Inherited herbs-Help!

6 years ago

I recently became the plant parent to several herbs planted in mason jars from a friend. They are babies(?) and I am unsure of where they came from. I do have a community garden plot, but we are closing that up for the season so it is not usable. The herbs are in large mason jars with potting soil, they look relatively healthy, if a little small. I do use herbs a lot, hence why they were given to me, but I have never grown them myself. I have a large southern facing kitchen window, will that be okay for the winter until I can put them outside next spring? I do have a grow light that I start seedlings under for my veggies but it is inconvenient to have out all the time, my wife barely tolerates it for the 6 weeks I need it. They are spearmint, basil, sage, thyme, oregano, and lemon balm. Any advice would be extremely helpful!

Featured Answer

lilyd74 (5b sw MI)

6 years ago

Floral, northern VA may get a little more variation than some other parts of 6b because of the proximity to the coast. Plus OP may not be the administrator of the community garden and may not have the option of planting perennials there, only annuals. Agree, however, that they would do better out-of-doors even this late in the year, although I would suggest a sheltered location such as close to the house and having a cloche or cover available as needed for frosts and freezes this first winter. Agree also on the need for a proper pot with drainage if outdoor is not possible. Possibly even potting them and keeping the pots outdoors most of the winter and bringing them in only during the coldest weeks. Mason jar herbs are a popular gift but not very useful for long term life of the herbs. You are likely to get plants to grow, but not likely to get them to thrive.

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Comments (6)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Most herbs do not do well indoors unless you have very bright light. And mason jars are a terrible container for them. Do the jars have drainage holes? If not your herbs need to be moved into proper plant pots if you can't put them in the ground. All the ones you name are fully hardy perennials, except basil, and would be much happier outside. Basil is a tender annual and can be kept inside temporarily if you have sufficient bright light. I don't really understand 'closing up' your garden. Don't you grow any overwintering crops?
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Christina Sanford
Original Author
6 years ago
The garden is run by the town I live in-it’s only open from April 1-Oct 30. They then till all the plots and lock the gates. We stay fairly chilly but mild here from Nov until after the holidays, but I live just outside Washington DC close to the mountains, we get decent snowstorms and below freezing for much of Jan-Feb. I’ll replant them this week into plastic pots and keep them outside as long as I can. I understand from doing more research that the basil will probably not make it due to its annual status anyway. I am in “negotiations“ with my spouse about a raised garden bed in the backyard next spring, if I can keep the rest of the herbs alive until then, I can put them in the ground. Thanks for any and all advice!!
lilyd74 (5b sw MI)
6 years ago
The basil might have the best chance inside in a sunny window. It will not get enough light and I do not expect it to thrive. But we can always hope that it will beat the odds. For all the rest, pots outside sound best.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
That's bad luck about the garden. And a terrible waste. Here the plots are open all year round and once you've got one you have it as long as you keep up the rent. There's a lot of stuff you could have survive through the winter.

But if you have a backyard I'm sure you can find a space for your herbs. Do you have any flower beds you could tuck them into? They don't need a special raised bed. But keep the mint in a pot. If you use a lot of herbs it's a no brainier to grow your own.
laceyvail 6A, WV
6 years ago
I'm in WV, 6A, in my own garden, and temps have gotten to 19 degrees. But I just harvested lettuce from under a little plastic tent, and I still have collards, kale and savoy cabbages under row covers. Such a waste to close up a garden Oct. 1. It's even too early to plant garlic!

Perhaps you can persuade the garden board to keep it open all winter. In your zone, April 1 is too late to sow some vegetables--peas and spinach for example.