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I Finally Did It!!!
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Posted by joyce Zone 7b LI, NY (My Page) on Thu, Mar 9, 06 at 17:57
I overwintered my Gunnera! :D
I covered it with 4 lawn bags filled with rakes leaves.
Went to check on it today, and found it GROWING!
Also lots of active earthworms, millipedes, centipedes, wood lice, etc.
It can't take high temps though.
I tried it when I lived in NC 3 times...never survived the heat.
Tried it 3 times here since we moved home 5 years ago,
never survived the winter by the ponds at work in boggy soil covered in hay bales.
Gave it one more try last year, planted it in my shade garden here at the house in regular soil,
(not wet) covered it with the lawn bags full of raked leaves, and SUCCESS IS MINE!
Also, my Variegated Cast Iron Plant is alive, my Hardy Palm, and my gingers.
Looks like a few of my Elephant Ears will make it too.
All covered at least 2 bags deep planted in regular garden soil. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: I Finally Did It!!!
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- Posted by josh z8a (My Page) on
Fri, Mar 10, 06 at 18:49
| Congratulations! I noticed one of the Carolina Forum posters had success too. I think you deserve the gold medal though for your repeated attempts! What a kick you'll have each day watching it shoot up and out. Give us another pix now and then. josh (who just tried once years ago, sprouted seed which didn't even make it thru the summer in GA.) |
RE: I Finally Did It!!!
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- Posted by joyce Zone 7b LI, NY (My Page) on
Tue, Mar 14, 06 at 13:28
| Thanks Josh. Yup, I'll post pix when it really gets growing! |
RE: I Finally Did It!!!
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| Looking forward to your next pic! I want to grow gunnera. Interesting that you didn't create a bog w acid soil. I make small bogs with heavy plastic/very few holes. Experimenting with variety of plants. Most are invasive I hear. The idea is to grow one or two kinds in each bog. For over-wintering, I've had successful experiments. One thing I noticed is that if I dump huge amounts of oak/maple/birch leaves on a garden, to till in in the spring, potatos survive. Unless marked, you can't find them, but conditions are so good, natural?, that the right kind of potato will grow humongous tubers. This plan, with lots of acidic leaves added, and of course no tilling, would do gunnera well, don't you think? Shade is super important though. No burning afternoon sun exposure I'll bet. mIGHTt try midcity@midcitynursery.com for a plant. Would prefer a Canadian supplier though. They don't like ground going over borders Raven Van Leishout |
RE: I Finally Did It!!!
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| So what do you do to protect it from the heat? |
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