Skip to Content

Best Herbs To Grow In The Fall For Your Climate Zone

Cooling weather doesn’t mean you should abandon your garden. There are many vegetables and herbs that do really well in the colder temperatures. The best herbs to grow in the fall depend on which area of the country you reside in and where it falls in terms of climate zone. Take a look and see which herbs you’d like to plant this autumn.

Potted herb garden

For example, thyme will survive through the winter in zone nine, which only gets a light frost, but may not see the green of spring in those chilly zones below five.

You can find out about your climate zone by referring to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Tips For Planting Fall Herbs

After researching what herbs are best for your climate zone, there are a few general guidelines for planting in the fall.

  • Herbs should be planted six to eight weeks before the first frost. This way they have sufficient time to get established prior to colder weather moving in.
  • Be sure that there is proper water drainage for the type of soil you are planting in. Otherwise, young plants may be lifted out of the ground, an effect called frost heaving.
  • Plant in containers, so that you can move them inside in case of freezing. Check out my patio herbs garden!

Best Herbs To Grow In The Fall

Herbs that grow in the fall in climate zones below five

In climate zones three and four, winter temperatures can go below negative 45 or 55 degrees respectively. Yet, there are still a few resilient herbs that will survive such harsh conditions to be harvested in the spring.

For zone three these include:

  • chamomile
  • chicory
  • chives
  • horseradish
  • tarragon

David's Garden Seeds Herb Tarragon SL8876 (Green) 200 Organic SeedsTarragon Organic Seeds from David’s GardenDavid's Garden Seeds Herb Tarragon SL8876 (Green) 200 Organic SeedsPackage of 400 Seeds, Common Chives Herb (Allium schoenoprasum) Non-GMO Seeds By Seed NeedsCommon Chives Herb (Allium schoenoprasum) Non-GMO Seeds Package of 400 Seeds, Common Chives Herb (Allium schoenoprasum) Non-GMO Seeds By Seed Needs

For zone four, your best bets are:

David's Garden Seeds Herb Sage Common SV111SA (Green) 200 Organic Seeds Green Sage Organic SeedsDavid's Garden Seeds Herb Sage Common SV111SA (Green) 200 Organic SeedsCERTIFIED ORGANIC SEEDS (Appr. 550) - Red Giant Mustard Greens Seeds - Open Pollinated Vegetable Seeds - Organic, Non Hybrid Garden Seeds - USA Red Giant Mustard Greens SeedsCERTIFIED ORGANIC SEEDS (Appr. 550) - Red Giant Mustard Greens Seeds - Open Pollinated Vegetable Seeds - Organic, Non Hybrid Garden Seeds - USAOrganic Dill Seed - Dukat Variety Non GMO (50+ Seeds)Organic Dill Seed – Dukat Variety Organic Dill Seed - Dukat Variety Non GMO (50+ Seeds)

Herbs that thrive in climate zones five and six

Along with those hardy herbs that will survive in zones below five, there are others that last in still cold but slightly warmer climes.

For zone five, which will see temperature extremes into negative 20 degrees F, try these:

Rare Organic vegetables Heirloom Wild Strawberry seedsRare Organic  Heirloom Wild Strawberry SeedsRare Organic vegetables Heirloom Wild Strawberry seedsOutsidepride Marsh Mallow - 1000 SeedsOutsidepride Marsh Mallow – 1000 SeedsOutsidepride Marsh Mallow - 1000 SeedsEverwilde Farms - 1000 organic Lemon Balm Herb Seeds - Gold Vault Packet Lemon Balm Herb Seeds – Gold Vault PacketEverwilde Farms - 1000 organic Lemon Balm Herb Seeds - Gold Vault Packet

In zone six, which may see temperatures around negative 10 degrees F, these will work:

 

Parsley Seeds for Planting, Italian Flat Leaf is A Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Non-GMO Herb Variety- Great for Indoor and Outdoor Gardening and Herbal Tea Gardens by Gardeners Basics

Herbs to plant in climate zones seven and eight

For zone seven, which can see temperatures around zero degrees Fahrenheit, thyme works well.

For zone eight, which is warmer and sees temperatures close to 10 degrees F plant these:

  • cardamom
  • jasmine
  • licorice
  • Rosemary

Herb Seeds - Licorice - 25 SeedsLicorice Herb Seeds Herb Seeds - Licorice - 25 SeedsOutsidepride Rosemary Herb Plant Seed - 1000 SeedsRosemary Herb Plant SeedsOutsidepride Rosemary Herb Plant Seed - 1000 Seeds11.11 Big Promotion!30 pcs/lot rare colorful Jasmine seeds Chinese tree bonsai seed garden&home organic herb plantJasmine seeds – organic herb plant11.11 Big Promotion!30 pcs/lot rare colorful Jasmine seeds Chinese tree bonsai seed garden&home organic herb plant5 CARDAMON CARDAMOM Alpinia Oxyphylla HERB Flower Shrub Tree Seeds5 Cardamom Alpinia Oxyphylla Seeds5 CARDAMON CARDAMOM Alpinia Oxyphylla HERB Flower Shrub Tree Seeds

Best herbs for climate zones nine and warmer

These herbs will do well in climate zones nine and warmer, which only receive a light frost:

Oregano Seeds - 500 SEEDS NON-GMOOregano SeedsOregano Seeds - 500 SEEDS NON-GMOBay Laurel Herb 5 Seeds - Laurus nobilisBay Laurel Seeds – Laurus nobilisBay Laurel Herb 5 Seeds - Laurus nobilisMarde Ross & Company Culinary Ginger Seed - Zingiber Officinale - Approximately 50 Seeds Culinary Ginger Seed – Zingiber Officinale Marde Ross & Company Culinary Ginger Seed - Zingiber Officinale - Approximately 50 SeedsThai Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) Herbal Plant Heirloom Seeds, Exotic Culinary HerbThai Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) Thai Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) Herbal Plant Heirloom Seeds, Exotic Culinary HerbDavid's Garden Seeds Leafy Greens Red Leaf Vegetable Amaranth SL516 (Green) 500 Open Pollinated Seeds Red Leaf Vegetable Amaranth SeedsDavid's Garden Seeds Leafy Greens Red Leaf Vegetable Amaranth SL516 (Green) 500 Open Pollinated Seeds4 Packs x 1,500 CUTTING CELERY Seed - LEAF CELERY SEEDS - BOLD Celery FLAVOR For SOUP Stew SALAD..ETC - 80- 85 Days - By MySeeds.CoLeaf Celery Seeds4 Packs x 1,500 CUTTING CELERY Seed - LEAF CELERY SEEDS - BOLD Celery FLAVOR For SOUP Stew SALAD..ETC - 80- 85 Days - By MySeeds.CoDavid's Garden Seeds Herb Marjoram Zaatar SL29P (Green) 50 Organic SeedsMarjoram Zaatar Organic SeedsDavid's Garden Seeds Herb Marjoram Zaatar SL29P (Green) 50 Organic Seeds200+Cilantro Seeds- Chinese Parsley- Coriander- Herb 2019 Seeds by Ohio Heirloom SeedsCilantro Seeds- Chinese Parsley- Coriander200+Cilantro Seeds- Chinese Parsley- Coriander- Herb 2019 Seeds by Ohio Heirloom SeedsTurmeric (rhizome) Grow Your own ,Grow Indoors or OutdoorsTurmeric (rhizome) Grow Indoors or OutdoorsTurmeric (rhizome) Grow Your own ,Grow Indoors or Outdoors

Many people enjoy Aloe Vera, a plant that must be in zone ten as it cannot withstand any frost at all.

Get Planting! Fall time herbs are waiting 🙂

You have lots of options when deciding on the best herbs to plant and grow in the fall.

Find out which climate zone your area falls under, check the kind of soil and light your garden has, and get to planting!

Herbs growing in ceramic planters

Website | + posts

Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:

How to Grow Lavender for Fun and Profit: Lessons Learned from Planting Three Hundred Lavender Plants

How to Raise Chickens for Eggs: A Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens for Nutritious, Organic Eggs at Home

Pin To Save For Later

Oval Planters You'll LOVE In Your Garden

Wednesday 23rd of October 2019

[…] versatile tubs also make excellent oval planters for growing herbs, small vegetable and flowers. Use them to add beauty and elegance to any part of the home or […]

Best Gardening Books For Beginners To Up Your Gardening Game!

Thursday 26th of September 2019

[…] Fall Gardening. Many gardeners will have two gardens during the year: one summer garden and one fall garden. Both can provide wonderful food that is healthy and safe! Check out these herbs that thrive in the fall. […]

Jennifer

Tuesday 16th of October 2018

Zone 8a here :) Winter is like a distant memory where I live. It's right in the thick of fall but some days feel like summertime. Last year I started some veggie plants but all the rain we got may have put them in the big garden in the sky, sadly. I would like to try my luck with some herbs though! Parsley and chives are the only ones I've tackled well.