Why aren't my hostas up yet?

15 years ago

Hi everyone! I'm not necessarily new here (I've been lurking here and all over GardenWeb for years), but this is my first (well, actually second) post to this forum.

I asked this question in another thread and it was suggested I start a new thread so here goes:

A question for those of you in NC... Or SC...

I am in SC, near Aiken (Zone 7b-8a). I have dozens of hostas in the ground here at our new house, and only TWO are showing eyes (Golden Tiara, I think)!!! To be honest, I am worried. Last year I had them in pots in filtered shade on the south side of the house, and I distinctly remember them being up in Feb! (They also got hit by frost).

They are now in shade, mostly on the north side of the house. The soil does feel very cool. Maybe it's just too cool for them yet?

I am afraid I killed them by covering them with (composted) horse manure. What do you all think? I really want to go out there and dig them up and find out what's going on. LOL.

Also, thanks to those who responded in the other thread! I will try to be patient and wait but it's not easy! LOL

A little additional information: I planted these hostas (most of them were in pots for 18 months, while we moved south from PA, stayed in rental housing, and then finally moved here July 2007)late last fall. In January I covered them with 3-4 inches of composted horse manure.

My experience in the past has been that hostas will emerge even when covered with 2 feet of topsoil! (I was trying to kill unwanted offspring of species hostas) And the two that are coming up seem OK...

So do you think they're OK?

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Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
and a glorious perfectly worded searchable title .. my.. you are a fast learner ...

WELCOME to the world of participation ...

WE WILL ENABLE YOU FURTHER ....

when i moved.. up here in z5 ... i potted and moved 1500 hosta ... 65 miles SW .... half went into the polebarn ... and the rest stacked on their sides on the west side of the barn ...

the ones inside the barn ... sprouted out 2 months early .... which is a gigantic problem up here where it can freeze thru april.. and frost through may ...

never underestimate the effect of pots, per se ...

next ... you claim they will come up no matter how deep you bury them ... first.. never compare what a species can do .. and what a foo foo plant can do ...

but regardless of the type.. the deeper it is planted.. the longer it will take the soil to warm.. to the level needed ... to trigger active growth

but the bottom line.. they are hosta.. GO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT ... crimminy sakes ... they will come up.. when they come up.. and not a minute sooner ... no matter how much you worry about them

and as you noted.. the longer it takes for them to come up.. the smaller your chance of getting them frosted is... so see.. there is an upside ...

and.. as a further example... on the south side of my house... i can put a shovel all the way in .. on the north side ... its frozen solid ...

good luck

ken
hostalover67
Original Author
15 years ago
Yeah, in my head I know you are right, Ken. LOL. I just think since we moved 650 miles and one and a half zones south, spring should just get here already!!! LOL.

Thanks.

Anyone else out there growing hostas in SC?
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raye
15 years ago
Hello, I am in NC, and alot of mine that are in pots are coming up, only 2 or 3 that are in the ground are up. I dont know where Aiken is in relation to Spartanburg SC but should really check out Chuck Plemmons in Spartanburg. Be sure to take your credit card and your checkbook. You won't be disappointed, just probably depressed like I am every year that I can't afford every one!
georgia-rose
15 years ago
I'm about in the same Zone as you are and yes, the one's in pots are up, some with full foliage. Soil in the pots warm faster than the garden soil. There are very few of mine that are up in the garden, Designer Genes was the first one.
We experienced many more days of below freezing temperatures this winter, than in the recent past, so it will require many warm days to elevate the soil temperature into the 50's, which is a sort of benchmark for many plants to begin an active growth cycle.
Your patience will be rewarded with larger plants! (Colder winter temps & longer dormancy.)
fightinchickin
15 years ago
I'm in Columbia and the only one of mine coming up is a BME in a pot. I was starting to wonder about mine too, but then looked back at pictures from last year and realized that most weren't really starting to leaf out until April. I wouldn't worry too much.
hostalover67
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks,everyone. I feel a better now...

"Your patience will be rewarded with larger plants! (Colder winter temps & longer dormancy.)"
I think I just learned something new! Are you saying that colder winters and longer dormancy cause hostas to grow bigger?
sunnny
15 years ago
I'm in Texas but the same zone and I have a few with actualy leaves already up and some just poking their heads up and some I can't even see yet so like the others said they WILL come to see out to see you soon. I go out every day and look! I'm so addicted I think about them while I'm at work and look forward to the second I walk in the front door and immediately out the back door to go see them. Pitiful HUH????
HOPELESS HOSTA LOVER,
Sunny
etgras_charter_net
12 years ago
I'm in Wi. zone 5. It's May 2nd and not a hosta in sight.
I pushed away the bark and nothing.What's up with that?

Why aren't my hostas up yet?

Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

hostalover67
Original Author

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Why aren't my hostas up yet?

Comments (8)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

hostalover67Original Author

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raye

georgia-rose

fightinchickin

hostalover67Original Author

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hostalover67
Original Author

hostalover67
Original Author