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Overwintering a Zone 8 plant (Salvia B&B) is this possible and how?

8 years ago

I recently picked up two potted Salvia black and blue's for a crazily cheap price at home depot. The plants are in almost perfect shape and came in 10" pots. They were sold as annuals but presumably this is just because we are so far removed from zone 7 (I live in Calgary, zone 3).

My question: is it possible to over winter this plant and is it worth doing? I have read other blog posts where people have waited until the frost has put the plant into dormancy then trim the stems right back and place the root ball into a black bin liner and store it in the garage throughout the winter. It doesn't seem too much hassle to me but would this method work? Each pot has quite a few plants in so I could potentially split them as well.

Also, I am considering just keeping the plants in the pots this year as not sure I can be bothered planting out and then digging up again for just a few months. Presumably, all the mulch in the world wouldn't keep these alive in the ground!

I appreciate any comments! Thanks

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Comments (7)

Konrad..just outside of Edmonton Alberta
8 years ago
Your idea seem feasible and worth a try,..just like one would keep over geraniums.
ostrich
8 years ago
While the idea is feasible, I just wonder if it is worth all the hassle to keep this plant alive over winter? Even in the south, it's apparently often grown as an annual.... hmm.... can you germinate it from seeds again next year?

I overwintered a few things in my garage over the last winter, but the hassle was probably not worth it. But that is just my opinion.... Good luck!
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I have different micro-climates in my garden. B&B is planted in many locations in my zone 7 garden. This isn't scientific, but here's my experience with B&B: In the hottest area in my cottage garden: south-facing and protected by the house-- all plants survive; appear earlier; grow larger and bloom the most. Out in the open on the south: they are very slow to emerge in spring -- up to a month later than in the cottage garden . Sometimes, no plant returns from the original 'mother plant' site, but I'll find offspring a few feet away, so always look around and be patient. Half the size of the cottage garden plants, they don't bloom until June. Under a tree (high shade, filtered sun) on the southwest side beside the sidewalk stones that get winter sun: good location for overwintering, so I use it as a holding bed and transplant out into the open garden. East side of the garden: the sun hits this area first in the mornings, while frost is still on the plants and I'm yet to get a B&B to overwinter there. I'm trying again this year and will put flat stones around the base of the plant. I do not cut back any stems on B&B in the fall. Hope this helps. Cameron Here is a link that might be useful: the salvia B&B in my cottage garden
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Heather I hope your plant did well in the basement. I dug up a rather large black and blue and put in the only available pot 12" I had. I covered it with a black bag and put it in my garage. I cut the stems way down to where it would all go inside the the black bag. I also am able to keep my garage in the 40s with an inwall heater but Im not sure that was necessary for it to survive which it did. I have left that plant in the same 12" pot all summer and it flowered mightily. I will do this again with it will put it in a larger pot. Thank you very much says the b & b. Also for those that dont know Im happy to report on my experiment of covering my entire garden with plastic and bagged mulch worked better than I hoped. It worked with 100% return on every single plant covered. As a note I had not had my agastache tutti frutti return in my zone 6 before I did this. I cut all the plants down to just a few inches above the crown so I could cover with the plastic. It is important to seal the edges as best you can with rocks, sheperds hooks , etc. Also it is important : before you cover make sure dormancy has started, that temps are consistantly in the 40s and lower. Higher than that and plants may try to grow again and this is not what you want. Steve
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While I don't have a cold frame, several of my friends do, and I can attest to their value. Some of your plants may survive in the ground anyway, and that is something you won't know until spring. Salvia greggii "Wild Thing" seems to be a very durable plant, which is good, because it is one of my favorite greggii. Black & Blue has been here in the garden for about a decade. I had to try it in several different spots before I found a few where it would perennialize. Most years it gets fall leaves piled on top of the uncut stems (wait until the plants are truly dormant)and has returned in good health. This method might not work if you have heavy soil or a large vole population. For all I know the jury is still out of Zauschneria in the east. I have latifilia v. etteri growing and blooming although it is still very small. How has it done for you? Several friends report being able to keep another species of the genus alive but also report it did not flower.
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Have you ever heard of micro climate? Where is it planted? I've had a lot of success with plants not necessarily rated for my zone 5/6 in Indiana by providing a micro climate for them. Meaning the plant is protected from the elements on 2-3 sides....planted next to the house or other large structure. Top dress the soil with a thick layer of mulch. Do not cut back the plant till early spring. For years I'd dig up Canna bulbs and store in my garage. Then one fall/winter I was sick and didn't dig bulbs. To my surprise they not only survived our harsh winter but grew in the spring bigger and better than ever due to the micro climate provided by the house and other large perennials. Do a search on micro climates.....should make it more clear what I'm saying. Best of luck.
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andrewsco
Original Author
8 years ago
Ostrich, that's exactly what I am thinking now to be honest. My Japanense Maple I will be doing but for the sake of $15 a plant not sure it's worth it with these. They are lovely though.
ostrich
8 years ago
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...
andrewsco
Original Author
8 years ago
Well to be quite honest I haven't done it before. I've read quite a bit though and it seems the best way to do it is to cover in a black bin liner and store in a cool garage until spring (with an occasional water). It will be an experiment this year for sure!
prairie_northrose (3b north of Calgary AB, Canada)
8 years ago
Not a maple. But we do have a tangerine tree that we keep in an big pot and bring outdoors during the summer. In winter it goes inside with the houseplants.
ferret4it(Zone 5 Ont)
8 years ago
I have overwintered Black and Blue for 3 years now in pots. Some in the pots they stayed in all summer, and some were dug up and just thrown in a container. I then store them in the cold room under the concrete porch(which almost never goes below 40F). I have only lost one from the first year because I thought the soil looked too dry and I watered it, which caused rot to set in. I think the key is cool and dry.

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