Overwinter Indoors: which plants to bring in before frost
Mid-fall is the window to pot tender herbs and patio plants, leave hardy herbs outdoors with mulch, and finish cool annuals. Pick your zone for a bring indoors, leave outdoors, or annual list, then run the pest and pot-up checklist before plants join your windowsill. Saved on your device. No account needed.
Free overwinter indoors desk. Sort herbs by zone into bring indoors, leave outdoors with mulch, or finish as annuals. Pot-up and pest checklist before first frost.
Herb actions by zone
Bring indoors
Basil and other tender annuals before nights linger near 50F. Rosemary and similar woody herbs in zones colder than about 8. Marjoram and tender perennials north of about zone 9. Pot healthy plants, check for pests, then move to a bright window.
Leave outdoors (mulch or cover)
Hardy culinary herbs such as chives, mint, sage, thyme, and oregano usually overwinter outdoors in their hardy zone range with light mulch, wind protection, and soil that does not stay soggy.
Annual: finish or short indoor run
Cilantro, dill, and chervil are cool-season annuals. Harvest before hard frost, or pot one plant for a short windowsill harvest. Plan a spring re-sow.
Checklist
- Timing: Confirm first frost and watch nights near 50F for tender plants.
- Pot-up: Use free-draining potting mix, trim lightly, and prefer container-grown plants.
- Pest check: Hose, inspect leaf undersides, and quarantine new indoor plants about a week.
- Indoor care: Bright cool window. Match water to the plant. Use the Houseplants light and water tool.
Guides
Related desks
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