Re: zone 7 plants in zone 4???
- To: s*@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
- Subject: Re: [SG] zone 7 plants in zone 4???
- From: H* J* W*
- Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 10:00:53 -0600
Cindy,
I've seen some Zone 5 and 6 plants thrive in 4, but I don't think I've seen
any zoned for 7.
(Kirengeshoma, Gaura, Eremurus, Kniphofia, Centranthus, and Incarvillea, for
instance.)
--Justin
Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA
-----Original Message-----
From: Cindy Johnson [C*@AOL.COM]
Sent: Tuesday, February 15, 2000 9:44 AM
To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Subject: [SG] zone 7 plants in zone 4???
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
