Which herbs can be overwintered?

[amandaandherveg]

I'm thoroughly enjoying growing herbs this year, but wondered what can survive the winter - either outside or in an unheated greenhouse?

[Alice]

Thyme, oregano, mint, chives will all be OK Amanda.

If you don't have any you might want to try sweet woodruff.

I think you'll find the link useful.
Herb Society - Herb Of The Month - Sweet Woodruff

[valmarg]

Hardy perennials, ie can safely be left outside are sage, chives and thyme. In a sheltered spot, rosemary would be OK.

Parsley is a biennial, so what you grow from seed this year will be at it's best next year.

These are the only one's we grow, so are the only ones I can suggest.

Hope this helps.

valmarg

[valmarg]

OMG, forgot mint. It's harder to kill than grow. But wouldn't be without it (under strict control).

Alice - marjoram and oregano are the same family, One is hardy and the other an annual. Which is which?

valmarg

[Alice]

Valmarg, Oregano is a perennial which is hardy in sheltered areas.
Marjoram is closely related but not the same thing. I don't if it's hardy.

[amandaandherveg]

Thanks everyone. Alice, the Cutting Celery seeds you sent me are growing like there's no tomorrow - not tried it out yet though.

[Snadger]

It's easier to ask which herbs CAN'T be overwintered!

[ginger ninger]

I'm thoroughly enjoying growing herbs this year, but wondered what can survive the winter - either outside or in an unheated greenhouse?

Hi
I have chives, garlic chives, mint, lemon balm, sage, thyme, rosemary, and they all winter really well, i grow dill,tarragon, basil and fennel from seed new every year, chive flowers are yummy in salads. I've tried borage this year, looks nice but the green fly love it, and it made me itch

[valmarg]

Sorry ginger ninger, but if you grow tarragon from seed it is russian tarragon, as opposed to french tarragon.

The russian tarragon is very coarse in flavour compared with the french.

To get plants of french tarragon, buy a pack from a supermarket (ideally from the reduced section) use the tips as cuttings, and you have tarragon plants for life (admittedly indoors).

valmarg

[coomber]

Lemon verbena - I left mine outside all winter and it survived!!

[BFG]

That's interesting Coomber. I've just got a Lemon Verbena and saw that it's only half hardy. Apparently it's only hardy to 4 degrees. I was considered growing it inside (12" square pot in a large south facing window). It would make the living room smell nice!

What do people think? In or out? I'm aware it can get fairly big, but a pot might keep it manageable?

What are other peoples experiences growing it outdoors? I'm considering chancing it in a nice raised sunny spot, close to slabs and/or rocks with a thick mulch.

Or maybe even in a bubblewrap insulated large pot. Could either work?

[annacruachan]

Valmarg, Oregano is a perennial which is hardy in sheltered areas.
Marjoram is closely related but not the same thing. I don't if it's hardy.

Marjoram is hardy, Alice. I have a huge pot of it now flowering and beautiful. This has travelled with me round the west coast for the last 13 years. It's wonderful with mushrooms.

Lovage dies right down in the winter and comes up again even better in the spring.

Southernwood, which I suppose is technically a shrub and one of the wormwood family, gets cut right down in early spring and regenerates with great vigour - rather like buddleia and tree mallow. I grow it for the fantastic fragrance of its leaves - peardrops!!!

[Lovage]

That's interesting Coomber. I've just got a Lemon Verbena and saw that it's only half hardy. Apparently it's only hardy to 4 degrees. I was considered growing it inside (12" square pot in a large south facing window). It would make the living room smell nice!

What do people think? In or out? I'm aware it can get fairly big, but a pot might keep it manageable?

What are other peoples experiences growing it outdoors? I'm considering chancing it in a nice raised sunny spot, close to slabs and/or rocks with a thick mulch.

Or maybe even in a bubblewrap insulated large pot. Could either work?

It's all about microclimate. If you have a sheltered spot against a south facing wall, it has a good chance of surviving outside. You could also protect the base of the plant with straw/hessian/bubblewrap.
You could also try some cuttings about now to overwinter inside as insurance. It's not the easiest thing to root but short heel cuttings in gretty compost covered with the white plastic bag have a good chance.

I think it's worth trying as Lemon Verbena is an interesting plant and an established plant will provide plenty of leaves for a delicious tea and pot-pourri etc

[Lovage]

I'm thoroughly enjoying growing herbs this year, but wondered what can survive the winter - either outside or in an unheated greenhouse?

Whilst many herbs will survive the winter outside they are dormant and don't produce anything usable til spring. However with a cold greenhouse many can be persuaded to keep growing and give you usable herbs through the winter.
You could try potting up chives or mint in the autumn or start some parsley off now and grow in pots to bring in .
Basil is one that would struggle to survive - it really needs a bit of heat

[ohbeary]

Herbs can be tricky! and rewarding!, I have an African Blue basil(basil is native to the Indian subcontinent, where it is perrenial), that has overwintered quite happily in a north facing conservatory(cuttings root like mad), fennel (leaf type) in the garden (seflseeds, more weeded than used!!!), thyme that just dies when it rains for more than 5 days,(moving it into shelter!), Golden Marjoram (Oreganum Majoram Aureus), Oregano (Origanum Vulgare) both perenial!!!!!,Had chives but due to reorganising got lost(killed)(once allowed to seed y' got em f'ever)(in close proximity), Lemon Verbena(my favourite, use to flavour "creme`brulee" or posset!)(worked at an hotel where I was allowed to cultivate an abandoned area, nice gravel paths[scrounged] brick edged[scrounged][nice cental + shapped path at home!!], grew all sorts of stuff!,lol had at least 20m thyme edgeing, tomatoes like you would not believe[micro climate!!!] and lemon verbena from one plant costing £1:65 a hedge that I calculated at being prorata £125!!! worth, had a rosemary hedge! at home, grubbed up as untidy and too leggy, the prostrate rosemary is doin fine, a better looker and slightly milder flavour, lemon balm that is becoming a nuisance!!, black peppermint showing through perrenial wallflower, I could go on like "war and peace" but it would be unkind.