Protecting Tender Plants

The nights are getting colder and the prospect of frost is just around the corner. In fact some places around the country, have already had a couple of frosty nights, so now is the time to think about protecting your tender perennial plants. I myself have a number of tender or partly tender perennial plants, including, a couple of citrus trees, 3 olive trees, lemon verbena and blackcurrant sage [ salvia ], also some dahlia’s I want to keep. This year I shall also try to keep a few of my chilli and cape gooseberry plants through the winter.

Protecting your partly tender plants

These are fairly easy to protect in winter, these include citrus, olive, salvia’s  and lemon verbena, pelagonium’s and fuschia’s. These plants will survive quite cold temperatures, with only a little protection. The best places to keep these plants overwinter will be, light and cool, but frost free. A cold greenhouse, polytunnel or conservatory are perfect. A few layers of horticultural fleece draped over the plants will keep out most frosts. In very cold winters, bubble wrap can be used to insulate your greenhouse further. These plants need to be lightly watered, keep on the dryside, but dont let them completely dry out. Those plants that die down completely like dahlia’s, canna’s and agapanthus can be stored in a frost free shed or garage as they dont need to have light. They can be dried off and lifted out of their pots and kept in boxes or trays, or just leave them to dry out in their pots. Again if the weather is very cold, lay a few layers of fleece over the tubers. If you have large pots that are too big or heavy to bring inside, cover the pot with a couple of layers of bubble wrap, then loosely wrap the top with a number of layers of fleece. Dont use bubble wrap on the tops, as it can sweat, causing rot or mold. I have used bubble wrap to lay over plants on very cold nights inside or out, but always remove during the day to let the plants dry off and breathe. Even a small porch or coldframe can be used to protect plants. Again use layers of fleece and bubble wrap, depending on temperatures. Watch your ventilation, open doors or a window on mild days to give a good circulation of clean air, watch for molds, removing any dead or dying leaves.

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Protecting tender plants

Plants that will not stand any frost or that need some warmth in winter are a bit more tricky. These include plants from tropical regions, banana, chilli, lemon grass and ginger. I am going to try to keep some of my chilli and cape gooseberry plants overwinter. I will trim them down, then bring into the house. I will be keeping them in a barely heated spare room. A table or stand in front of a window is best, if you do put them on a windowsill, remember to bring them inside the curtains at night. Keep on the dryish side, not drying out completely. Plants indoors can get too cold at night if against the window glass and the curtains are drawn. You can still try to keep them in a cold greenhouse or conservatory, but they might need extra insulation. For ginger, lemongrass and turmeric, which all die down in winter, water sparingly, keeping almost dry. I have kept these on a windowsill in winter. Remove any dead leaves.

Orchids

I always put my orchids outside in summer, I have now brought them inside. Most go on my bedroom or den windowsill. I find them suprisingly tough, they do need to be kept frost free, but most dont need much heat. I will start to give the winter flowering ones, a weak liquid feed once a week, but again dont overwater.

Many potted plants, even many hardy shrubs, will benefit from a sheltered place in the garden. Near a hedge or house wall will be more sheltered than out in the open garden. Even in winter pots can dry out, so keep checking to see if they need watering, and watch that others dont get waterlogged. A bit of preparation and a few precautions will ensure the survival of your plants.

Helen Fowler
Born in Middlesbrough. Moved to live in rural North Yorkshire in late teens. Moved back to the town in my 30's to live near Stockton on Tees. Then after a divorce and a serious accident I moved back to rural North Yorkshire near Thirsk, where I live now. I am a passionate gardener, a keen amateur photograper, I love travel, music, anything artistic and I have a great love of nature and the natural world. I have gardened since my teens and I lived and worked on a farm for years. I have owned or have experience with most pets and domestic animals. I hope by sharing my own experiences and the personal knowledge I have gained over the years, to help and encourage others to gain the most from their gardening efforts.

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