Overwintering Herbs Indoors: Which Ones to Bring In and How to Keep Them Happy
The first frost is coming, and that does not have to be the end of your herb garden. Some herbs will not survive a cold night outdoors, but they can live happily on a windowsill all winter if you bring them in at the right time and give them what they actually need most: light, drainage, and a light hand with the watering can.
Here is the simple sort: which herbs to bring in now, which ones want a light frost first, and which are easiest to start from seed.
Bring in before the first frost
Basil is the most frost-tender herb in most gardens. It blackens fast once temperatures drop, so bring it in before the first frost, not after. Rosemary, lemon verbena, and marjoram also belong indoors for winter. These are the herbs worth rescuing first, because a single cold night can finish them outdoors.
Give mint and chives a light frost first
Mint and chives are the exception to the bring-them-in-early rule. Montana State University Extension notes they benefit from a light frost before moving indoors, because it induces a rest period and stimulates growth. Let potted mint or chives feel one light frost, then bring them in. They are perennials you can move back outside in spring once frost has passed.
Or start fresh from seed indoors
Not every winter herb has to be a rescue. Basil, parsley, cilantro, and chives can all be started from seed indoors, and they are among the easiest herbs to grow on a windowsill. If your outdoor basil is already past its best, starting a new pot from seed is often simpler than nursing a tired plant through winter.
The four rules that decide success
1. Light comes first. University of Illinois Extension puts it plainly: herbs usually need between six to eight hours of bright light each day, and a southern exposure window is great. If your windows do not get that much light in winter, use supplemental lighting, but it is not equivalent to natural light, so most supplemental lighting must be on for 12 to 16 hours per day. Long, lanky growth is often a sign of too little light.
2. Drainage comes second. Every container needs drainage holes and good-quality potting mix. Do not use garden soil in containers, Illinois Extension warns. Jute grow pots breathe well, which helps soil dry between waterings.
3. Water less than you think. Montana State Extension advises watering when the soil is dry to the touch, and warns that overwatering is the most common issue with houseplants and can lead to root rot. In winter, herbs grow more slowly than outdoors in summer, so they need less water and only sparing, diluted fertilizer.
4. Keep them cool and away from heat. Room temperatures of 70 F and below are best, Illinois Extension says, so keep potted herbs away from radiators and other direct heat sources. Winter heating dries the air, so cluster plants together to raise humidity around them.
What to plant them in
Individual pots make overwintering easier: you can move each herb to its best light without disturbing the rest. Our 1-Gallon Jute Grow Pots (5-Pack) at $33.75 CAD give you five individual herb pots in one bundle, light enough to move as the sun shifts through winter. If wall space is easier than windowsill space, the 3-Pocket Vertical Living Wall Planter at $42.75 CAD turns a sunny wall into a small herb garden.
When spring comes, move perennial herbs back outside gradually, a few hours a day in partial shade at first, and take only one-third of the top growth at a time if you plan to move them out for the summer.
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Frequently asked questions
Which herbs should I bring indoors before frost? Bring basil, rosemary, lemon verbena, and marjoram in before the first frost. Basil is the most frost-tender and blackens fast in the cold.
Which herbs benefit from a light frost first? Mint and chives. A light frost induces a rest period and stimulates growth before they come indoors.
How much light do indoor herbs need? Six to eight hours of bright light each day from a sunny window, or 12 to 16 hours a day under supplemental grow lights. Long, lanky growth usually means not enough light.
How often should I water herbs indoors? Water when the soil is dry to the touch. Overwatering is the most common indoor herb problem and can cause root rot, so water less in winter when growth slows.
