I bought a BUNCH of bulbs this spring to pot up for our farmers market. Due to a hail storm it looks like I'm going to be holding over about 90 pots of Asiatic and Oriental lilies in the nursery standard gallon pots. What's my best bet on having them survive to be able to sell next year? I'm thinking of putting them in an area surrounded by crossties and covering the pots with mulch. Is this inviting mouse damage? I'm afraid that it will be too cold just letting the pots sit out all winter unprotected....
Janet
Wintering over pots.
I built a couple 5x4x3ft high wood box frames and covered them with hardware cloth to keep out varmints. Put all my pots in there, and give the whole box winter protection.
Are you placing extra mulch, etc, on top of the pots?
Janet
I actually cover my pots with a blanket and white plastic in December after the ground has been well frozen. But I don't think I'd recommend that where you are. Too warm, and things could get a very early start underneath and not acclimate well to outside in spring. Yes, I think I would mulch over the pots and on the sides of the "pile of pots", but to keep the cold in, not to keep the cold out.