Is there any way...???

[bgelber]

...to transition my herbs from outside to inside for the winter?

I would love to bring them in doors for the winter. Or do I simply just re-seed and start fresh in the house for the winter?

 

[Ariel301]

You can carefully dig them up and pot them. You might lose some, I always seem to, but it is worth a try if they are going to die outdoors anyway. Some herbs do best as annuals, like basil and cilantro, with them it is best to start new ones, as they have a very short lifespan naturally; but oregano, thyme, lavender, lemon balm, sage, rosemary, and mint will all live years. Mint can overwinter outdoors in most climates, I had it in Colorado at 10,000 feet and it would come back every year just as soon as the snow melted away. Lavender would overwinter there as well, with some straw or dead leaves piled over it.

 

[ducks4you]

They do great indoors. I agree with Ariel301, dig 'em up and pot them, then put into a sunny window. Also, if you have extreme acid soil with lots of humus, like me, lavender won't like you much.

 

[bgelber]

Thanks. Everything but the lavender is already in pots. I hate to try and dig them up as they are about 3 ft tall and a foot and half around. :weight I may cut them back dry the cuttings out and them try to re-home them.

 

[Ariel301]

That lavender should be fine overwinter in the ground in Alabama. Mine came back every year in Colorado, zone 4, after 7+ feet of snow. Just pile some sort of mulch around it when it dies back for the winter. Unless you really want it indoors to keep using it all winter, that might be really nice too.

 

[vfem]

Mine does fine and comes back in the spring... I only ever bring in the annual herbs to get some more life out of them before they die.

Fresh basil as long as I can get it!

 

[bgelber]

I started trimming up and drying the lavender. Wow does my house smell good.

The rest I will bring in when it starts getting cooler.

vfem, oh yeah, fresh basil for sauces and margarita pizzas in the winter.