On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 23:13:12 -0500, Dianna Visek
wrote:


On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 20:41:25 GMT, Frogleg wrote:

Maybe there should be an FAQ by experienced herb-growers. "Perennial"
is certainly open to interpretation. In my zone 7b experience, sage,
chives, and thyme are genuine perennials, and I've harvested biennial
parsley when snow-covered. Googling on the subject seemed to suggest a
hardiness zone of 6 for these, but I *know* people grow them in colder
climates. With protection? What sort?

Hardiness is a tricky issue. Where I live (zone 5b), some sages and
thymes are hardy and some are not. In general, the variegated ones
are more tender. A lot depends on the particulars of the winter.
When we get more snow, more things survive.

Hardiness is also affected by dampness around the stems. Some herbs,
such as lavender, survive fine if their leaves are kept dry enough.
They hate tree leaves drifting around them. They like sand and gravel
in the soil and directly under their stems.

Hardiness is probably best addressed locally. Knowing your zone isn't
really enough.

OK. We've got 2 data points here. Let's keep it simple. 3 herbs --
sage, thyme, parsely. Hardiness experience -- 7b-8; winter hardy
perennials. 5b marginally hardy -- common varieties more hardy than
others. Parsley OK for both? Mine doesn't "die down" over winter.

This site:

http://www.palacenet.net/home/rlghm/garden/herb.htm

has info for zone 4.

It's certainly true that zones aren't enough info, but rough
guidelines. What about protection? Does straw or leaf mulch help?
How/when applied?