So I found a bunch of great litle herbs at lowed and couldnt resist.. I have one corner of my basement/office set up for growing over the winter and was wandering what you all thought might make it through. Im intalling a 4ft 2 bulb fixture for light and using the grow bulbs in it for hanging over the plants.
I have planted Lemon Thyme, Lemon Balm, Purple Sage, Variegated Sage, Peppermint and a few other goodies from out in the yard that arent herbs.. So far they seem to be doing well and it doesnt drop below about 68 (so far).. But I will be putting a small heater down here in the basement to try to keep the chill off as well.
Any ieas or comments.. I really want to install a huge herb bed outside come spring and am hoping to get everything going over winter..
New with Herbs.. Overwintering in basement ?'s
Will be watching this post for answers, am in relatively the same boat as you, Ladybarber. I went ahead and dug up my Lemon Verbena, variegated pineapple sage, had my mints in small pots already, took cuttings of my large Pineapple sage (it's growing like gangbusters) and just crossing my fingers on the rosemary and oregano!
Last year, I overwintered a number of herbs in my basement under grow lights. I have everything in self-watering containers so they had a steady moisture content. My basement is usually about 72 degrees, so extra heat was not necessary. I managed to keep rosemary, thyme, spearmint, peppermint, lemongrass, oregano and bay laurel that I brought in from my outdoor garden. I was also able to get some basil grown from seed. I had two plants that didn't survive--parsley and tarragon. Everything did well enough to be able to harvest fresh herbs throughout the winter. It was worth doing, and I've already got everything potted up and indoors for this winter. I also brought in a lemon verbena this year, and am trying to get some cuttings rooted from my pineapple sage.
Let me know if your pineapple sage doesn't make it!
Very encouraging.. Thanks for the comment .. I dont have self watering pots but since half of the basement is my bedroom I think I can keep up on them..
Pagancat--thank you. I'm also going to try heavily mulching my plant outdoors (it's up close to my house with a southern exposure). I was talking to a fellow master gardener this weekend, and she mentioned she got one to overwinter by accidentally mulching it heavily. I figure I have nothing to lose. The bricks from our home with the southern exposure tend to keep the beds along the house warmer than most other areas. Right now, it's still blooming, but we've already had some hard frosts.
No kidding - I didn't think they would withstand any frost. Either I was misinformed or you have a nice little microclimate there. But keep me in mind if it doesn't make it.
I just discovered that my marjoram is actually French tarragon.... (unearthed the tag, lol....) Any ideas as to how hardy that is?
Tarragon is not hearty on our zone--not sure how much colder you get then we do, but I think it's pretty tender.
How does your lemon verbena do inside over the winter? I brought mine in too late last year, so it immediately died! This year, I started some cuttings, which are well-rooted and brought the plant in earlier. Looks like some of the leaves on the mother plant are starting to yellow. Rooted cuttings are green and growing. I've heard the lemon verbena can do dormant over the winter....perhaps that's what it's getting ready to do. I really hope at least one of these plants makes it. I usually have to mail-order to get another lemon verbena.
Pagancat--thanks for your offer if my pineapple sage doesn't make it. I definitely will grow this plant again next year. The hummingbirds loved it on their migration south, when many of the other plants had already died back.
This will be my first year with the lemon verbena - dug it up about a week ago and appears to be doing fine. Thankfully, because I just can't seem to get it to root - the leaves turn brown and fall off after about a week. I wonder if it's one of those that cuttings need to be taken during spring or summer? Any advice?
Well, we'll see on the Pineapple sage. Is yours one of the variegated type or plain green? I'm a little confused now that I have both, they appear to be totally different species. Think I'll mulch the green one, the variegated one is already dug and inside.
On an off note - got my first bloom on my saffron crocuses today! I know, it's a spice, not an herb ... but I thought ya'll would like to hear about it anyway!
I haven't ever tried to overwinter lemon verbena. I always just go ahead and dry the whole plant and use the leaves in potpourri and for tea. It also makes a wonderful herbal jelly which taste like lemon drops..even our teenagers loved it! Sounds like a great idea though to try to save it so I looked it up in my Encyclopedia of Herb Gardening book and it said "in autumn, prune away long branches before bringing pots indoors; overwinter in a greenhouse kept at 45 degrees (7 degrees C). I don't think it has to be that cold..a bet a basement would be just fine.
Hey there neighbor - thanks for the reference!
JuliaS--thanks for the good information on lemon verbena. I'm wondering if my basement is too warm. Do you know how much light they need while overwintering?
Lemon verbena jelly sounds yummy. I'm experimenting with a lemon verbena liqueur this year. Still has a few months to go before it is ready, so I'll have to be patient a while longer before trying it.
Sheryl, I'm envious on the saffron crocus. I planted some for the first time this year. I was beginning to think they had fallen victim to a squirrel or chipmunk, but finally a week or so ago, I finally saw them poking up through the soil. No blooms yet--wonder if it's too late to hope they'll bloom this year. Did you harvest the precious saffron?
Ugh - you know, I tried, but I didn't communicate to my almost-80-y/o mom, the cleanaholic, that the wilted flower on the counter wasn't for the compost pile. I had planted mine last year with no blooms, so you might yet have a wait. Hope not.
Hey, what are you doing here??? You're supposed to be in the sunny isles, yah?
That liqueur sounds interesting!
Good to know the crocus do not bloom til the 2nd year. Sorry your mom got to yours before you could harvest it.
We leave tomorrow for Athens, although we don't actually sail until Monday. I can't believe we're actually going!!
Yay!!! Have a TERRIFIC time!