Re: zone 7 plants in zone 4???
- To: hosta-open@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: zone 7 plants in zone 4???
- From: B* R*
- Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2000 00:16:04 -0500
The secret is to use plastic foam covers which look similar to the wrapping
used in shipping (not the bubble type). It is sold by wholesale greenhouse
suppliers for that purpose. Use as many layers as u want. The idea is to
get to ground temperature. Bales of straw work very well also. But, nothing
is perfect.
At 10:44 AM 02/15/2000 EST, you wrote:
>Hi all,
>I just looked for the hardiness info in Asiatica's newest catalog (before I
>was quoting from their Spring 99 catalog). They say that "even some Zone 7
>perennials can be grown in Zone 4 in areas with consistent heavy snow
cover.
>A heavy layer of loose conifer branches in December will also allow you to
>push hardiness."
>
>Zone 7 plants in Zone 4??? Wow! Before I go overboard buying all those
>plants I've only looked at wishfully up till now, has anyone had experience
>with growing plants from 2 or even 3 zones warmer than theirs?? Hmmm, how
do
>we make sure the heavy snow comes??
>
>For those without the consistent snow cover, I also read in The Unsung
>Season, Gardens and Gardeners in Winter, that Elliot Coleman uses a
>cold-frame inside a plastic-covered hoop house extend his growing season in
>Harborside, Maine. Coleman says "One layer of protection, either the cold
>frame alone or the greenhouse by itself, moves you a zone and a half to the
>south, and the second layer moves you another zone and a half to the south.
>So you walk into the greenhouse, and you're in New Jersey. You reach your
>hand into the cold frame, and you're in Georgia. It's as simple as that."
>
>Coleman uses this method for his vegetables, so it might not be that helpful
>for our perennials. But maybe in the fall we can pot up some of those
>beautiful wild gingers (Asarums) or Asian jack-in-the-pulpits (Arisaema) and
>all kinds of other beauties?
>
>Cindy Johnson
>White Bear Lake, MN
>zone 4a
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>
Butch Ragland So. Indiana zone 5
"Conflict is as addictive as nicotine, alcohol, drugs, etc.
I'm sorry to report that cooperation is not."
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