This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Re: OT: Geraniums, Overwintering

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

Hi Tia! 

I'm in zone 8/9 and I just leave my geraniums alone because I'm lazy. We get a
dozen or more frosts in the winter, not long hard frosts, just a couple of
hours oat 32*. My geraniums usually loose a few branches but they need pruning
back anyway. I just break off the damaged stalks and toss them. A majority of
the plant survives. If I was really fond off one (like you are!)  I would
cover it when there is a frost warning so that I would sleep better. 

Geraniums are amazingly hardy AND resilient. Last year we had an unheard of
27* frost (the one that ruined Central California's citrus crops) Things that
I have never covered died back. I was meticulous about disposing of the
damaged plant parts and I can't think of a plant that I completely lost. (Even
the bird of paradise came back.) Most extraordinarily, and what is relevant
here, is that all the geraniums came back from nothing! (Well, no above ground
growth) The strong root system shot up new growth and beautiful, well shaped,
new plants grew back. It was so hard to convince people in the community to
just dispose of the dead plant parts and leave the rest alone until well into
Spring, not to pull anything up. Remember, that this winter and save yourself
replacing plants. :-)

Hope you can glean something useful from this babble,

Christy
Central Calif.

Patricia Santhuff wrote:
> 
> Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html
> 
> Okay, so there are no geraniums in my sq ft beds, but I do love them and was
> hoping someone could help me out with some overwintering advice.
>


______________________________________________________________________
To unsubscribe, write to sqft-unsubscribe@listbot.com
______________________________________________________________________
Enter to win the Kenmore Elite dream kitchen sweepstakes only at sears.com! Win a new refrigerator, stove, dishwasher and $10,000 for remodeling.  Hurry, sweepstakes ends December 30, 1999. Click to enter http://www.listbot.com/links/sears4. See site for official rules.
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index