Summer's Ending in the Herb Garden.

Fall is in the air, the gardens are winding down ....although not as quickly as one might think. Here in middle Tennessee, the season has been a near perfect one.

Herb gardens are usually the last to falter. So, we have choices, we can either leave them alone and they will continue to produce at a slower rate right up until Jack Frost nips them a little too hard.

Basil will produce as long as the heat is available. It will however turn to a mass of dark and mushy gunk with the first frost.

I enjoy the basil during this time of the season for the lovely flower spikes it shoots up, those are the first signs of "life is over"...it's been good, but I'm out of here. The flowers are a pretty and tasty addition to salads, drinks and desserts.

When you are ready to let go of the Chives, just cut the entire clump back to the ground level, or just let it die slowly. They will come back with a punch in the spring.

Rosemary, oregano, thyme, and sage are all winter hardy and with a small amount of protection ( depending on where you are )they will survive and produce all winter.

Don't tidy up your herb garden too much right now, with many plants, the spring blooms, etc., are already in the making, if you prune the plants, you will destroy next years blooms. So wait until spring to do any major pruning or basic cleaning up of dead stems, etc.

Looking to grow herbs inside during the winter?

Some people have great success, most don't. I'm not an avid inside gardener.
Many herbs develop fungus and are prime targets for aphids and or spider mites when grown inside.

So my advice would be to invest in one of those inside mini greenhouses.
They are pretty, clean, and from all I know very successful.

Happy Gardening~

Bea Kunz