Seasonal Planting Guide [Prep for Winter]

Looking for the best winter plants to add to your herb garden? Here’s a winter planting guide to help you prepare the chilly months ahead.

Winter is coming! Fortunately, it won’t be a Game of Thrones kind of Winter - but you’ll still need to do some preparation in your herb garden if you’re hoping to continue harvesting yummy, fresh herbs in the cold.

If you’re planning to plant any new herbs, make sure you do it now - before the soil cools down. Once the soil gets too cold, your seedlings’ roots will be at risk of freezing and you’ll lose your crops. This is a good time to plant seedlings that like the cooler weather (just watch out for the Santa Ana winds - you’ll need to keep your seedlings moist when they blow through).

SOME HERBS THAT ENJOY THE COOLER WINTER WEATHER INCLUDE:

Image: Sprouting Fennel

Anise Arugula Borage Chervil Chamomile Chives, Cilantro Dill Fennel Feverfew Garlic chives Lavender Lemon grass Lovage Parsley Rosemary Salad burnet Sorrel Tansy

Try to plant your herbs during the first phase of the moon’s cycle (between the new moon and the full moon) as this is the best time of month to plant non-fruit bearing, leafy greens.

As we approach November, be sure to prune your existing herbs, cutting off any dead leaves or twigs.  You can cut them all the way down to an inch or so above the soil line. You can also collect the seeds off plants like basil and garlic chives, which you can then germinate into new seedlings if you’d like to try your hand at growing from seeds.

CONSIDER MOVING YOUR VERTICAL HERB GARDEN INDOORS DURING WINTER

Not all herbs can survive the winter weather: plants like basil struggle in temperatures below 50 degrees. Moving your vertical garden indoors during the bitterly cold winter months will allow you to continue growing your favorite flavors despite the cooler temperatures.

It’s important to focus on the correct lighting of an indoor green wall, so remember to consider this when you move your garden indoors. Though lighting can get extremely technical, with technology trying to mimic the different lightwaves of sunlight, some LEDs can work just as well if placed correctly. Remember to keep the lighting in mind when you move your vertical garden indoors during the winter.

That’s what’s so great about using a vertical planter like the GrowUp Greenwall system - not only is it simple and fast to install, it’s also easy to move. This way you can keep your herbs outdoors in the warm summer weather, and bring them inside to protect them from the cold. A vertical garden will ensure you’ll be enjoying your favorite herbs all year round, because you won’t be restricted by season.