raised bed

I put four of my brugs in a raise bed. I noticed that after the cold spell that we had last week that they have green stalks about an inch above the ground and it appears the rest is gone. My question is will these brugs suffer more damage in a raised bed than just being in the ground. The ones in the ground and not in a raised bed was also affected by the cold but the stalks on these are still green almost to the top. Any help will be appreciated.

Hi,

I don't have an answer to your question but did put one brug in a raised bed this year and found that it was really hard to keep it moist enough. Sometimes had to water it four or five times a day. Finally put a 5 gallon bucket at the base of the plant with a small hole in the bucket so it would drip water for hours. Whew!! Saved my bacon with that one. It is the same plant that frosted off a couple of times, but did make it.

Shirley

S.....You are such a smart chick.....never thought about burying a bucket to hold water...I'll have to give it a try next spring. Thanks

I see were you would have to water a raised bed more often you do have better dranages with it raised but I can't see were the cold would make much difference unless its in a spot were it gets more wind but for know I would mulch the heck out of it to keep from gettting anymore damage and if it stays green it will come back in the spring....
dazed and still confussed
Pete

GRC
Mine usually die down to the ground and resprout in the spring. This is sort of funny, I thought I'd lost one I planted last year, and it just came up, it's about 6 inches tall now. I mulched with lots of leaves. Some areas of my yard get more frost than others. Seems like the low places get colder than the high spots. We are always 10 or so degrees warmer here than at our nursery, 3 miles down the road, but in a valley. My friend Ruby lives in Mississippi and hers loose their leaves, but don't die all the way to the ground.
I would just mulch like crazy with either straw or leaves in that raised bed.

Brugie, if you have a hard time keeping your bed from drying out you may need to change the soil consistency. What is the bed's dirt like? If it is too light, it will dry out quicker. Also to retain moisture...MULCH like crazy if you have to. Have you had the bed analysed? Sometimes these little things can change your garden in the direction you want. If you deep water twice a week, that should be enough. If it isnt...try more water, slower, and stretch it out. Gradually water deeper, and then cut out some of your waterings.... kind of like weaning a baby from the breast milk. Do you use compost in your raised bed? Im not an expert. But, I am a master gardener. You are a brug expert....hehe...but I may be able to help you with your dirt.

yes, Kelly, but no brug can go without water for that long during the summer. I had some in the ground in a not raised bed, and still had to water everyday almost. Brugs just take an inordinate amount of water during the summer. 5 times a day is a little much!!!! but I gave 2 hours every morning this summer to watering all the babies. And then you have to feed them every 4-5 days then.....why do I love them??? oh yeah!!! Now I remember :)

tiG
Have you used Osmocote? It's easier, it fertilizes everytime you water and lasts about 3 or 4 months. I then use the water soluble once every week or two.

no, I didn't this year, but will start them out good with it in the spring. I need to get some now for the winter, they need feeding as we speak! thanks for the idea.

Thanks everyone I think I will mulch it heavy and leave them in the raised bed. It has a lot of bark and I will mulch with straw. Cala I had one that didn't come back this year and I waited for a long time and it still didn't put out. I finally had a cutting and I decided I would take the old one up and put the cutting in the good dirt that I knew was there. When I got it up the roots looked good so I decided I would put it in a new place and see if it would finally come up but it never did. I think if I had left it alone it would have finally come up. I have tried the water trick with plastic milk jugs with a small hole so the water will trickle out all during the day. Sort of a soaker hose affect without the hose. Thanks again for the advice everyone

don't worry Jim, I'll be right here will all the brugs you need come spring. right up the road, can't get better than that!!!