Saving Outdoor Herbs Before a Hard Frost: What to Bring In, What to Leave

An apartment gardener facing first hard frost wants to save rosemary, parsley, basil, dill, chives, and thyme from a raised bed.

Triage Plan

• Rosemary: Take cuttings (spring is better, but try now in coarse sand with rooting hormone). If variety is 'Arp' or 'Hardy Hill', it may survive -10°F outdoors with mulch and east/southeast exposure. Otherwise, mulch heavily.
• Chives & thyme: Leave outdoors—they're perennial and need dormancy.
• Parsley: Biennial; can overwinter in mild zones but best replanted annually.
• Basil, dill: Annuals—dry or freeze. Basil might eke out more growth in a south-facing window.

Act fast: dig, pot, and move indoors before frost hits.