I wanted to provide an update on my winter garden efforts. =) I built a small (about 3x6) low tunnel using 1/2" electrical conduit and a clear plastic dropcloth along the back of my garden, where there is full winter sun and protection on the north side. I had a "duh" moment the other day while I was out in the garden picking swiss chard for dinner from my MONSTER plants... I transplanted them into my tunnel and they are doing great. (The "control" I left outside the tunnel is now DEAD.) We'll see how long they last through the winter! I know they'll go to seed in the spring if they survive, but that's ok, I'll have new stuff by then. And I can save seed that way too =) I also moved my parsley in there, so I can see how that does. I tried presprouting spinach and mache inside, which worked fine, and then planting them out... well, they weren't doing so hot without any protection, so I put them in the tunnel as well, and I am starting to see sprouts! Not growing fast, but growing. We'll see if they can get established enough before the weather really gets bad. And finally, I have lettuce sprouting inside a milk jug (wintersowing style), inside the tunnel. It is tiny right now, but green and healthy looking! I figured it would get "double protection" that way and might make it. My husband just rolls his eyes, but I tell him, "Hey, this will keep me sane through the winter, so humor me!" And he really does, he helps a lot even though he's not really into gardening! Helped me get my new community garden plot cleared and tilled this spring (after five years of neglect), built me raised beds at home, and he even thinks to get grounds for the compost heap when he's at the coffee shop =) >sorry had to brag on him a little!Anyway, I am excited to see what will happen! All the tips from posters here are such a help! Lori

I've used a number of Gardens Alive products and been very satisfied with them, but I sometimes call for more specific product info. Have you tried that--and if necessary tell the person you're speaking to that you want to speak with a product specialist.

I'd like to hear from Amyta about what she's done with that Persian Shield. We kind of hijacked her thread trying to get Kathy's urn filled. Anything that I have that is borderline hardy (Persian Shield, Pentas, pineapple sage, shrimp plant), I take little cuttings in the fall and keep them in an unheated utiltity room with windows, where it never freezes. If the outside plants make it, I have bonuses for another use even if it's just to give them away. Kathy, the only other deep purple plants of a size suitable for your urn in sun that I can think of would be purple Basil and Perilla. Oh, there's another option for your urn: salvias with purple blooms. It's hard to get a plant to take off and not die in full sun without giving it a little shade for a day or three and enough water. Sometimes a plant will just die for no reason. I had one pineapple sage of five just turn up its adequately watered little leaves and die this week. It was established, not newly planted. Nell

Oh that's fantastic - a fine speci-mine! Love seeing it, glad you found this again, kind of an arcane niche forum. Your plant did a much better job staying purple and retaining leaves inside. I wonder if I'm just leaving these out in the cold too long in the fall. The plant below is about the best looking one I've ended up with from bringing them in many times, in OH and AL. They recover within a couple weeks, with a flush of pretty new leaves, but not easy to look at all winter. Nice size, too! So glad you got roots, I was almost certain you would, as sure as one can be regarding propagating anything. I've kept pieces in water all winter before, but that only means about 3 months here. When it's warm and humid, I just stick pieces in the ground or pots and those almost always take root too, if they don't get too dry. And no way, you do NOT have a spider plant in there - yes you DO! That's too weird. GMTA! Your yard looks peaceful and beautiful, BTW. Haven't seen that spot before, love it!