Hi, Well I have grown morning glories....most don't seem to have problems growing them.....but for me the vines don't get huge but they do flower. I don't think it has anything to do with the zone, probably more with the soil they are planted in.

Gazania, I just started the seeds, and they grow fine in planters and in borders. The flowers open in sun and close at night. Since you live in St. Albert....check out the lois hole books.....or ask at the nursery.....they can give you specific information for your location.

Happy gardening,
Sierra

I've had no problem whatsoever with gazania in Edmonton. If I recall I even had a fairly large one overwinter one year on the west side of the house.

On the other hand, I had no resounding success with morning glories last year, which was my first year with them. They grew but not more than about 18". I think my problem was their location. I'm going to move them to another spot this year and try again.

Shauna

No problem with gazanias, too. Morning glories have never done much for us outside here in Calgary (but they go gang-busters in the heat of the greenhouse) - if you are in a part of Alberta that has "normal", hot summers and warm nights (that is, not Calgary, nor Edmonton, and nowhere near the foothills), they'd probably do fine...that is to say, my guess is they'd act pretty normally.

Gazania do great, although you'll need to start those indoors around (March 15th) for them to bloom in our short season.

IME, I've tried many different kinds of MG's, but I'd have to say the best one that does the best is 'Grandpa Ott's, those too will need to be started indoors around the first week of May.

Sharon

Thankyou everyone for your input, I had wondered if especially the morning glories (the Japanese would follow with the same requirements) would be a tender item to deal with, since they grow very well on the coast with their humidity as well. So I won't be disappointed if they don't get very high. I will start them in the house, then transplant them to a container outside. So pleased to hear the gazania can do very well if set in the right place. March 15 will be a good time, I should receive them by that time. And Crazy Gardener I will keep that name in mind as type to plant. Thankyou for mentioning it. This has really helped me tremendously Thankyou so much.

Diana

There's a good comment above concerning cool nights. Many plants shut down or don't grow at all if the temperature drops below a paticular degrees (10c, etc. depending on the plant). Morning glories, tomatoes, etc. need warm evenings and nights if they to amount to much. They'll plod along but never be spectacular. Gardens in Regina, Winnipeg and so on are much more suited for morning glories than most places in Alberta (Medicine Hat is an exception)

On the positive side, the Gazanias in our hot sunny day/ cool night Calgary climate are great and are one of our favorites.