Herbs, vegetables, and fruits that overwinter in this area

[Anonymous]

New gardner here -

When you say overwinter - does that apply to container gardening? Can I just leave them in the containers on the deck or do they need to be planted in ground? SHould I water through winter?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there something that looks like French tarragon but isn't? Or did my tarragon somehow come back, but without much scent?

Maybe it's winter savory? Shorter leaf, but overwinters well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there something that looks like French tarragon but isn't? Or did my tarragon somehow come back, but without much scent?

French tarragon comes back and it has a different flavor and texture (milder and more succulent, lighter brighter green) when immature in early spring and then will mature to what you remember by summer. I love it in early spring.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My grape and cherry tomatoes come back each year. Not as over wintered, but as volunteers because we don't harvest every single tomato. Someone told me volunteer tomato plants do not produce fruit but I can tell you that is false. I planted one grape and one cherry tomato plant seven years ago, now we have a grape tomato farm each year. They grown easily 8-12ft tall and produce like crazy.

I keep mint and raspberry shrubs in large planters. They come back every year too, but I do not want them to spread.

The volunteers usually do produce fruit, but what you may have been told is that if your parent plant was a hybrid, you will for sure get a different plant from the seed. Also, even if an heirloom, the seed may produce a new variety due to cross pollination and if it is excellent read up onseed saving to preserve the new variety). Some, like yellow pear, come reliably from volunteer seed. Sometimes the plant produced will be barren.

[Anonymous]

Your garden soil conditions and microclimate will also play a big role in what overwinters for you or doesn’t, despite what the plant hardiness zone states.

[Anonymous]

Agree with Rosemary and lavender.

Also Caraway

[Anonymous]

Successful overwinters for us in DC for south-facing tiny front yard:

In ground:
Rosemary
Lavender
Parsley (it's multiplied!)
Oregano (same)
Sage
Thyme is hit or miss
Rhubarb
Cilantro (last year, but haven't seen any yet this year)

In pots (all surprises):
Strawberry
Tarragon
Lemon Balm
Chives

Please take some of my oregano and parsley!!

[Anonymous]

Strawberries, figs, elderberry, blueberry, blackberry, gojiberry, ginger
Asparagus, Lavender, rosehips,

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grape and cherry tomatoes come back each year. Not as over wintered, but as volunteers because we don't harvest every single tomato. Someone told me volunteer tomato plants do not produce fruit but I can tell you that is false. I planted one grape and one cherry tomato plant seven years ago, now we have a grape tomato farm each year. They grown easily 8-12ft tall and produce like crazy.

I keep mint and raspberry shrubs in large planters. They come back every year too, but I do not want them to spread.

The volunteers usually do produce fruit, but what you may have been told is that if your parent plant was a hybrid, you will for sure get a different plant from the seed. Also, even if an heirloom, the seed may produce a new variety due to cross pollination and if it is excellent read up onseed saving to preserve the new variety). Some, like yellow pear, come reliably from volunteer seed. Sometimes the plant produced will be barren.

Very interesting, thank you. I was for sure told to pull volunteers because they do not fruit. At most I transplant them to better areas so my plants have spacing.

I will add yellow pear to the garden this year.

[Anonymous]

Does anyone grow artichokes here? From what I've read they should overwinter for our area, but they take up a lot of space. I'm wondering if it's worth cleaning out a bed for them.

[Anonymous]

Unless you have a lot of space or are growing the artichokes mainly for their visual appeal I wouldn’t do it. They are beautiful statement plants but the yield is meager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New gardner here -

When you say overwinter - does that apply to container gardening? Can I just leave them in the containers on the deck or do they need to be planted in ground? SHould I water through winter?

The sage, thyme, and rosemary I had in a container (probably about 14" high and 12" diameter) was back this year in a big way.

[Anonymous]

I found a variety of wild arugula that produced throughout the winter. It evolved from cut and come again to an almost woody, short-lived, perennial herb that kept producing leaves and never bolted. It was good. I was able to harvest from the plants for about 18 months before I pulled them.

Johnny's seed has wild type arugula. I got "Surry," but I don't see it there now. One of the other wild arugulas will likely behave the same way. The flowers are also edible it you let it produce flowers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My grape and cherry tomatoes come back each year. Not as over wintered, but as volunteers because we don't harvest every single tomato. Someone told me volunteer tomato plants do not produce fruit but I can tell you that is false. I planted one grape and one cherry tomato plant seven years ago, now we have a grape tomato farm each year. They grown easily 8-12ft tall and produce like crazy.

I keep mint and raspberry shrubs in large planters. They come back every year too, but I do not want them to spread.

The volunteers usually do produce fruit, but what you may have been told is that if your parent plant was a hybrid, you will for sure get a different plant from the seed. Also, even if an heirloom, the seed may produce a new variety due to cross pollination and if it is excellent read up onseed saving to preserve the new variety). Some, like yellow pear, come reliably from volunteer seed. Sometimes the plant produced will be barren.

Very interesting, thank you. I was for sure told to pull volunteers because they do not fruit. At most I transplant them to better areas so my plants have spacing.

I will add yellow pear to the garden this year.

Just to note: you may find yourself pulling hundreds of yellow pear volunteers every year. Not hard to do but might annoy some gardeners. Here's a quote from a tomato forum: "... if you grow it you will have volunteers for the next century."

[Anonymous]

RE: yellow pears

that's perfect then! I'm all about the garden that keeps on giving.