- Hardy Herbs: These herbs can be harvested in winter
- Hardy Herbs: Herbs that do not need a winter harvest
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Winter-hardy herbs ideally supply the local kitchen all year round. Some are hardy but move in for winter.
For many people, garden herbs are part of a basic planting. The most popular use is of course as a seasoning plant to round off a wide variety of dishes. However, many of the well-known herbal plants also have a healing effect on various ailments. Often, however, the origin of the bringers of taste and salvation lies in warm, distant or Mediterranean regions. So it is not surprising that some herbs cannot cope with the cold winters that prevail here and are therefore killed prematurely. We introduce you to various herbs that are bursting with aromas and are also suitable for the garden all year round due to their winter hardiness.
Hardy Herbs: These herbs can be harvested in winter
Some of the popular herbs are shrubs or subshrubs. Therefore, even in the winter months, these have the partly aromatic leaves or infructescences, which you can use. For example, you can pluck individual leaves throughout the winter to use them in the kitchen. However, you should not radically cut back the herbs in winter, because the plants would not survive after severe frosts. We have compiled a list of particularly hardy and tasty herbs for you that can also be harvested in winter.
1. Thyme (Thymus)
Thyme originally comes from the warm Mediterranean region. However, many varieties also thrive very well in our latitudes and even survive the cold winters outdoors. The variety 'Scented Pillow' (Thymus x cheriloides) is particularly beautiful to look at. The light pink flowers only appear from July to August, but the aromatic leaves can also be harvested during the cold season.
2. Sage (Salvia officinalis)
The leaves of the common sage are not only used to refine dishes, they are also used with hotWater doused also made a wonderful cough tea. If you want to be prepared for the cold season, you should definitely cultivate sage on the windowsill. Most varieties - such as 'Aurea' - can easily overwinter in the garden bed. However, tropical sage species such as honeydew melon sage (Salvia elegans) do not tolerate frost.
3. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
How rosemary survives the winter in our gardens depends mainly on the variety. For example, the 'Veitshöchheimer Rosmarin' or the 'Blue Winter' variety are hardy. Winter hardy rosemary, on the other hand, should only be planted outdoors in milder regions. If the Mediterranean plant is to be used more as a kitchen herb, a pot culture on the windowsill is best, because the rosemary feels most comfortable in the warmth.
Tip: We have compiled more herbs for the windowsill and tips for cultivation in a corresponding article.
4. Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
The fragrant real lavender is one of the most robust types of lavender. In its original home in the Mediterranean region, it can also be found at higher altitudes and can even tolerate temperatures down to -15 °C for short periods. As with many other Mediterranean herbs, hibernation in a sheltered location and additional care measures may still be necessary so that the plant survives the winter unscathed. If you are looking for a special eye-catcher, you might like the white-flowering lavender 'Arctic Snow'.
5. Mountain Savory (Satureja montana)
Compared to the annual summer savory (Satureja hortensis), mountain savory survives cold temperatures without any problems. The slightly hot, peppery aroma goes perfectly with warming vegetable stews and is therefore particularly useful in the kitchen during the cold season.
6. Dost (Origanum vulgare)
The dost, also known as oregano, grows as a perennial herb in contrast to the closely related marjoram (Origanum majorana). In harsh areas, however, it may sometimes be necessary to spend the winter indoors to keep it wellto get through the cold season. One of the more robust varieties is, for example, 'Thumbles'. The violet flowering thyme with yellow-green foliage looks particularly good in the garden in combination with red-leaved plants.
7. Curry herb (Helichrysum italicum)
Compared to other Mediterranean herbs, the curry herb is relatively robust and hardy. If you want to be on the safe side, you can still bring the herb indoors over the winter. It is also known as immortelle and, as the name suggests, is characterized by its curry aroma. It can therefore be used wonderfully in the kitchen to refine rice and meat dishes.
Hardy Herbs: Herbs that do not need a winter harvest
Some herbs move in during the winter, leaving no aerial plant parts behind that could still be used during the cold season. Unfortunately, these herbs cannot be harvested all year round. It is therefore best to stock up in sufficient quantities during the warm season. Below are some of these hardy herbs that can only be harvested during the growing season.
1. Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
Chives also cope very well with low temperatures. Due to the high water requirement, care should be taken, especially in pot culture, that the popular herb does not dry out in the winter months. Therefore, only water on frost-free days so that the plant is not damaged. After pruning in autumn, the chives will sprout again in spring.
2. Ramsons (Allium ursinum)
Wild garlic is a typical early bloomer with a short vegetation period. You can harvest the green leaves with the garlic-like aroma from April to May. The perennial plant spends the winter as a bulb in the ground.
3. Tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus)
Depending on the variety, tarragon has a certain degree of winter hardiness. The Russian tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus var. indora) can withstand temperatures down to -10 °C. The French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculusvar. sativa), on the other hand, is more sensitive to frost. It is best to use the young shoots and leaves for seasoning.
4. Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
Lovage even withstands low temperatures down to -20 °C without damage. Special winter protection measures are therefore usually not necessary. On frost-free days, however, it should also be watered regularly in the cold season. If the so-called maggi herb survived the winter well, the fresh leaves can be harvested again from May.
5. Mint (Mentha)
It should be made clear from the outset that not all mints are frost hardy. Nevertheless, there are some species that can also cope well with cold temperatures. This includes, for example, the popular peppermint (mentha x piperita). A special feature is the variety 'Chocolate' with its slight taste of chocolate. The underground rhizomes of the mint remain in the ground over the winter and sprout again in the spring.
6. Woodruff (Galium odoratum)
The real woodruff is basically perennial and hardy both in nature and in the garden. However, a cover of foliage or fir green can still provide suitable protection over the cold months. In pot culture, it may also be necessary to move to the greenhouse or basement so that the roots are not damaged. Harvest time is then again from mid-April to mid-May.
7. Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
In the bed, even low temperatures of down to -20 °C do not harm the roots of lemon balm. In the pot, however, the roots threaten to freeze through, which is why you should definitely take suitable protective measures. Older perennials can be cut back to the ground in autumn to encourage new growth in spring.
8. Arnica (Arnica montana)
The real arnica is originally an alpine plant and can therefore cope very well with rough conditions. It has always been used in folk medicine, for exampleused for skin diseases. In Germany, however, the species is considered endangered in nature. As a result, arnica is increasingly being grown in home gardens for use as a medicinal plant.
9. Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Valerian is a hardy perennial, which is also often found in nature on the banks of rivers and streams. It is one of the oldest medicinal plants and is best known for its calming and sleep-inducing effects. However, only the roots, which are dug up, cleaned and dried in autumn, are used.
Tip: In addition to valerian, there are a few other herbs that are suitable for growing in your own garden.
10. Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Unfortunately, the stinging nettle does not have a particularly good reputation because of its stinging hairs. However, the supposed weed is used as a kitchen herb and medicinal plant. Whether as spinach, soup or tea - the plant is versatile in the kitchen. Due to its high frost tolerance, it does not require any special protective measures in winter.
Have you already decided on the herbs that should find their way into your herb bed? Then you should read our article with tips for creating herb beds.