Re: Question on over wintering hosta in pots
- Subject: Re: Question on over wintering hosta in pots
- From: butch ragland w*@yahoo.com
- Date: Mon, 21 Nov 2005 08:38:26 -0800 (PST)
George, as you know hardiness is measured by temp in
the atmosphere on plants in the ground. Or, with the
added insulation of the ground. Do you know what the
lowest temp hosta will live in pots above ground. I
think hosta are considered zone 2 in the ground? Who
knows?
--- George Africa <bizplanr@together.net> wrote:
> Hello Phil;
>
> There are some on the various lists who live in zone
> 3 as opposed to the
> fringe where I live. Temperature fluctuations here
> sometimes take us to
> around 35 below for a few days but recent years have
> not gotten close.
> We still have some experience with cold
> temperatures.
>
> If your hostas have been in pots 1-3 years then you
> know that they have
> some good root systems. Typically the roots will
> have moved to the sides
> of the pots and down to the bottom. Fast growers
> often have a larger
> root mass at the bottom of the pot, sometimes
> twisted into a mass if
> they haven't succeeded in exiting through a drainage
> hole.
>
> If you are going from Zone 5 to 3 in one year in
> pots, I would err on
> the side of caution and move the pots off the bench
> onto the ground. As
> you mention, waterproofing is the most important
> care but my concern
> would be the possibility of freeze/thaw if left on a
> bench. Leaving pots
> on a bench allows for greater temperature change.
> Here in Vermont we
> almost always have a thaw in January and that few
> days in the 40s or
> slightly higher followed by a certain below zero
> period kills many of
> the roots.
>
> As a reminder, the difference between zones 5 and 3
> also is evident in
> the presence of rodents and what they can do to your
> prized plants. I
> always use a spun fiber insulating blanket and then
> 6 mil construction
> poly over the top. Before I cover things up I lay
> 15" pieces of 2 inch
> diameter pvc pipe between the rows. I put a couple
> ounces of DCon in
> each piece. The pipe protects the poison from
> domestic animals and makes
> spring clean up easy. Bait bars are effective but
> rodents tend to carry
> pieces around and this can be an obvious concern.
>
> Best wishes in zone 3. It is different!
>
> George Africa
> Vermont Flower Farm
> 256 Peacham Pond Road
> Marshfield VT 05658-8099
> http://vermontflowerfarm.com
> Tel. 802-426-3505
> FAX 802-426-3706
> Zone 4
>
>
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Butch
Conflict is as addictive as
cocaine, alcohol, cigarettes,etc
I'm sorry to report that
cooperation is not
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