How I successfully overwintered Black and Blue salvia last year
As we are getting near frost time, I wanted pass on my trick for overwintering Black and Blue last year. I left the plants in the ground until light frost had killed back the top. I cut of the top at about three inches and then dug up the base/roots (presumably with tubers) with a ball of dirt around them. The dirt was moist, but not wet. These were first year plants, so they were pretty compact. I used 1 gallon ziplock bags to store them. I first threw in a handful of hardwood (not pine! available at a petstore) chips. I'm not sure if this is necessary, but I was storing dahlias at the same time and decided to try it. I put the whole plant, dirt and all, in the bag and clipped the ziplock in two places, leaving it mostly unzipped. I then stored them in a unheated, completely dark closet on the side of the house. It stayed between 38-50 degrees for the winter.
In the spring I pulled out the bags. They will look horrible. Most of the old tops and any new parts that try to grow during the winter will be black and rotted. But underneath and from old tops, new tops (white) will start to grow. I transplanted them into a pot (out in light) and they quickly sent up shoots. You might be able to put them directly into the garden, but I didn't. The plants grew great and both bloomed earlier and were bigger than last year.
I really liked this method because it took up so little storage space compared to pots.
Bellatrix
Comments (12)
wardda
15 years agomskee
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Black and Blue Salvia (salvia guaranitica)
Comments (13)Vicki - I just found some at one of my local nurseries here this past Friday. They had just received the shipment of that and a number of other hummer salvias (eg., 'Argentine Skies') that day. I think that many of the summer bloomers are being held back by some nurseries until this 3rd week of May to make sure that they can avoid those late late frosts - particularly those places that don't have much greenhouse space. You might want to try doing the rounds again to see if any are now appearing at your favorite spots... I know that I've never seen any over here at Lowes, Wally World, or HD so I don't even bother looking at those places any more....See MoreDividing Salvia 'Black & Blue'
Comments (9)I've taken about 30 cuttings, and tried several different ways to get them to root. Some in tap water, some in distilled water, some in weak tea. Also used potting soil, rooting hormone, jiffy pellets, bottom heat, humidity domes, warm kitchen, cool basement, misting, etc. Then I tried different variations of the above. Pretty anal, huh? I have 1 cutting left alive - the one I put in an old Yoplait container in plain tap water with no bottom heat and no humidity dome! You made a really interesting comment Gawdinfever... it struck me that the only common demoninator I can come up with is that all the cuttings were taken off of weak winter growth, with the nodes spaced out about 5" apart. Do you think this could be part of my problem?...See MoreAnyone Overwinter Black and Blue Salvia?
Comments (3)Liz, I save at least a few geranium plants each year. I don't have an attached garage or any stucture outside that doesn't get below freezeing temps so I just overwinter them indoors with the housplants. Plants have gotten pretty expensive, so it's good to share tips on how to make them last more than a couple of seasons. Salvias are one of my favorite plants. I think I bought at least one salvia this year that won't take a zone 5 winter. Now I need to find the plant tag so I can remember which one it was! Thanks for the tip! Barb...See MoreOverwintering a Zone 8 plant (Salvia B&B) is this possible and how?
Comments (7)Andrewsco, if you have figured out how to overwinter and keep a Japanese maple alive and well in the garage over our harsh winter, please let me know! This was my favourite tree in my previous zone 5 garden and I miss it so badly...! I see them being sold as a patio plant in the Calgary garden centres and the prices are amazingly good!!! But I just didn't get one yet because I just have not figured out how to overwinter it yet.... well, I actually want to make sure that it will survive and thrive in a big pot! I hope that is not asking for too much of a Japanese maple.... hmm......See Morenckvilledudes
15 years agohummersteve
15 years agosarahbn
15 years agomonica33flowers
15 years ago
prairiemoon2 z6b MA
15 years ago
Karen Anders
8 years agohummersteve
8 years ago
duane456
8 years ago
mblan13