According to a gardener, 7 herbs that can survive the winter so you can keep harvesting

Many perennial and biennial herbs survive throughout the winter despite cold temperatures. These include some “Mediterranean” herbs that you might not immediately think are cold hardy. But some herbs have evolved adaptations that make them more winter-resistant.

Having smaller leaves is an example: a smaller leaf presents a smaller surface area for the elements. As a result, they lose less moisture through evaporation than larger leaves during the dry, windy, frozen conditions of winter.

Learn about seven Mediterranean herbs that are hardy enough to survive the winter.

Pak Rishi (salvia officinalis,

Often associated with chicken stuffing (for which it serves as a seasoning), Pak Rishi It is a perennial herb of the mint family that has a musky, earthy aroma. If starting sage outdoors from seed, sow about 1/8 inch deep and around the date when, on average, the last spring frost is predicted.

But sage seeds take up to six weeks to germinate, so many gardeners prefer to buy plants that have already been started in the garden center, and put them outside after danger of frost has passed. Are.

• Mature Size: 2 to 3 feet tall and wide
• Sun exposure: full sun
• Soil Type: well drained loamy soil
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10

Want more gardening tips? Sign up our free gardening newspaper For our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks and more!

Common Thyme (thymus vulgaris,

Another perennial herb, common thyme Popular as a flavoring agent in Italian cuisine. Sow oregano seeds 1/4 inch deep in late spring after danger of frost has passed (or plant seedlings that have already started).

A member of the mint family, Common thyme has creeping relatives With landscaping uses, such as red creeping thyme (thymus spiralum ‘Coccinus’). creeping thyme Is edible, but thymus vulgaris The favorite for culinary purposes is thyme.

• Mature Size: 6 to 12 inches tall and wide
• Sun exposure: full sun
• Soil Type: well drained loamy soil
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 9

Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum var. neapolitanum)

Flat-leaf, or “Italian” parsley may not be as popular as a garnish as curly parsley (var. Crispum), but it has a stronger flavor, making it a better parsley to use as a flavoring agent. Parsley is a biennial plant in the celery family. Since parsley does not germinate like many other herbs, plant already potted plants in the spring after the last frost date.

• Mature Size: 9 to 12 inches tall and wide
• Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Type: well drained, fertile and evenly moist
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 to 11

oregano (origanum vulgare,

perennial herb, common oregano Is in the mint family. Commonly used to add spice to our foods, you’ll find it in everything from Italian sauces to submarine sandwiches. Like other Mediterranean herbs it is easy to grow as long as you give it plenty of sunlight and well-drained soil, but fertility is only average (at most).

If parsley is grown in overly fertile soil, its flavor can actually deteriorate. Sow the seeds in mid to late spring (depending on how cold it gets where you live). Since the seeds need sunlight to germinate, simply press them lightly into the soil (rather than covering them with soil).

• Mature Size: 1 to 2 feet long and wide
• Sun exposure: full sun
• Soil Type: Well drained, with low to average fertility
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 10

Peppermint (Mentha spp.)

Mint is sweeter than the other herbs mentioned here, which is why it is used to flavor candy. The problem with this highly fragrant herb is that it very easily spreads out of control, taking over garden space that is not suited for it.

The best way to keep it under control is to grow it in a pot rather than directly in the ground. Another advantage of growing Perennial herb, mint In pots: You can sow your seeds (1/4 inch deep) in pots indoors while it is still cold outside, then move your mint plants out onto the patio once danger of frost has passed.

• Mature Size: 12 to 18 inches tall, 18 to 24 inches wide
• Sun exposure: full to partial sun
• Soil Type: well drained loamy soil
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11

Lovage (Levisticum officinale,

Lovage is a perennial herb of the celery family. In fact, it tastes like celery and can be used to flavor the same dishes (e.g. soups) that you would flavor with celery.

Lovage seed germination is slow, so plant already grown plants in late spring, after danger of frost has passed. If you let the plant go to seed and drop the seeds to the ground it will often regrow.

• Mature Size: 3 to 6 feet tall (when in bloom), 2 to 3 feet wide
• Sun exposure: partial sun to partial shade
• Soil Type: Well-drained loamy soil that never dries out completely.
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 to 8

chives (allium schoenoprasum,

Tastes like grass and onion, common chives They are often chopped into salads. Even the purple flowers are edible (as well as ornamental).

As an added bonus, the oniony aroma of chives repels pests. Unlike its relative, the common onion (allium cepa), chives are perennial. Sow the seeds in mid-spring, about 1/4 inch deep.

• Mature Size: 10 to 15 inches tall and wide
• Sun exposure: Full sun to partial shade
• Soil Type: well drained fertile loamy soil
• USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 9