Basil is a beloved herb and an essential ingredient in every season. But is it possible to keep this plant as a perennial and enjoy its tasty leaves year after year? If you live in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11, you could count on sweet basil as a perennial herb. For the rest of the country, it is considered an annual and will not come back the next year. However, with some planning, you can have fresh sweet basil at hand, whether you grow it indoors or ensure it reseeds in your garden. Ahead, learn more about growing basil year-round. Is Basil a Perennial? Sweet basil (Ocimum basiiicum L.), is not a perennial except in USDA hardiness zones 10 and 11. The same facts apply to other types of basil like Thai basil and spicy cinnamon basil. Fun Fact Wild basil, a distant relative of sweet basil, is a perennial in Zones 4-9. Although it has a milder flavor with hints of cilantro, it can be used like sweet basil in recipes. Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best-growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more! How to Make the Most of Your Basil Harvest If you want to keep fresh basil on hand year-round, follow these tips to make the most of your basil harvest. Grow basil indoors. If you live in a cool climate, keep basil available by growing it indoors in pots year-round. Protect the basil plants. To extend an outdoor growing season, protect the plants from late or early frosts by using row covers or individual plant protectors. A glass jar or plastic milk container will protect the plants at night but should be removed the next morning. Stagger plantings. If growing basil from seed, stagger the sowing dates so the seeds germinate at least two weeks apart. If using nursery seedlings, purchase and plant about two weeks apart to extend the season. Remove basil flowers. If flowers form on the basil stems, pinch them off immediately. The energy of the plant should go into producing more and larger leaves, not flowers that become seeds. Harvest frequently.Regular removal of basil leaves will encourage the plant to branch out and sprout more leaves throughout the season. Freeze extra leaves. To freeze fresh basil leaves, blanch them in boiling water for 30 seconds, pat them dry, and freeze flat on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Store the frozen leaves in airtight containers in the freezer. Dry extra leaves. Use a dehydrator, oven, or microwave to dry basil leaves quickly. Once dry, crumble the leaves and store them in airtight containers. How to Grow Basil Year-Round Unless you live in USDA hardiness zones 10 or 11, you will need to either grow basil indoors or do a combination of outdoor gardening and indoor containers. For outdoor plants, plant seedlings in the ground or containers in the spring once the last chance of frost has passed. You can get a head start on harvesting by starting seeds or seedlings indoors while the weather is still cool. To grow indoors, you can start with seed, seedlings, or stem cuttings. Most indoor basil plants produce for about one year if maintained properly. Indoor basil containers need regular watering and plenty of bright light to thrive. A grow light is a great way to keep basil healthy if you don't have a sunny window. How to Grow Basil as a Perennial Annual basil plants in the garden will often self-sow if you don’t pinch back their flowers. You may be lucky enough to find some new seedlings in the garden in the spring if the weather cooperates. However, not all seeds germinate and the new seedlings will also be annuals. So, you can replant or move to a warmer climate if you'd like to be sure basil continues to come back every year. If you are living in a semi-tropical area, basil seeds can be planted in early spring or fall in moist but well-drained soil. The plants are sensitive to frost and the leaves of many varieties will turn black and drop off the plant when temperatures drop below 40°F. To save seeds from basil, leave the flowers on the plant until they die, allowing the seeds to turn brown and dry. Separate the seed from the seed capsules and store them in a cool place in a well-sealed container to replenish your crop.

Are you thinking of adding some peach trees to your garden this season? These popular fruit trees can grow across a wide variety of different climates. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen takes you through everything you need to know about growing peach trees, including their maintenance and care. Fresh peaches taste like … summer! Peaches have been grown and cultivated for an incredibly long time, and it’s not surprising that people have loved this fruit for so long. Peaches are sweet, juicy, and perfectly delicious. A peach tree takes a bit of work to maintain, but if you have a sunny location and are willing to put in some time and effort, you can also have a peach tree of your own. Peach trees bloom in the spring, and many produce colorful and fragrant flowers. Flowers are ½ to 1 inch wide and quite showy, in beautiful shades of pink. Flowers can be quite abundant, and even if your tree didn’t produce any fruits, the flowers themselves would be worth growing a peach tree. The flowers also attract bees and other pollinators. If you want to try growing a peach tree in your own yard, read on to learn more about peach-growing basics. It’s also a good idea to check with your local cooperative extension office for region-specific information about growing peaches in your area. The more you know, the more successfully you can grow. History Peach fruits are sweet, juicy, and colorful. The skin color varies from bright yellow to deep red-orange, usually within a single fruit. The inner flesh is very juicy, very sweet, and light orange in color, containing a single large pit in the center. Peaches are slightly fuzzy fruits, and nectarines are a non-fuzzy, smooth variety of peach. Peach trees are deciduous fruit-bearing trees that are native to China. The Chinese consider the peach to be a symbol of longevity and immortality. Peaches certainly do have a long history of use and cultivation. Based on historical evidence, it appears that peaches have been cultivated since prehistoric times on the Asian continent. Peaches were likely brought from Asia to Europe, where they were further cultivated. Evidence of ancient peaches has been found in China, Japan, India, and Greece. They were then brought to the Americas in the 1600s. It’s no wonder peaches have been around so long; they are a sweet and delicious fruit that’s both healthy and easy to eat. Cultivation Peach trees told today in nurseries are typically grafted. They use a hearty and vigorous rootstock and graft it to a known variety of peaches. The known variety is the type of peach you actually harvest. This way, both the seller and the buyer know exactly what variety of peach they are working with. Peaches grown from seed are less certain due to cross-pollination and genetic variation. Peaches can be grown as individual trees or as an entire orchard. A single mature peach tree can produce up to 150 pounds of fruit per year! All those peaches make tasty and nutritious snacks. There are 20 states where peaches are grown commercially. Even though Georgia is known as “The Peach State,” California is actually the leading US producer of peaches, followed by South Carolina, with Georgia coming in third. Varieties Not all peach varieties are suitable for just any location. The first thing to consider is which USDA hardiness zone you live in. That will limit your choices when selecting a peach variety to grow. You will need to select a variety that will grow well in your area. These climate zones also help determine how many chill hours your tree will receive. Peaches won’t bloom or fruit without the proper number of chill hours or the amount of time with temperatures below a certain threshold. Once you know your climate zone, you can look at the tree varieties available to you. Some of the things you will need to consider are:

‘Jeana’ is the total package when it comes to perennials. This native cultivar has highly ornamental blooms that support pollinators and flowers for months. Superior disease resistance makes it a standout among more finicky varieties in the species. Gardening expert Katherine Rowe explores a new one to love among old garden favorites, ‘Jeana’ garden phlox. Garden phlox brightens the border with a profusion of domed clusters with starry blooms. In cultivation since the 1600s, the historic perennials are a beloved staple and form a showy backdrop among other summertime blooms and grasses. Most species are North American natives, particularly to the eastern United States, including Phlox paniculata. Phlox, from the Greek for “flame,” boasts an eye-catching floral display. ‘Jeana’ tall garden phlox is an award-winning cultivar that boasts months of blooming and superior cold hardiness. Trusses of lightly fragrant lavender-pink blooms are a magnet for butterflies and moths (their obligate pollinators), as well as hummingbirds. ‘Jeana’ brims with ecological and ornamental value; it’s just the multifaceted, hardworking, lovely perennial we need in our collections. What is ‘Jeana’ Garden Phlox? Phlox paniculata is the most popular of all the Phlox species. Tall garden phlox, or flowering phlox, has bundles of showy flowers atop upright stems. From pale pink to crimson, color-rich selections abound. Whether old-fashioned pass-along plants or newer cultivars, P. paniculata earns its spot in the border. The exceptionally sturdy and floriferous ‘Jeana’ selection is the 2024 Perennial Plant of the Year. The Perennial Plant Association awards those that grow across various climates, need little additional maintenance, and have good pest and disease resistance and landscape value. Taking top place in Mt. Cuba Center’s three-year phlox trials, ‘Jeana’ shows exceptional powdery mildew resistance, a long flowering time with a spectacular display, and a big pollinator draw. Of all the varieties in the trial, ‘Jeana’ attracted the most butterflies, and Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, in particular. They also attract hummingbirds with their tubular, nectar-rich blooms. ‘Jeana’ has a tall, sturdy habit that supports the big show of deep lavender-pink florets. Domed clusters top stiff stems that reach five feet tall. While each floret is smaller than other varieties, the number per bunch and extended flowering more than make up for their size. In addition to its ornament, ‘Jeana’ offers ecological value. The nectar-rich blossoms are a favorite among butterflies and other pollinators. As a native cultivar from a wildly growing selection, it’s a strong performer in optimal growing conditions. ‘Jeana’ is the backbone of borders, cottage gardens, pollinator themes, and naturalistic arrangements. Pair it with other natives and their cultivars like amsonia, monarda, switchgrass, Joe Pye weed, salvia, and hardy geranium. These are a match for pollinator support and a long season of visual interest. Characteristics The clump-forming perennial spreads up to four feet and has tall, five-foot stems. Showy trusses of pips (individual flowers) are smaller than other varieties at half an inch, but the six-inch flowerheads last into early fall. The floral show hits peak bloom in mid to late July and extends into October. ‘Jeana’ produces few seeds and won’t reseed in the landscape like older garden phlox varieties. The lack of seed production means a long-lasting floral display, with less energy directed to seed production and more into continual flowering. With excellent disease resistance to powdery mildew, ‘Jeana’s’ bright green, elliptical, and pointed leaves remain attractive all season. Native Area Phlox paniculata is native to the United States from the Midwest to the mid-Atlantic and southward. It grows naturally along stream banks, riparian areas, and in moist low woodlands and meadows. ‘Jeana’ is a selection of a native wild phlox. Gardener Jeana Prewitt discovered it growing wildly in a large colony along the Harpeth River near Nashville, Tennessee. While others in the group showed powdery mildew, this strong selection was mildew-free. Planting Fall and spring are the best times to plant the perennials. If there is adequate moisture for strong root systems to develop, plant them at any time in areas with mild summers. Avoid planting phlox in stressful conditions, such as high heat, drought, or freezing soil. The cool, moist conditions of spring and fall present the least stress on new plantings. They’ll be able to develop roots before hot summers or cold winters, respectively. Good air circulation is essential for garden phlox and sets the foundation for health. Allow proper spacing at two to three feet apart to plan for the mature spread. At planting, dig a hole two to three times as deep and wide as the size of the root ball. Loosen any tightly wound, pot-bound roots so they can grow outward. Position crowns an inch-and-a-half below the soil surface. Water deeply after planting to settle the roots and soil.