Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange
Gardening and Landscaping Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [overwintering]

Questions about how to ensure that plants survive winter, including mulching for protection, or digging them up and storing them indoors while dormant.

Use this tag for questions about overwintering plants, i.e. what should be done to a plant so that it survives winter in the best condition.

Some plants might be covered for winter, whilst others (e.g. some tubers and bulbs) may be dug up, stored in a cool place, and then planted out again in spring.

External references:

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Can plants have too much light, or do they need night/rest?

Because we live in southern Canada, in the late fall, my mother likes to take as much of her garden indoors as she can fit, for the winter. She usually brings in her potted palms, a few flowers, at least one pot of each of her dozen or so types of…
Synetech
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How do I care for potted apple seedlings over the winter?

On a whim, this spring, I planted several apple seeds in a large pot just to see if they would grow. Two seedlings have come up and are very healthy looking, despite being munched by deer, and the hot, dry summer we had. They are about a foot tall…
shilantra
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How are dahlia tubers overwintered?

I grow several types of dahlias every year, and dig up the tubers in late Fall to keep them for next year. I cover them in potting compost and put them in the back corner of my basement which is dark, cool and dry. I use fresh compost every…
Niall C.
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Is it worth keeping indoor pepper plants alive over the winter?

It's not quite time yet1, but I'm wondering if it will be worthwhile keeping my indoor peppers plants alive over the winter. What I've stumbled across so far seems to indicate they will probably just stop producing fruit when conditions are not good…
DMA57361
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How do I keep red wiggler worms alive overwinter in the Northeastern USA?

I'm going to be moving into my first house soon in Westchester County, NY. I've done a lot of container and patio/balcony gardening and am looking forward to having a real backyard garden. I want to start composting with worms but am not sure if…
somas1
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What color should a greenhouse be?

I'm shopping for a greenhouse to protect my tropical fruit trees from winter frosts. While browsing, I noticed that greenhouses are predominantly green or clear. What are the advantages of each color? I don't quite see the advantage of a green…
JoJo
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Will my lupines grow back next year if I cut them to the ground?

Our lupines (also called lupin in the UK) were done flowering for the year and were harboring an aphid infestation, so I mowed them. Are the "stumps" likely to regrow next year or do the plants rely on gathering a lot of energy through the foliage…
bstpierre
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What should I do with geraniums during the winter?

I brought my geraniums indoors for the winter. Do they need light? Should I water them? Should I cut them? If so, how short? When is the best time to take cuttings (i.e. during winter, start of spring, etc.)?
danjjl
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How much time does clover need to establish before winter?

I'm planting Mammoth Red Clover as a cover crop -- it will grow all next year in a couple of my garden beds, and I'll plow it under the following spring (~18 months from now). I'd like to get it started this fall, but I'm wondering: how much time…
bstpierre
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How aggressively can you prune chilli plants?

I recently pruned my chilli plants after watching some videos on topping. I was more aggressive on plants where there were signs of new growth further down the stem. In other places, I left some side branches. After seeing some overwintering videos,…
Megasaur
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Why should we cover rose plants in the winter?

We live in Minnesota, where it gets quite cold in the winter and the ground freezes well below the depth of the roses. We have a row of rose bushes which we inherited from the previous owners of our home. For the first two winters we have followed…
MRD
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Miniature Rose Wintering

I have a miniature rose plant growing in a large (about 2 foot cubed) container outside, where it has been doing very well. The bush is about 3 feet tall now, and I've had it since February (started it indoors, then moved it outside once the weather…
Amanda_A
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Glass vs plastic greenhouse covering: pros and cons

When building or buying a greenhouse, it seems to me that the material to use is one of the first concerns. The two options I'm trying to compare right now are glass and plastic films. The characteristics that seemed important to me were…
Betohaku
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Why are my daffodils putting out flower buds in January?

Why are my dwarf double yellow daffodils putting out flower buds? It's January, and they usually start that in March. They could get damaged by cold and wildlife during winter. Anyone know what is going on? The winter has been about average, except…
J. Musser
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Are there any varieties of Elephant Ear that are hardy enough to withstand a zone 6b winter?

When I look at Elephant Ear varieties in plant catalogs, they all say Elephant Ears are hardy in zones 9-10, sometimes 7-10. But I see people in my area, zone 6b, growing them outdoors without winter protection. Are they growing special varieties or…
J. Musser
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