Hey everyone! I live in West Virginia where last winter hit -20°F on some nights, coupled with a lot of snow. I have three large pots outside—two with mint and one featuring sweet and Thai basil. I know mint is pretty resilient, and I plan to trim it down soon. However, I'm unsure about the basil's fate. I'd rather not bring the heavy pot indoors if I can help it. What are some strategies to keep the basil alive over the winter while keeping it outside? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
2 Answers
You're right about mint; it should bounce back! But unfortunately, basil is usually grown as an annual, so you'll likely need to replant it in the spring. If you want to get creative, you might consider taking cuttings from your basil to propagate indoors. It's a good backup plan!
Mint can typically survive the winter, but the basil might not make it. Consider harvesting seeds if your basil has flowered. Just let the blooms dry a bit, and you can collect the seeds for next year's planting!
Ah, I didn’t know that! I’ll definitely try saving seeds. Thanks!