vegetables can I grow in pots in winter?
Winter vegetables, such as cabbage, Brussels sprout, beetroot, broccoli, kale, lettuce, radishes, onions, shallots, carrots and spring onions grow well in containers as well as garlic & broad beans.
What grows in Australia in winter?
HERBS – plant chives, curry, dill, mint, parsley, sage and thyme. FRUIT & VEGETABLE – plant artichoke, asparagus, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, Brussels sprout, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celery, endive, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, snow peas, silver beet, spinach and radish.
What herbs should not be planted together?
- Keep fennel and wormwood isolated from other plants. …
- Rue should be kept away from sage, basil, and cabbages. …
- Anise and dill should not be planted near carrots. …
- Keep dill clear of tomatoes. …
- Sage makes a bad bedfellow with cucumber and onion.
What herbs will grow back every year?
- Sage.
- Rosemary.
- Parsley.
- Thyme.
- Mint.
- Bay.
- Chives.
- Lavender.
Can I grow parsley all year round?
Growing parsley to harvest fresh all summer – plus more to dry for winter use – is not at all difficult. … Simply plan to set out new seedlings twice a year, in spring and again in late summer, which means growing parsley as a cold-hardy annual.
Can thyme survive winter?
Most selections of thyme (Thymus sp.) are hardy to USDA Zones 5 to 9 and marginally hardy to Zone 4 with added winter protection. In areas with cold winters, thyme is considered semi-evergreen, meaning that the plant will retain some of its foliage during winter but not all.
Can oregano survive winter?
Cold-hardy herbs, such as chives, mint, oregano, parsley, sage and thyme, can often survive cold-winter temperatures while continuing to produce flavorful foliage, as long as they are provided with some protection or grown indoors.
Does basil survive winter?
Generally, its growth cycle doesn’t include overwintering; rather it dies down and the hard seeds wait in the ground over winter and then germinate during the spring thaw. When temperatures dip, basil suffers cold damage almost immediately in the form of blackened leaves. Therefore, basil and cold weather do not gibe.
Can Mint survive winter?
Although slightly frost tolerant, the top of mint will eventually die back in winter except in zones 8 and south, but the root are quite hardy, surviving into zone 5 (some varieties even into zone 3). Lift and replant your mint every 3 to 4 years to keep your patch’s flavor and scent strong.
How cold can parsley survive?
Hardy only to about 10 degrees F, though winter mulches or cloches can enhance cold tolerance. Where winters are mild, parsley can be sown in fall and grown through winter.
What temperatures can oregano tolerate?
The lowest temperature that the oregano herb can tolerate is a temperature of below 40°F. Being a warm climate herb, any temperature below that is a threat to its continued survival. And keeping the oregano in frost temperatures of 32°F or even lower, for instance, can permanently destroy the plant.
Can parsley survive winter?
A: As you just discovered, parsley can live through winter. It is a biennial. Last year the plants grew only leaves; this year they will flower, set seed, and then die. … In a sunny window it will continue to produce edible leaves for most of the winter.
Does basil regrow every year?
Also known as common or sweet basil, basil (U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 2 through 11 for outdoor gardens) is a true annual, which means it needs to be replanted each season. In most circumstances, it does not grow back after a year. … Basil plants are sensitive to cold weather and frost.
Is basil annual or perennial?
Annual herbs like basil and dill must be planted anew each year, but most other commonly used herbs qualify as perennials. They will go dormant where winters are cold, only to perk back up again each spring.
Can basil survive winter indoors?
The Best Way to Overwinter Basil: Bring It Indoors. … If you already have a favorite basil plant that produces lots of tasty leaves, there’s no reason why you can’t keep enjoying it indoors throughout the fall and winter. Placed in a cozy spot on a sunny windowsill, it will thrive throughout the cold months.
How do you keep basil plant over the winter?
Wash the leaves and dry them with a paper towel. Then gather them in bunches and wrap the stems with a twist tie. Hang them upside down for a week or two and then break the leaves off the stems into an airtight container and you will have dried basil for the winter. Basil lasts this way for about a year.
Is it better to grow herbs indoors or outdoors?
Growing outdoors allows for more herbs and better yields, while growing indoors requires less garden care overall and provide supply of herbs whole year round.
When should I plant my winter garden?
You need to be planting seeds and seedlings for your fall and winter garden between 6 to 8 weeks before your average first frost date. Some even as early as 10 weeks. So to know your planting date, you need to know that average first frost date.
What can I plant late winter?
Broad beans, cauliflower, celery, kale, garlic, leek, mustard, potato, radish, rhubarb and rocket can all be planted now. Rocket leaves will be ready to be picked in a matter of weeks, but as soon as a plant has flowered, remove it to make way for new ones as the leaves become very peppery.
Is it OK to plant plants in winter?
Winter is the best time to plant flowering annuals. … If you live in an area with warm weather, you can cultivate annuals all year round but you will need to make the extra effort to water your seedlings during the summer. Annuals can be divided into two groups.
What can I grow indoors in the winter?
- Herbs. Basil, oregano, sage, lavender, mint, thyme, rosemary, dill, and other herbs are among the easiest edibles to grow indoors. …
- Greens. …
- Cherry Tomatoes. …
- Chili Peppers. …
- Citrus. …
- Baby Ginger. …
- Sprouts. …
- Microgreens.