As summer fades to fall, don’t let your garden just wither
away. Bring a bit of sun
inside.

"A lot of the herbs from summer gardens can be brought
inside for the winter if
you have a nice sunny space," said Wayne McLaurin, a
horticulturist with the
University of Georgia Extension Service.

"All you have to do is put them in a sunny location
outside until near frost. Then
you can bring them inside," he said. "Just take them
up out of the ground, put
them in a good-size pot, put them in a sunny location and hope
for the best."

It’s crucial to dig a good root system to support the plant.
Some herbs, such as like
chives, may need to be trimmed back to overcome the shock of
digging.

In his own experience, McLaurin has found basil to do fair
inside. Chives do better
than almost any other, and he’s had success with rosemary.

"Thyme will do it, but you have to be careful to not
overwater or get it too
dry," he said.

"Be careful when bringing any plant inside,"
McLaurin warned. "Outside,
many are in 100 percent humidity, which they like. When you
bring them inside, 100 percent
humidity is uncomfortable to you."

Too little humidity stresses houseplants and will dry them
out.

Once you transplant your herbs to a pot and find a sunny spot
inside for them,
fertilize them as you would any other houseplant.

"Once every four to five weeks or so is enough,"
McLaurin said. "Don’t
fertilize too heavy because they won’t grow a lot in the
house."

When spring arrives, just move your herbs back outside.

"Many people prefer to containerize herbs and bring the
container in and
out," he said. "Use about a 12-inch-diameter pot for
moving in and out."

If you use a smaller container, be much more judicious in
watering.

"The larger container is good for the gardener of least
resistance," McLaurin
joked.

Remember that most herbs are Mediterranean in origin. They’re
used to dry, well-drained
soil.

"When you bring them inside, consider drainage,"
McLaurin said. "They’re
very tender plants but with care most herbs can be
overwintered."

He counts rosemary among the hardier herbs, which accounts
for its easy transfer to
inside growing.

"I also have a bay tree I’ve brought in and out for four
or five years," he
said.

"It’s really nice to have them inside in the
winter," McLaurin said.
"You can even grow some of the mints, and they won’t take
over your floor! It’s nice
to pass by them and remember there will be a spring
shortly."