Over-wintering pots...

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Wulfsden Riverdale, NJ(Zone 6a) May 14, 2009

I am growing cutting celery. I suspect the plant may be hardy to USDA Zone 6a if grown in the ground and mulched. However, I grow it in pots. I don't have a garage, and if I cause another fly infestation in the basement, my plants won't be the only life form thrown out in the snow. I do have an unheated (no light) garden shed.

My attempts at over-wintering last year while successful were not exactly stellar (2 out of 15 plants survived.)

I could use some good ideas here. Has anyone any thoughts?

Post #6545378
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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) May 14, 2009

I know you're "just a little" colder up there than we are down here but, maybe you could rig up some lights to put your plants under? Or did you mean your shed isn't wired at all? Lights will provide some heat and might be just enough to make a difference.

Post #6546963
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Wulfsden Riverdale, NJ(Zone 6a) May 14, 2009

No. No power and no windows. Just a standard metal shed.

I am pretty sure (which is to say that I have an opinion with no evidence at all to support it) that it was not the cold that killed the plants. I put 2+ inches of leaf mulch in a large cardboard box. I trimmed the plants back to almost nothing, then covered the 4 pots (5 plants per pot) in newspaper. I put the 4 pots in the box too, and surrounded and covered them with more mulch. I think that should have raised the "zone" a level or two. I know the celery's parent survived a NJ winter out in the hedgerows.

The plants that died had their central root portion rotted. Most of the pots had a white film/web over the soil when I opened them in the spring. It had rained they day before I did this, so the soil was fairly wet.

I suspect that the plants died because:

a) The soil was too wet
b) I did not provide any light
c) the fresh leaf mulch contained spores
d) I overtrimmed them before storing
e) No air circulation
f) I am an idiot and made some other obvious (to everyone else) error
g) All of the above

The celery appears to be biennial, so I need it to survive a winter in order to replenish my seeds. Some of my current thinking is:

a) Just leave it out and see what happens
b) Bury a pot in the ground and mulch
c) Put it in shed with rodent protection but little else
d) Build a cold frame (a bit drastic)
e) Hope for divine intervention (Ask at DG)

Ed :))


Post #6547156
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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) May 14, 2009

The fly infestation you had in your basement--were they what are commonly called sour flies or gnats? If so, I've successfully combated those by adding vinegar to my regular watering routine (about 1/8 cup per quart of water). Maybe your wife would reconsider another stint in the basement if you can control the flies :-} That sounds like your safest place to overwinter your plants. You wouldn't have to wrap, mulch, box, etc., just keep them in pots and water sparingly.

Post #6549240
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