Overwintering Kent Beauty Oregano
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Lynne Shackell
Posted on: November 12, 1999

I hope you can tell me how to take care of Kent Beauty oregano this winter? Since I’m at 3,000 feet elevation, I’m assuming I will not be able to keep it outdoors. How do I get it to bloom and grow on in the spring?

Kent Beauty oregano is rated hardy in zones 5 to 8. That means it can survive temperatures down to minus 30 degrees Celsius or down to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. If your minimum temperatures in winter are only a bit lower than this, you might make the plant survive them if you plant it in a sheltered position close to a house and give it a good winter mulch plus pop a wooden bushel basket over the plant to shelter it even more and reduce the temperature fluctuations with it.

If your winter temperatures are too low, overwinter the plant in a pot placed in a sunny window in a cool room. to create a windowsill cooler than the room, hang a plastic sheet over the inside of the window thereby isolating the windowsill from the room. Since heat escapes quickest out of windowpanes, you will create a cooler microclimate behind the plastic.

In the spring, after all danger of frost is past move the pot out of doors and gradually move it into full sun over the course of two weeks. At your high altitude it will take longer to harden the plant than at lower altitudes, because more ultraviolet will hit the plant.

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