This year was my first foray into gardening. What a joy it has been-- but I have a lot to learn.
We've had a few frosts here and most of my plants (ie impatients, sedum, begonia) have died. I have two large perrenial herbs-- (sage and oregano) that seem to still be doing OK. Any idea of how much longer I can expect the herbs (espcially the sage) to be OK outside? I'm in plant hardiness zone 6a if that helps. Maybe I should be pre-emptive and start drying some? Any advice on the best way to do this? I also have a small rosemary plant growing outdoors that I was thinking about transferring to a pot and bringing indoors. Do you think this will work? I love fresh herbs, but they can be pricey at the store.
Any advice for saving herbs from frost?
November 12th, 2006 at 03:49 pm
November 12th, 2006 at 04:33 pm 1163349182
November 12th, 2006 at 05:39 pm 1163353180
November 12th, 2006 at 06:16 pm 1163355410
Can't imagine the sedums dying. They are perennial & mine are already forming their little bud looking like things at ground level, ready to sprout up in the spring. Impatients could have been brought inside before the frost & perhaps wintered over.
Begonias..........I'm no expert on these, but my parents used to raise them. They brought the pots indoors, or at least into a cold frame over winter. Trimmed them all back it seems.... The tubers will continue for many years.
Sage & Oregano: You could try keeping these indoors & see if you've got enough light for them. Or, you could dry them. I have a dehydrator, so that is how I do my herbs (& everything else). Just taking the leaves off the plant & letting them air dry works fine too.
I'm with you, fresh herbs are so nice to use, compared to store bought, either dry or fresh. When planting your garden next spring, be sure to save room for an herb garden that is as protected as you can get it.......that way, you can extend the season a bit.
Another that I manage to keep all winter are my chives. They are up close to the house, so they stay warmer...... Clipping some of them to put on food during the winter is such a treat.
Keep us posted on your progress re; gardening..... It is such fun, great exercise & truly one of the most frugal activities you can come up with!
November 12th, 2006 at 07:49 pm 1163360971
November 13th, 2006 at 12:39 am 1163378357
But you do want to trim your herbs back a bit and blanket them with leaves. Great for you, because the branches and leaves you'll get will make everything fabulous.
November 13th, 2006 at 12:58 am 1163379482