Re: Perennials
This always leads me to ponder the question of why do certain
>lines, in the ground, never seem to pull through the winter, while my
>retail
>stock in bags gives no trouble at all. ? Examples would be the bergamots,
>french tarragon & Echinacea - & thats just in the herbs.
>What is the limiting factor And then why do the plants survive in
>containers. ?
>
>
Glenn
Sorry I am a bit late replying on this! Yes - I certainly have the same
problem with Echinacea over wintering inthe ground - in this garden (sandy
soil, no real frost in a bit of a rain shadow created by Arthurs Seat and
very close to Port Phillip Bay)and my previous garden about 70km away
(heavy clay soil, plenty of rain, light frost (my bird bath only froze once
in 12 years) and further inland).
This year I kept it over winter in a pot and it appears to have come through
OK. I always wondered if it was because I planted it too late every season
and it didn't have a chance to establish properly - I usually buy it in
summer when it is in flower - I would not have thought that it got too wet
for it here in winter - but I really don't know...and nobody else can really
suggest anything.
In fact I visited Norgates Plant Farm at Trentham (in central Victoria -
extremely cold and wet in winter, heavy red clay soil etc.)a few weeks ago
and while I was there asked Denis Norgate about what the secret might be as
he grows it well in his fields. (For non OZ subscribers Denis is a well
known and extremely talented perennial grower who is a bit of a
horticultural legend really) Unfortunately Denis kinda looked at me as if I
might have brown thumbs and said that he had never had any trouble! So
unenlightened, I still don't know why I cannot do it! Perhaps it is the
climate?
Susan George
McCrae, Victoria, Australia
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
