Winter and herbs?

[StripyPixieSocks]

Having been reading alot about herb cultivation I've been left a little confused and wondered if anyone more experienced could clarify a couple of things for me please.

Ok, winter... do I need to cover all my herbs to get them through winter? I know I need to wrap the Bay Tree (as I can't bring it inside) but what about my other herbs...

Chives*
Sage
Pineapple Mint
Mint
Rosemary
Thyme
Oregano*
Lemon Coriander*
Lemon Thyme
Parsley*
Lavender
Dark Opal Basil
Basil*
French Tarragon
Bay Tree

* = Ones we grew from seed and planted out not so long ago and I'm worried they might be a bit tender and die off in the winter.

... and the other question is:

Do any of the herbs I have die off and need replacing next year?

I know they are probably silly questions but everytime I read something on the internet it contradicts the last thing I read

Many thanks

[Mainer in Exile]

The oregano will come back every year no problem. Most people around here grow parsley as an annual, sowing it fresh every spring. The rest, I'm still learning with as well.

[Millymollymandy]

Everything except basil is a perennial, so bring your basil indoors and carry on growing it on a windowsill.

As you are in London your bay tree should survive outside no problems at all - mine always did in London gardens. In fact now that mine is planted out it survives OK although a few branches got a bit frosted but I just chopped them off in the spring. (It's a lot colder here in winter than London!).

Rosemary also is a wee bit tender and can die if you have temps down to -10C but I don't think you have to worry about that - somehow mine has survived -8C here in Brittany. The most important thing with rosemary is to have good drainage so that it is not cold and waterlogged.

All the others are tough as old boots and although some of them will disappear under the soil (particularly chives and tarragon) they will come up again next year. Chives often start appearing again in Jan/Feb if the weather hasn't been particularly cold.

And you can carry on harvesting your rosemary and bay all through the winter!

[Millymollymandy]

Ooops hang on, what on earth is lemon coriander? Is that like normal coriander?

Anyway I found to my delight that coriander is a really tough cookie that you can carry on harvesting all through the winter if it is planted outdoors. It may look frosted and floppy in the mornings and the colour of the leaves will go a bit dark and reddish but it is completely hardy!

[StripyPixieSocks]

Thanks for that ladies :D

Yep, Lemon Coriander is the same as plain ol' Coriander but has a Lemony Zest to it (so OH tells me anyway as he wanted to grow it )

[Millymollymandy]

I still didn't read your list properly - yes parsley is a biennial and will go to seed the following year if it survives through the winter frost, so is normally sown afresh each year.

[Peggy Sue]

You shouldn't have much problem in London with Parsley surviving, I have no probs- I grow it all winter in a sheltered spot.

Some people cover their Bay tree if its a bit exposed.

Wish I knew how to get hold of tarragon seeds, I've searched and would love to grow it!

[StripyPixieSocks]

I bought it from our local Garden Centre as I remember... unfortnately the seeds all died off (and never did very well anyway) so we bought a French Tarragon plant instead which is going great and we even used some last week in a chicken dish.

As for the Parsley, that's cool... I better get using the stuff I already have grown then before it all dies off

[Peggy Sue]

You know if the parsley is in a sheltered spot it carries on growing/surviving all winter and won't run to seed til late spring so don't rush- enjoy!

Yes I think I might go for a Tarrogan plant, especially if it's perenniel thats worth it