About the Wajdas

Winter Care of Herbs | 1, 2, 3

Specific Plants in Winter

Basil: Basil requires lots of light (14–16 hours a day) and warm temperatures (at least 60 degrees at night). It loves a sun-filled room, but not too close to windows where nighttime temperatures may drop down to 45–50 degrees.

Rosemary: Rosemary is an impressive indoor plant, but it can sometimes be difficult. Start by thinning out the plant to allow good air circulation. Rosemary wants all the light it can get and prefers cooler temperatures in winter. A drafty south window is a perfect spot. Do not overwater! Most rosemary is hardy down to 15 or 20 degrees, so don’t bring it in too early. Bertha Reppert once said that rosemary should be brought in after Thanksgiving, moved back to the garden in March, and taken for a walk on nice days in winter.

Lavender: The tender lavenders (French, Fringed, Spanish, and Dentata) all need to come indoors for the winter. Happily, they are usually quite prolific bloomers. Trim them to a nice shape, feed with a balanced fertilizer, and give them as much light as possible. They will reward you with blossoms in about six weeks.

Bay: Bay is one of the easiest plants to winter over indoors. It likes a sunny window and has few problems with insects or disease although it sometimes suffers from scale. If you notice scale, scrape off the waxy bumps and spray with a good insecticide.

Lemon Verbena: Lemon verbena is a deciduous plant—it will lose its leaves no matter what you do. Without leaves, it needs less water so be careful not to give it too much. It will do quite well in an east or west window. In mid-February, just when you are ready to throw it out, new growth will appear. Move it to better light and keep an eye out for red spider mites.

Scented Geraniums: Scented geraniums (pelargaoniums) are a fascinating family of plants. Most gardeners are aware of the rose variety, but there are more than 100 other types each with its own distinctive aroma or leaf shape or coloration. These plants tend to get leggy during the winter so trim them quite severely in the fall and touch them up every month or so. The scented geraniums will tolerate low light situations during the winter and prefer a cool room. Water them sparingly. Aphids can be a problem; inspect your plants regularly; if you find any insects spray every five days for two weeks to control adults, larvae, and eggs.

Page 1 Bringing Plants Indoors
Page 2 Perennial Herbs Outdoors
Page 3 Specific Plants in Winter