As the temperatures cool, a sweet-spot for   approaches. The foliage of herbs tends to bitter in the heat. Make the most of fall weather by keeping herbs going after the last summer plant has bolted. If you are in an area with mild winters, you could keep your herbs right outside for the entire season. Here are a few popular herbs that do well in the crisp fall air, and some tips for post-summer success.

Bolting and Replanting

The annual herbs you planted in the spring are usually looking sad come summer’s end. They are bitter and bolting, so instead of delicious cilantro you have coriander dropping and trying to get a head start on next year. The mint isn’t minty; the dill isn’t dilly. It’s time to move on.

If your summer plant has seen better days, go ahead and let it go to seed, then gather the seeds up. You can let the seed pods of most herbs dry right there on the plant. Just make sure that you harvest them before they drop all over your garden space, especially if you are going to continue your fall garden with something else. Thresh the plants or pods to get the seeds out, then lay the seeds out to make sure they are dry. From here, you can replant them wherever you’d like to have them for the fall, or you can store them for spring. Really, with a good amount of seeds, you can do both!

Starting with Plants

If you are starting with new herbs that you started indoors or purchased as plants, consider the type of herb and the growing season that you have left.

Perennials such as rosemary or sage plant well in the fall and will overwinter well right in the garden in some zones. Since you can begin harvesting the foliage from herbs shortly after transplanting, annuals are always a good choice and will thrive in the mild temperatures.

Utilize mulch to protect your plants from early, light frosts, and have covers ready in case heavier cold comes early. Cilantro will handle frost fairly well, but basil may need a bit of care in colder temperatures. Since you may not have time for slower growing herbs, such as dill, starting with a plant rather than seeds might be the way to go with a shorter fall season.

Indoor or Outdoor

Southern climates with warmer temperatures can overwinter a broad variety of herbs. You can confidently plan your herb garden as part of a fall edible landscaping plan or as companion plants to your vegetable garden or winter cover crops. A cold frame or row covers might be all you need in case of an uncharacteristic heavy freeze.

In cooler climates, you do not have to forfeit fresh herbs for the season. Using planter boxes or container gardens allows you to bring the plants inside when temperatures drop. With herbs, a little goes a long way, so you don’t really need more than one or two pots to get a solid harvest all season long. And for more invasive plants, like mint, you would rather have them contained anyway.

Consider your region, the growing season that you have left, and the herbs you would like to grow to determine the best place for them. You might find the answer different for each plant, like cilantro and lavender in the garden, with basil and dill inside.