Survival of the Fittest - (in the plant world)

Still no frost, and its mid-May. The Jalapeño is still happy outside.

Where are we going, and why am I in this handbasket?

taco said :

Don’t worry about trying to save the mint – that stuff is indestructible.

True that.. treat it like your elbow that stuff.

whack a plastic bag over them That will stop the frost and create a mini greenhouse. Move your lemongrass under the carport, or in the kitchen eve.

Some very good advice above! And I echo teh comment about getting a copy of the Canberra Gardener. the new versions have colour photoes and all kinds of snazzy stuff.

I can keep my pot of mixed basils going over winter (in a waterwell pot, standing in the french windows), but already the aphids are at-it. I wish I knew where they came from.

If you can get things under a cover, even a lid or a hat, it can do wonders and it’s nice to still have some herbs over winter.

Coriander is a pain. The only way to get regular foliage and not seed, is to sow some new seed every week or so. Even the “slow to seed” varieties still bolt to seed given any chance.

I don’t get many frosts up here, but evidnetly there’s been one because the pumpkin patch is melting. but the nasturtiums are going crazy, making new tendrils, leaves and lots of flowers!

Don’t worry about trying to save the mint – that stuff is indestructible.

Get a copy of “Canberra Gardener” — worth every penny.

Rosemary: perennial, hardy: there’s hedges of it in old Canberra

Oregano: perennial – will lose all its leaves, but come back in spring. Some leaves will survive over winter if its under a north-facing eave.

Basil: annual, non-hardy. You can prolong it by taking it indoors in winter, but the lack of light will get it in th end

Parsley: biennial, hardy, will overwinter underground, and have new leaves then go to seed in spring

Sage: perennial, hardy

Mint: perennial, hardy. loses leaves in winter.

Lemongrass: will survive over winter under cover (northfacing eave will do)

Thyme: perennial, hardy

Coriander: annual. Once it goes to seed, let it go.

For the ones that you are keeping over winter, don’t forget to keep them moist but not wet — even if they look dormant. Alos, some of the ones that are normally hardy in the ground may not be in a pot if their roots get too cold.

Rosemary, Parsley, Sage, Mint, Peppermint, Thyme will all be fine. Tarragon and dill naturally die off. Lemongrass, couldn’t say. Oregana, I think, might die off but I’m not sure. Basil doesn’t stand a chance. Even if you move it under cover, the colder temps will just kill it anyway.