skip to main content

Cottage Gardens

bringing herbs indoors for winter

14 years ago

I brought two large potted sweet basil plants into the house when the weather turned cold. I put them on a table in front of a window near a heat register. The plants have been indoors for about three months. They are thriving.

I noticed an odor of cat urine soon after bringing the plants in. After searching for the cat accident, I finally traced the odor to the basil plants. Turns out it was the flowers on the plants which were malodorous! When I trimmed the plants, leaves and flowers, to make some pesto, the odor disappeared. Now the plants smell like one would expect basil to smell, pleasant. :)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

gldno1
14 years ago
I grow basil outside, but have never noticed that scent even after the blooms dry and I strip for seeds. My smeller probably isn't what it used to be!

I left my rosemary 'Arp' outside and we have had the coldest winter in years............probably have lost it. I mulched it heavily but the digger dog laid on the straw and mashed it down pretty flat.
0
midnightsmum (Z4, ON)
14 years ago
I have a bay tree that comes in, in winter. Also, a rosemary, a sage. I killed most of my lavendar, but am hopeful for the one I left out - not saying what kind of winter we're having, cause I'll jinx it!!! lol.
I have tried to bring basil in come fall, but I think the shock is just too much here. I love having the sage and the rosemary to cook with all winter, not to mention the bay for soups and stews. Oh, I forgot, I have a garlic chive, but it is not very vigorous, with a thyme plant on the side (same thing). Once I start my basil, I do use the pinched back leaves, in early spring.
Now, to the cat urine smell - when my little cat girl was alive, I had to watch large potted plants, cause she'd use them - I had to put rough rocks, tinfoil, whatever, to keep her from 'relieving' herself. lol. I'd rather the basil flowers!!

Nancy.
0
Related Discussions
White Flies: bringing herbs inside for winter
Q
Comments (5)
Hi, Roderick! I don't think that it's a " should or should not" kind of question. More of a "would you or would you not" type of dilemma. I wouldn't, even though I have plenty of plant lighting to augment their needs. I just know that whiteflies are extremely difficult to get rid of as are spider mites, and soap sprays won't do the job. Also, herbs simply don't do very well inside, especially those that have been growing happily outside. Visit the Herb Forum for verification of the challenges that indoor culture poses. HERE, I'll take you there!
...See More
Bringing potted herbs inside for winter
Q
Comments (6)
When I lived in NY, I grew many herbs outside on my deck which was close to the kitchen. I had left Rosemary and Parsley outside until it got quite cold. They even got snowed on and survived. As a matter of fact, parsley likes cold and Rosemary seemed unfazed. I would bring them in when the ground started to freeze. They were on a deck so they had little protection. This is what I did. It worked for me. Nothing scientific. Rosemary did not like the heat of the house. The needles would start drying out and falling off. It was prone to spider mites. I had an unheated room off the kitchen and it spent the winter out there and did well. Put it out each spring. That plant got huge. Parsley likes cool weather. If you bring it in keep it away from any heat source. A sunny window in a cool room is best. If not, under lights in a cool spot. Thyme likes heat. That and bay plants came in before it got too cold. Thyme never lasted long in the house. I always cut off all the leaves, washed them and put them in the freezer. I did that with parsley also as they got leggy. Not sure you'll get the thyme to survive living inside. They love warmth but also high light. Maybe other people in your zone have found ways to carry them over winter. You can freeze them all to have fresh herbs all winter. Good luck, Jane
...See More
Bringing succulents indoors for the winter
Q
Comments (5)
I'm not an Aeonium grower... but I'll give this a shot. Based on my own growing experience, I've found a fan to be very helpful. If you have an infrared thermometer, you can to check the temperature of your leaves under the light. If they are getting above 40-50C, a fan is definitely recommended. When you water, you are going over the entire soil surface? Finer mists/smaller streams of water help wet as much surface area as possible. It definitely helps to water once, wait a bit and water again for maximum water absorption. As part of my 'clear container experiment', it was really interesting to see water flow through my gritty mix. Admittedly that sounds very funny - water flowing over a bunch of rocks and things being interesting... But my biggest observation is that the water formed more streams/paths through the mix rather than saturating everything evenly. For watering frequency all I can say is follow your plants needs? At least it's a controlled environment and you can try adjusting your frequency by a day or two and see the results. Fertilizing is a good idea if you want them to grow and have enough light to support this. If not then no? Again, you can always try a low dose and wait to see the the results turn out. Winter is quite long and you should have time to observe and adjust. At least for me, the effect of regular fertilizing has been quite noticeable. Now that I see it works pretty well, the whole concept of 'growing plants hard' is on my mind for future consideration/evaluation.
...See More
bring herbs indoors for winter...?
Q
Comments (5)
Yes, the chives have lived for years outdoors here in zone 7 (you in zone 5b-6... our east mountain area or? north up by Santa Fe?) but the tops die back when it freezes so I clip off the top, chop it up & keep it in the refr. to use. The basil I took indoors is alive but will see how long it survives indoors & also being an annual! Rosemary ( tree-like), lavender, sage doing great all winters. Unusual, but this year just here at our house in Albuquerque it is mile high/5280 ft. & no real freeze yet in December: 60's days/ 40's & high 30's nights!!
...See More
aftermidnight Zone7b B.C. Canada
14 years ago
Wow, Lorna the gal with the green thumb :o), I didn't think you could do that with basil.

I've been using thyme and rosemary (Arp) throughout the winter but mine is out in the garden.

Annette
0
lorna-organic
Original Author
14 years ago
Annette, I'm 57 years old. I never before thought to bring potted herbs into the house to extend their productivity during winter! Just goes to show that old dogs can learn new tricks. LOL
0

Related Stories

SHOP HOUZZ Shop Houzz: Create an Indoor Garden for a Green Winter

Keep the freshness going with indoor planters, terrariums and herb gardens

0

HOUSEPLANTS Indoor Winter Gardens for Cheerier Days

By Laura Gaskill

Bring plants inside for drab-days mood boosting — not to mention cleaner indoor air and protection for your greenery

HERBS How to Grow Herbs Indoors

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Have a sunny window? Enjoy the flavor of fresh herbs year-round by growing them in the house

Indoor Gardening: Herbs and Succulents

Pop easy-care plants in a sunny window for beauty, fragrance and flavor all year

MORE ROOMS Long, Cold Winter Days—Bring 'em On!

By Between Naps on the Porch

13 Inspiring Ways to Make Good Use of Nesting Season

WINTER GARDENING Branches Bring the Winter Spirit to Container Gardens

Add dimension and drama to winter pots with branches from austere to downright colorful

WINTER GARDENING 7 Container Plantings to Bring Winter Gardens to Life

By Matt Kilburn

Adding instant color but with long-lasting practicality, these plant groupings are bright spots in a slumbering wintertime garden

DECORATING GUIDES 8 Ways to Bring Summer Fun Indoors

By Laura Gaskill

Put extra space to seasonal good use with these ideas for warm weather and beyond

HOUSEPLANTS Cascading Succulents Bring Fun Shapes to Your Indoor Garden

By creative jewish mom.com

For eye-catching spillers with delicate beauty and minimal needs, it's hard to beat these 2 trailing houseplants

DECORATING GUIDES Bring Nature Indoors With Tree Stumps, Trunks and Logs

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

Furniture formed from wood in its natural state adds earthy elegance to any room

Sponsored