Making the Most of November Herbs
As the garden winds down, November herbs are still a kitchen hero—offering bright flavors and a last burst of green when little else remains. With just a few steps, you can harvest, preserve, and extend the season by growing hardy and tender herbs both outdoors and in the windowsill.
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🍂 Essential Garden & Allotment Products for October
October is the perfect time to prepare your garden
for winter, improve your soil and get ahead with
autumn planting. Here are some useful gardening
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🌱 Compost & Soil Improvers
Give your garden beds a boost before winter with compost and organic matter.
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🌿 Autumn Plant Feed & Fertiliser
Prepare your soil for autumn planting with suitable fertilisers and soil nutrients.
Browse Garden Fertilisers
🥬 Seed Trays & Propagation Kits
Keep growing through autumn by starting suitable hardy crops under cover.
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Harvesting and Using Outdoor Herbs
- Parsley: Cut outer leaves regularly—mulch the base to keep picking through mild spells.
- Sage, thyme, rosemary, oregano: Snip sprigs sparingly, even after frosts; use in roasts, stews, or teas.
- Chives: Last green shoots can be cut now; freeze for winter recipes.
- Mint: Usually dies back, but dig up some roots and pot them indoors for fresh leaves.
Bringing Herbs Indoors
- Pot up parsley, chives, mint, and coriander before hard frost—move to a bright, cool windowsill, porch, or greenhouse.
- Sow new pots of basil, coriander, or chervil indoors for winter snips.
- Water sparingly; fertilize with a half-strength liquid feed every month.
Preserving Herbs for Winter
- Air-drying: Bundle hardy herbs (thyme, sage, oregano, mint) and hang in a cool, well-ventilated place.
Once crisp, crumble and store in labeled jars. - Freezing: Chop tender herbs (parsley, coriander, chives), freeze in ice cube trays with water or olive oil; store cubes in freezer bags.
- Herb butters: Blend soft herbs into butter, shape into rolls, and freeze for instant flavor lifts.
Homemade Herb Tea and Home Remedies
- Pick fresh or dry leaves of mint, lemon balm, or sage for teas.
- Add rosemary or thyme sprigs to winter stews for immune benefits and depth of flavor.
- Sage and thyme can be steeped for soothing winter gargles or cough teas.
Planning for Next Year
- Reflect on which herbs thrived or ran out soonest—make a note for more sowing next spring.
- Divide clumps of chives, mint, or oregano and replant for bushier growth.
- Order seeds for favorites and experiment with new varieties for a bigger, better herb patch.
November herbs, managed thoughtfully, keep fresh taste and nourishment in your kitchen through winter and lighten your steps as you look ahead to another season of growth.