Re: Overwintering annuals

Well, Chris, I agree with Donna - most of what we call 'annuals' are
actually non hardy perennials and many are hardy from z8
south...everything you've listed falls in that category, so I think
we can discuss them on list;-)

I'd rather not see a separate "annuals" list myself.  There are so
few true annuals grown and so much confusion about which they are
that half the conversations would be about tender perennials.  Take
the ubiquitous Impatiens.  I have one plant that has lived for at
least 6 years.  Occupies the same pot as my night blooming Cerus -
self seeded in there; blooms for me all winter and all summer.  Sold
as and considered and "annual".  It ain't:-)

> 
>    I've brought in all of the tropicals and will grow them in the
house.  I'm
>    not sure what to do with Ipomoea batata (sweet potato vine),
Vinca
>    major, Asparagus sprengeri (asparagus fern), and Helichrysum
petiolare 
>    (licorice plant).

Vinca major in all its forms is hardy for me.  In a severe winter, it
will die back to the ground, but springs forth when warm weather hits
- this includes the white variegated form sold for hanging baskets as
an annual - I have it covering a *lot* of ground.

I would plant it out in a protected spot.  It's hard to mulch as
organic material on the leaves rots it, but you could put some
evergreen boughs on it since it won't be firmly established.

Ipomoea batata overwinters for me in my cool greenhouse most years,
where temps can be 40F or a tad lower.  It would prefer 50F.  I lose
them if it gets too nippy in there and I forget and water them too
much.  If it has formed a tuber (looks like and is an edible sweet
potato), you can dig that up with as many roots as you can take; cut
back the foliage; pot it up and keep it on the dry side but not
desert dry in a 50F or warmer spot.  If it has light, it will try to
leaf out; if it does not, it won't.  Just don't keep it too wet. 
It's probably too late for digging it tonight, but if you do have a
frost, dig it tomorrow.  If it has not made a tuber, forget it.  

They will root in water, but not after frost damage.

Asparagus sprengeri is very happy in the house.  Takes temps to 40F
with no problem and a bit below; or regular house temps.  Likes
light.  Put it in a sunny window and don't forget to water it.  Watch
out for the barbs on the stems:-)  I used to keep mine in the house
all winter (have had it for nearly 30 years; it is huge now) but last
year, put it in the greenhouse and it was happy as a clam despite
nippy temps.  They grow outdoors in Florida, where they do get frosts
occasionally.

Helichrysum petiolare is another tender perennial.  I've kept them
going for several years until they get too woody and then I tend to
lose them.  They prefer cool temperatures and are not great as house
plants, but overwinter in my cool greenhouse.  I think it's an issue
of humidity in normally heated houses.  I would give it a try.  If
it's gotten really bushy, cut it back but not past current growth. 
Trim at a pair of buds or leaves.  Give it as much light as you can
and put the pot on a tray of pebbles you keep topped up with water. 
These plants do not tolerate getting dried out.

I have this sinking feeling that I'm gonna be in mad plant bringing
in rush in a day or so when your frost hits here:-(  We're talking
well over 100 pots from a 15' Shefflera to infant seedlings.  Huge
Sigh.  I like autumn except for this.  All my tropicals are in top
form; brugs in full swing - hate these first frosts that put paid to
all that and then we have another 2 or 3 weeks of warm
weather....happens this time of year every year..

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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