How To Garden All Winter Long

By Diane Chabot

Snow is on the way, which means we may be stuck inside soon. But that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy fresh herbs in our home cooked meals! Whether you have a tiny windowsill or a whole space dedicated to plants, you can grow herbs all winter long. Here are some tips to get you going.

What to plant

A lot of our favorite herbs do well inside! Some of the easiest to grow during the winter when there is less light to be soaked up include Chives, Oregano, Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley and Mint to liven up all the tea you’re drinking. If you enjoy starting your plants from seed, the winter may prove challenging. Starting with already established plants from your garden or from a garden center will give you the best results. Or if you’re feeling eager, you can propagate your herbs from clippings!

How to plant

Whichever type of pot you choose, make sure your plants have drainage. If you’re planting in a pot with drainage holes, make sure you have a saucer underneath to avoid your windowsill or table getting messy. If you’re using a pot with no drainage add some pebbles to the bottom to create drainage — that way if you over water, the roots won’t rot.

Keeping your plants happy

Your herbs will need is a solid 4 hours a day of sun. If you have a south-facing window, then you should be able to achieve this naturally. If not, you may have to supplement light with a grow lamp or a fluorescent light. But light isn’t the only factor here, many homes tend to be dry in the winter. You can add a humidifier to your home which not only helps your plants, but yourself, or you can choose to spritz your herbs weekly with a spray bottle of water.

Happy winter and happy gardening!