Perennials in Pots

[pieter]

I fully recognize that you and I are in very different climate zones, but, having said that, I not only grow lots of perennials in pots, but also in hanging baskets. The biggest concern I have is to make sure I use a potting mix that is very well drained.

[Heidi S]

Hi Prairie Pen,

just to let you know, not all BC is quite as warm and cozy as Vancouver and Van Isle. I am in Prince George, where we are Zone 3, bordering on Zone 2 and there is absolutely no way I would be able to keep any perennials in pots, over the winter. We deal with regular freeze and thaw cycles, sometimes down to -40 and lots of very cold arctic winds. I grew up in Vancouver area and it was quite a learning curve to start gardening up here in the chilly part of BC!

[Goldens]

Has anyone tried tarragon, lavender or rosemary in containers? I'm in Manitoba and our summers have been crazy with fluctuations the past few years. I thought I'd try these plants in containers so I could move them around the yard before I decide on a permanent home. The rosemary probably wouldn't survive the winter in the ground but how about the other two?

[agedgardener2]

I have grown Hosta in pots for years.I just turn them on their side and lay them next to the house for the winter..There is one in the picture.I have some terracotta pots that are frost proof.They have been in the same containers for years and come back nicely every year with a dose of fertilizer.JOY

[Smitty]

Goldens..I'm in Manitoba too and I can't overwinter lavender even in the ground! please let me know if you manage to.

some perennials don't mind growing in pots and overwintering here..I've had luck with hens and chicks and a sedum that volunteered in my Loon ornament. and although they are not pots..I have a 3 tiered bed that overwinters very well.

[angelinaottawa]

Zone 5B: Ottawa City here.

last year, i live in a high rise apartment with balcony, and I overwinter few perennials. Just put them under those plastic chairs, covered by old winter coats. That trick did work for me for about 5 pots : 3 hosta, 2 hybrid tea roses.
well........i waited until the foliage die down for hosta, then clean up, put mulch before putting old winter coats over it. I lost none, and they are both happy in my new home.

I moved to a new townhome, with small backyard. Again, I love my hosta in pots.
Advice I got from gArdeners was : sink it in your veggie garden, mulch, mulch, mulch for insulation. Don't know if i bring the old wintercoats this time. LOL
About 10 pots of hosta will be sink in my veggie garden maybe in December. They are still in full bloom by my backyard.

Good Luck. Lets compare notes next year...I can tell you, I am hoping to get back back all alive in spring.

angelina

[agedgardener2]

I have overwintered hostas in pots for years.I just put the pots on their side up against the side of the house...on the north side.I`m in zone 4b in Fredericton. JOY

[Puff10]

One of the perennials you may try are Hostas.I've had "Golden Tiara" hostas in many of my containers and they're still doing well even after a few years in the same container.The only care they have required is division very few years!

[balcony_mike]

I have lots of perennials in pots on my balcony, I find the 2 big things are big pots and get things hardy too 2 zones colder than your zone at least.

[B_BQ]

I've potted up baby spirea and they've over-wintered just fine. Last year I collected 13 from between the cracks in an interlock brick pathway. I put them in tiny pots and put them on top of the raised bed. They all miraculously survived, and are now in the ground and growing well.

The other thing, miraculously here in 5a/b are a couple of clematis I've been overwintering in a pot. They were planted in the ground in my shed area, which unfortunately was far too wet. I put them into a pot and brought them into a small corner of my back garden, next to the house, and next to the outlet for the air exchange unit. It never freezes there. I've been doing this for three winters now and they're putting out flowers right now!

We've had the water problem fixed by putting in a French drain and 'O', and it seems to have fixed the water problem, so I shall be planting these clematis directly into the ground this year once bloom is finished.

So, it is possible, given the right conditions and care, to overwinter some perennials that really shouldn't survive.

~BBQ