Rich in flavor and antioxidants, it’s little wonder that herbs have become something of a gardening staple over the years. As the days shorten and the temperatures dip, though, it’s important to suss out the best herbs to plant in fall if you want to keep your kitchen stocked until spring.
It’s easy to write fall off as a no-go for starting an herb garden, but it actually makes for near-perfect growing conditions; the cooler weather is less stressful for plants, the soil is still warm enough for roots to grow, and rainy days help seeds and transplants settle in. Win!
Still, whether you fancy growing herbs in containers or hanging baskets, the trick is knowing which varieties to choose for your USDA hardiness zone. In warmer areas, you can enjoy fresh herbs through the winter; in colder areas, fall is a great time to plant hardy perennial plants ready to pop back in the spring (or to pot tender herbs up for some much-needed coddling indoors).
1. Rosemary
Rosemary is one of those herbs that absolutely thrives in colder climates, and can actually stay evergreen through the winter in zones 7-10. All you have to do is plant something like Walmart’s National Plant Network 4 in. Rosemary Live Herb Plant in well-drained soil so its roots can establish themselves before the big chill settles in.
If you’re based in zones 6 or colder, rosemary struggles outdoors. It’s still a great herb to plant in fall, though; just pot it up, bring it indoors for the winter, and snip sprigs all season long for roasts, soups, and breads.
2. Thyme
One of our favorite hardy perennials, thyme doesn’t mind the cold one bit, making it one of the best herbs to grow in the fall – or divide it, if you want more (free!) plants.
You can pick up a multipack of thyme thanks to Amazon’s Live Aromatic and Edible Herb offer, and then all that’s left to do is get it planted in a pot or the ground; it should stay green for much of the winter in zones 5 to 9.
In colder areas, give your thyme a little extra protection with a layer of mulch, and it should bounce back merrily come springtime. And, trust us, it’s well worth the effort for those tiny leaves; they pack some serious punch in stews and roasted veggie dishes.
3. Sage
A classic fall herb (what’s the point of roasting anything without sage, eh?), this perennial is happily hardy in most of the country – which means you don’t need to harvest and dry it before the frost hits.
Treat it as one of the best herbs to grow in the fall, and your sage should have time to settle its roots ahead of the winter. Pick up a Grower's Friend (Salvia officinalis) from Walmart if you want something that’ll thrive in zones 6-9. If you’re in a colder spot, it’s worth mulching for a cosy dash of overwintering. Otherwise, you should be able to pick its leaves all year long.
4. Chives
One of the toughest herbs around, chives are hardy down to zone 3, making them ideal herbs to grow in the fall. If you do so, the foliage will likely die back in the cold before growing back early in the springtime, often before anything else.
Of course, you could always pot up something like Smoke Camp Crafts Organic Chives Plant from Amazon and keep it on a sunny windowsill for wintry flavor…
5. Parsley
Parsley is a biennial that acts like an annual in many gardens across the country, and Nature Hills’ Curly Parsley in particular is cold-tolerant and root-hardy in USDA growing zones 3 and up. This is only, however, if you take steps to protect it and plant it up in well-drained soil; it’s happiest in full sun and well-drained soil, too.
Because parsley is slow to germinate, fall’s lingering warmth gives seedlings the boost they need. Or, of course, you can buy a potted version of this herb for your sunniest windowsill; you’ll likely find yourself harvesting fresh leaves right into winter if you do.
6. Mint
Mint is hardy almost everywhere, although this thuggish herb can prove pretty unstoppable if it’s not contained (honestly, pot it up; you don’t want a backyard takeover).
One of the best herbs to grow in the fall, there are plenty of varieties to choose from, although we rate Walmart’s Chocolate Mint – Live Plants for a twist on the classic. In zones 7-9 it will stay green through winter; in colder areas it will die and come back stronger in the spring.
A fresh mint tea from your own garden? Ideal fall fare, quite frankly.
7. Cilantro
Cilantro might taste like summer sunshine, but it bolts quickly in the heat. In fact, its love of cooler climes makes it one of the very best herbs to grow in the fall, so take care to sow some Seedboy Organic Cilantro 'Slow Bolt' Herb Seeds from Walmart directly outdoors if you’re in zones 8 to 10; this should secure you a steady supply of flavorsome leaves over the winter.
In colder zones, you still have options for cilantro on tap; just plant it in pots and grow it indoors on a sunny sill. Just take care to harvest regularly if you want to keep it thriving.
8. Oregano
Last but not least on our list of herbs to plant in the fall is the not-so-humble oregano, which is winter hardy down to zone 5.
Easy to grow and a pollinator magnet, grab a starter plant (you can bag 2 Live Common Oregano Plants from Amazon for the price of one) and take care to harvest its leaves on the regular as soon as it’s planted.
After a couple of weeks, it should really take off in those cooler temps. Just be sure to harvest and dry its leaves before the frosts hit, so your pizzas don’t go lacking when the mercury drops.
The trick to planting herbs in the fall is simple enough: mulch like mad if you’re growing them outdoors, or pot them up so you can bring them indoors and coddle them over the winter months. Always choose a sunny spot, opt for well-draining soil, and clip lightly throughout the fall to keep them thriving.
Bonus points if you dry sprigs or freeze chopped herbs in ice cube trays so you have delicious fall flavors to hand whenever you need them. 'Tis the season for comfort cooking, after all!
