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overwintering tender perennials
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Posted by DiggingTheDirt CapeCod Z6 (My Page) on Tue, Sep 14, 04 at 15:23
| I have about a half dozen very large clay pots planted with an assortment of salvias, coleus, and helichrysum (curry plant), and a couple with datura. I know I can't fit these big guys in the house, and wonder about the practicality of trying to overwinter anything in a cold frame.
I'm considering digging a cold frame into the ground next to the foundation of my house, on the south side. Is an automatic opener essential for a cold frame?
The only unheated space I have is the garage, which is very dark, and has an old barn door that lets the breeze in. There are no suitable areas in the house because of radiators, plus the rooms are too small to accomodate more than one or two small plants.
Anyone have experience with overwintering tender plants outdoors? I think I'm within one zone of the hardiness range for some of the salvias, not sure about datura.
Thanks for any advice! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: overwintering tender perennials
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| I don't have the experience myself, but I was talking to someone that overwinters many of the same plants in an unheated garage. I don't think you have to worry about lighting. You won't be saving any top growth anyway as the plant would be going dormant. If you could protect them from the cold breeze, the garage may be fine. Perhaps, with the coleus, you could take some cuttings and grow some as houseplants. then in the spring, start with fresh cuttings for outside. Or, they go to seed very easily and you could just save seeds and start again in the spring. |
RE: overwintering tender perennials
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| You might be able to overwinter the datura and as you said a couple of salvias..... which species????? the others are too tender for a cold frame coleu will die and I think the helichrysum...... |
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