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Winterizing basil is all about moving your plants indoors before the first frost hits.
If you’ve been growing basil all summer and now the nights are getting chilly, you’re probably wondering how to winterize basil so you can keep enjoying those fresh leaves.
The good news is that winterizing basil isn’t complicated, and you have a few solid options depending on how much effort you want to put in.
In this post, we’ll break down exactly how to winterize basil, whether you want to keep it alive indoors, preserve it as a pesto, or dry it for later use.
Let’s dig in so your basil doesn’t go to waste this season.
How To Winterize Basil: The Best Indoor Methods
When you learn how to winterize basil, the first thing to know is that basil is incredibly tender and will die at the slightest hint of frost.
That’s why winterizing basil almost always means bringing it inside and giving it a cozy spot near a sunny window.
Here are the most reliable ways to winterize basil indoors so you can keep harvesting leaves all winter long.
1. Dig Up and Pot Your Basil Plants
One of the simplest ways to winterize basil is to dig up your healthiest plants from the garden and transplant them into pots.
Choose basil plants that look vigorous and haven’t started flowering yet, because flowering signals that the plant is slowing down.
Gently loosen the soil around the roots and lift the entire plant out.
Place it in a pot with fresh, well-draining potting mix and water it thoroughly.
When you winterize basil this way, you’re giving the plant a fresh start in a controlled environment.
Keep the pot in a bright spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight daily, like a south-facing windowsill.
Basil loves warmth, so keep it away from drafty windows and cold air leaks.
2. Take Cuttings to Root in Water
Another popular method to winterize basil is taking cuttings from your existing plants and rooting them in water.
This is perfect if your outdoor basil is too large to move or if you just want a fresh batch of smaller plants.
Snip a four to six-inch stem from a healthy basil branch, making the cut just below a leaf node.
Remove the lower leaves from the stem, leaving only the top few leaves intact.
Place the cutting in a glass of water and set it on a sunny windowsill.
Change the water every couple of days, and within a week or two, you’ll see white roots forming.
Once the roots are about an inch long, transplant the cutting into a small pot with soil.
When you winterize basil using cuttings, you can create several new plants from just one outdoor basil bush.
This method keeps your basil supply going strong without needing to haul big pots inside.
3. Keep Basil in a Greenhouse or Cold Frame
If you have a greenhouse or a cold frame, you can winterize basil by moving your pots there instead of bringing them into your home.
Basil will keep growing in a greenhouse as long as temperatures stay above 50°F (10°C).
You can also use a simple cold frame in your garden, which is basically a box with a transparent lid that traps heat from the sun.
When you winterize basil this way, you’ll need to monitor temperatures closely because a sudden freeze can still kill the plants.
Add a layer of mulch around the base of the basil plants to help insulate the roots.
This is a great option if you have a lot of basil and want to keep them producing without cluttering your kitchen counters.
How To Winterize Basil By Preserving Your Harvest
Sometimes, you don’t want to keep the plants alive, you just want to preserve the leaves you already have.
Winterizing basil can also mean turning your fresh harvest into something that lasts for months.
Here are the two best ways to preserve basil so you can enjoy that summer flavor all winter.
1. Freeze Basil Leaves or Make Pesto
Freezing is one of the easiest ways to winterize basil because it locks in the fresh flavor and bright green color.
You can freeze whole leaves by washing them, patting them dry, and laying them in a single layer on a baking sheet.
Once frozen, transfer the leaves to a zip-top bag and keep them in the freezer.
Another tasty option is making basil pesto before you winterize basil.
Blend fresh basil leaves with garlic, pine nuts, parmesan, and olive oil, then spoon the pesto into ice cube trays.
Freeze the cubes, pop them out, and store them in a freezer bag.
When you need a quick addition to pasta or soup, just grab a cube or two.
This method is perfect if you have a massive basil harvest and don’t have room indoors for live plants.
2. Dry Basil for Long-Term Storage
Drying basil is another classic way to winterize basil, and it’s super simple.
You can air-dry basil by tying small bunches together and hanging them upside down in a warm, dry, dark place.
Or you can use a food dehydrator set to a low temperature of around 95°F (35°C).
If you don’t have a dehydrator, you can also dry basil in your oven at the lowest setting for a couple of hours.
Once the leaves are completely dry and crumbly, crumble them into an airtight jar.
When you winterize basil by drying it, the flavor will be more concentrated, so you’ll need to use less in your recipes.
Dried basil won’t have the same fresh punch, but it’s a fantastic backup for winter soups, stews, and sauces.
Common Mistakes When You Winterize Basil
Learning how to winterize basil also means knowing what not to do.
Avoid these common pitfalls so your efforts don’t go to waste.
1. Bringing in Basil With Pests
Before you winterize basil and bring it indoors, always inspect the leaves and stems for tiny insects.
Aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies love to hitchhike on basil plants.
Rinse the plant thoroughly with water and consider treating it with insecticidal soap a few days before moving it inside.
If you skip this step, you could end up with an infestation that spreads to your other houseplants.
2. Overwatering Indoor Basil
When you winterize basil indoors, the plant won’t need as much water as it did outside in the summer heat.
Overwatering is the number one killer of indoor basil because it leads to root rot.
Only water when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Make sure your pots have drainage holes, and never let the pot sit in standing water.
Basil likes consistently moist soil, but not soggy conditions.
3. Not Providing Enough Light
Basil is a sun-loving herb, and the shorter winter days won’t give it enough light.
When you winterize basil indoors, you might need to supplement with a grow light.
Place a grow light just a few inches above the basil and run it for 10 to 12 hours a day.
Without enough light, your basil will become leggy, pale, and lose its intense flavor.
So, How Do You Winterize Basil?
You can winterize basil by moving plants indoors, rooting cuttings, using a greenhouse, or preserving the leaves through freezing or drying.
Winterizing basil is straightforward once you know your options and the conditions each method requires.
Whether you want fresh basil for winter pesto or just a supply of dried herbs for cooking, there’s a method that works for you.
The key is to act before the first frost hits, so your basil doesn’t get damaged by cold temperatures.
Take some time to choose the best way to winterize basil based on your space and your kitchen habits.
Then you’ll be rewarded with amazing basil flavor even when there’s snow on the ground.