| I have grown some oregano this season. I would like to know the proper steps in transplanting from the parent plant. I have been unsuccessful at this. Also I bought some mint and transplanted it. It is not doing well. It is very stemmy with a low amount of foliage. What can I do about this? Also, how do I protect herbs during the winter? |
| Oregano is one of those herbs with perennial roots and tender tops. You should expect the foliage to die down in the winter months. In the spring, when the soil warms, new foliage will be produced from the roots. Spring is an excellent time to divide your oregano plant. Just dig it up and divide the root mass into several pieces with a shovel, then replant the root divisions. You can also take stem cuttings and root them in water in the summer, then plant them into the soil after roots have developed. Try to keep your oregano trimmed back so no flowers are produced. This will prolong the life of the plant and direct its energy into growing more foliage and roots. The mint you transplanted sounds as though it needs lots more sunshine (leggy growth usually indicates poor light). Why not make a special herb bed next spring, in the sunniest location you can find? That way your plants will get the sunlight they crave and you'll have lots of leaves and stems to harvest. You can pinch your plants back if they get too leggy, and that will force new leaves and stems to grow. |
