Pineapple sage comes from tropical regions and is cultivated in tubs in Central Europe as a kitchen herb. It is grown outdoors for its hardy characteristics, but the plant often does not survive the winter. With appropriate protection, you increase your chances of survival.
Pineapple sage will probably not survive the winter in the bed
outdoor plants
Pineapple sage originally comes from the coniferous and deciduous forests of Mexico and Guatemala. The plant is adapted to regions with mild winters and does not survive the sub-zero temperatures in Central Europe. In wine-growing regions you can try to overwinter the herb with appropriate protection from leaves, bark mulch or fir branches. Before doing so, cut off all above-ground parts of the plant to just above the ground. With a lot of luck, the plant will sprout again in the spring.
pot plants
Overwintering potted plants outdoors is also only recommended for mild areas, as success is not guaranteed. The substrate in the planter freezes faster in winter. Therefore you have to wrap the bucket with thick foil or jute bags. For better insulation from the cold, you can spread straw between the individual layers.
Place the bucket on a block of wood against a south-facing wall. The bucket should be protected as much as possible. Prune the plant radically and cover the substrate with a thick layer of mulch. On frost-free days, the substrate is lightly watered. The cold protection is not removed until mid-May, otherwise the plant can be damaged by late frosts.
Frost-free overwintering
Overwintering in a frost-free winter quarters is better. You can leave the plant on the windowsill and enjoy the red blooms that appear between October and November. Alternatively, we recommend moving to a cool room with a temperature between five and 15 degrees Celsius. Staircases, conservatories or bright basement rooms are ideal.
This is how the plant gets through the winter:
- Cut the plant back to the ground
- water occasionally
- avoid fertilization
- Don't change location too often
after winter
Potted plants that have overwintered in the warmth are taken out of their quarters and slowly acclimated to the new location. Place the bucket in a semi-shady place for one to two weeks. The plant can then be placed in full sun.