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Re: [SG] Hosta questions

Nancy,

              Hostas are one of the best shade perennials around. They are
easy to grow and provide the shade garden with various points of view. They
are very vesatile in the landscape and are easy to work with when designing a
garden.

Zone 9 must be a very hot area!. I've heard about a few hostas that don't
thrive in really hot areas, but if properly planted in a condition they like
(full/partial shade some sun, moist) They should be ok.

Fall is the best time to plant most plants, especially perennials! It's cool
and the the plants have a chance to settle in a little bit before the winter
months of dormancy. Hostas I believe need a cool period of dormancy to fully
leaf again successfully every year. 40's or 50's I think for a few weeks, but
I'm not exactly sure. Sorry :(
Usually, many growers can ship hostas throughout the growing season, they dig
a division and send them off to the gardener. Some cut back the leaves, but
it's not really neccessary. The tricky thing about planting during the summer
is the hot temps. Any newly planted plant planted in a warm sunny day deprives
moisture thus risking the life of your new baby. So water in well and keep an
eye on them during those months. So planting can take place now (best time for
me I think!), spring and the summer.

I'm not a mini hosta fan, but 'June' is my favorite!!! It's a sport mutation
of 'Halcyon'. It has gold centers with streaks of blue and green on the
margins streaking towards the center. The fragrant Plantaginea species and
hybrids I'd definitely recommend for your warm climate. 'Royal Standard' is
pretty cheap and blooms very well with very sweet smelling blooms, for
variegated ones try 'Fragrant Bouquet', Guacamole. and if you want to spend a
little more..'Fried Bananas'. I'm still saving up to buy that plant!!
It's a gold leaf type so it'll tolerate more light and it has large lavender
blooms with a scent so sweet!!!.

Suppliers sell plants in containers usually 3 inches to quart size, but
usually, they send divisions and the number of eyes on the division are what
you should consider and of course a well developed root system. Most of the
newer ones are sold in single eyes, but these are usually pretty large and
quite healthy with nice roots.  Most standard common types have at least 2 to
3 eyes. Keep in mind some develop faster than others! Give the plant 3-5 years
depending on variety to fully reach its potential!!

My favorite suppliers and ones I've heard were good are:
*Naylor Creek Nursery in Chimacum, WA
*Shady Oaks Nursery (nice catalog!!) they have website!!
*Specialty Perennials. Good prices quality healthy plants!! in www!!
*Northern Grown Perennials.
oh...just go to www.hostas.com
and see their links to other nurseries!!

Hope YOU don't mind taking gardening tips from a 16 year old!! : )

Good Luck!!!

Rizanino "Riz" Reyes
GMagcalas@aol.com
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