I'm gonna go against the grain a bit and suggest AGAINST putting it straight outside. Its not ready for the cold and if it is put straight outside into a cold environment now, it might die. I had some Single-leaf pinyon seedlings shipped to me from Oregon or California (I don't recall which state honestly) to Elko last fall. It was already growing cold here, but it was obvious that the seedlings thought it was still a good season to be growing since they were still flush. I made the mistake of putting them straight outside, and they didn't make it. Unfortunately, I didn't have any other options, no garage or basement to get them acclimated. I'd go with a chilly garage first, to get it on the road toward dormancy. If you can encourage it to go dormant first, then put it outside, that'd be a better route.

Steve, I don't know of anyone actually running an experiment to determine if figs need a period of dormancy to produce fruit, or even if dormancy helps the trees to produce more fruit, but those growing figs in the Caribbean, northern South America, and Hawaii seem to get huge crops from trees that never experience dormancy. I personally keep all of my newly airlayered plants in the garage for their first Winter, and they never go dormant. Some fruit the following year, some don't. Plenty of sunlight is a key factor, so don't expect your indoor plant to look like it would outside in the Summer. Did your tree fruit when it was in your Dad's yard? Was there a climate change from his yard to yours? If it hasn't fruited in nine years, I would venture to say that you are doing something wrong, or not doing something you should.

-Basil - Annual. Harvest completely before frosts. Can take cuttings to start new plants indoors if you wish. -Cilantro - Annual. Harvest completely before killing frost. -Dill - Annual. Harvest completely before killing frost. -Lemon Balm - Perennial. Leave in the ground outside and it will do quite fine. -Rosemary - Bring in. -Tarragon - If it is real tarragon, I believe it is too tender for your zone. Use google to find out your hardiness zone as well as how hardy the plant is. -Oregano - Common oregano, Origanum vulgare, is quite hardy and will do fine in the ground for winter. But some other oreganos vary in hardiness. -Parsley - Biennial. For your needs, best to treat as an annual. Harvest completely before killing frost. -Sage - I don't know your zone, but I'd suspect this will be hardy for you but check it out. Mine survive well each winter outside in the ground. Good drainage is key for winter survival. -Thyme - Same as sage. -Blueberry bush - Same as sage except they don't need well-draining soil. FataMorgana

Many people think that it is a sin to let a plant die but the "Grow @ Kill" method might be best for winter harvesting of annuals like basil. It grows from seed readily and it will thicken into a very nice initial mat of vegetation if given a little light and water. From the 4" stage is where it starts to go downhill. I'd suggest harvesting the entire flat of thickly planted basil at that 6 week stage and starting all over again in the cycle. The costs (and aggrevation) will be far less for the harvest that you get and the leaves and stems will all be succulent and usable. You can get a pound of sweet basil seed for under $30 and that will last for years with this method of growing. Also only an inch (+/-) of soilless media is sufficient to accomplish the task. One shoplight can keep you going year round in lots of annual herbs.