Bringing in Strawberry Pot of Herbs for Winter
Answered by: Conrad Richter
Question from: Sue Anderson
Posted on: October 15, 1998

I have a strawberry pot that I planted oregano, parsley, peppermint, and lemon thyme in. Can I bring it indoors for the winter (it’s supposed to be cold this year). Are there any special instructions for doing this?

Yes, you can bring it in, however, the light intensity indoors will be lower and the herbs will not thrive as well as they did outdoors in the summer. In the winter, even in the brightest windows, the light intensity is often less then one tenth that of a summer day outdoors. You will notice that growth will slow and the foliage will become sparser as the plant sheds excess leaves and reaches for the little available light.

Provide the brightest window you can, and if you can provide additional artificial light, that would be better.

You must also watch for insect pests. Often outdoor plants bring indoor pests which soon multiply and overwhelm herbs. It is a good idea to dip all above-ground foliage in an insecticidal soap mix – do this at least 3-4 times spaced 2-3 days apart.

There are two articles in the "Magazine Rack" section of the Richters website on growing herbs indoors. You should have a look; there are valuable tips on how to get your herbs to survive indoors.

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