If according to the zone map 5 and 6 allow for temps of -10 C or so and my unheated but attached garage doesn't drop below that, do I have a zone 5 or 6 spot to keep stuff? Is there any factor for how deeply plants are rooted? which in pots they might not be? How many days we have of that sort of temp? How much moisture is available during this time of freezing (none in the garage unless I provide it). What sort of soil volume/depth do you think would have to be provided to fool the little darlings that they were actually living in the Niagra peninsula?
zone question?
echoes
Jan 09, 2005
My logic says from previosly gathered information, if you can overwinter plants in pots as long as you go one zone higher, you should be able to winter zone 4-5 in pots in your garage. Assuming that the moisture, freeze/thaw thing and any other dormancy requirements can be met. Being an optimist, try up to zone 6, maybe provide a little insulation. This zone designation thing is not totally reliable in most cases anyway, and survival depends on more than minimum temps.
thanks - my experiment has begun. Couldn't lift my girlfriends canna tubers out of their pot this fall and the pot just kind of got forgotten in the garage. Have brought it into the solarium today and will see what happens. Also forgot my tubers in their garage cupboard - have less faith that they will survive. Also brought in my lavender pots today and will see what they do.
My mom came down as i was soaking them and said 'they're dead" and i replied in wonderful monty fashion "they're just sleeping". We'll find out in a few weeks who is correct.
echoes
Jan 09, 2005
Well that's a little different than deliberately bedding them down for the winter out there, but it will be interesting to see just how much you can get away with. My bets on the lavender surviving. It wasn't dryer that a popcorn - , was it?
I bet the canna survives too.
I agree with echoes, the zone thing is just a guide...depends on soil, shelter, sun, moisture, TLC, etc....but you already know all that! :-)
I'm curious to see when they all come up!