Perennials in zone 3 raised beds?

6 years ago

My a beginner. My raised bed is 3'x6'x12" . Just wondering if perennial can survive the zone 3 winter if I plant them in the raised bed. Thank you.

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Comments (4)

gardenweed_z6a
6 years ago
There are numerous perennials that are hardy to Z3. Check your local library for a book titled 'Perennials for Every Purpose' by Larry Hodgson. It features text about and photos of perennials to guide you. For example, I checked my own copy--just opened it to a random page--and found tall, summer-blooming phlox is hardy to Zone 3. Creeping phlox is hardy to Zone 2 according to the book.
jklms thanked gardenweed_z6a
laceyvail 6A, WV
6 years ago
The general rule for overwintering plants in pots, and it may apply to a raised bed, is that they should be hardy to a zone below where you are.
jklms thanked laceyvail 6A, WV
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shelli, if you add your location next to your zone in your i.d. line, people will be able to learn from and help you because they can relate to your experiences through theirs. i think the question you have is not are these plants zone hardy but are they hardy when planted in raised beds. 18" is not terribly high but i don't know the answer. i think there is some rule about plants surviving in raised planters or beds if they are 2? zones hardier than your zone. but i've been meaning to look that up for awhile myself. I can tell you that my sedum in a container 2' H- survived our z. 5 winter fine last yr. and my hakonechloa planted on the sloped walls of our 'chasm' also has survived for years. best, mindy www.cottonarboretum.com/
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if I put them in there the roots will freeze killing the plants because thats what happened to my strawberries (not my chives though lol). So if I enclosed the opening to the beds maybe even stuff leaves under them (we have a bounty of those) would they make it through the winter? ==>> i am confused.. zone appropriate plants.. will NOT care if the ground freezes .. period your prior failure.. most likely.. was winter water management in a frozen pot ... the SBerries roots rotted off .. pots should be put in full shade .. never winter sun on a small pot ... else the pot might thaw in feb.. not good ... and then once frozen.. laid on their sides.. so NO WATER accumulates in frozen media.. roots need air.. water on frozen media makes ice cubes ... like you dont know that.. lol .. once frozen solid.. they could be staked on pyramid style and cover with a tarp .. but not one that will trap heat ..... to avoid excessive winter wind.. which will desiccate media like chicken in the freezer ... and they should be left as such.. until the ground starts to thaw in spring.. not too early.. the key is.. GET THEM DORMANT AND MAINTAIN DORMANCY ... and manage water properly ... ken ps: little pots thaw fast.. during these few day warm spells int eh great white north ... by stacking them into a giant mass... they will insulate themselves .... a big gob of soil.. takes a month to thaw.. compared to a quart plant ...
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I always like to suggest roses for herb gardens. They were important parts of any antique herb garden. Roses offer fragrance, beautiful blooms, and tasty hips (wonderful in tea). Design-wise it will add some structure and interest to the garden. Garlic is a perfect companion plant for roses - the herb garden needs an allium or two. Garlic and chives are just two members of the allium family and you should be able to find an extra hardy variety or three that can survive the zone. Don't forget some annual plants like chili peppers which are pretty and useful! FataMorgana Here is a link that might be useful: Midwest Hardy Roses
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Okay, that's a good thing to have such a depth of snow protecting your strawberries from the icy winter temperatures, I agree with Mazerolm, they should be just fine! I now have about six strawberry varieties and yet have not chosen a favorite, though 'Delizz; has always performed very well with it's true everbearing qualities and most fruit being held off of the ground and yes, the flavor very good as well. 'Albion' on the other hand were nothing but a big waste of time with only giving a small sprinkling of fruit during the entire summer, then to come on strong in late September and October when frost is upon us, I worked them under after four years of wasted time and energy with a large patch dedicated to them. I later did some research to find that this variety does not do well in far north locations or high altitudes, though apparently works very well for many other places.
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Paul MI
6 years ago
The location of your raised bed and the light it receives will make a difference. For example, if the bed is up against the house and if your winters provide a thick snow cover on said bed, you could very possibly use plants a zone or so higher than your overall zone. If that bed also has a S, SW,or W exposure with little to no shading (by large trees, for example), plants in that bed may also emerge from dormancy far earlier than elsewhere in your yard.
jklms thanked Paul MI
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
12 inches deep ... what is under it ...hopefully its not an enclosed box ... or bad clay under ...

is the soil added.. similar to the native soil ...

in cold zones.. winter drainage is a big issue ... you dont want things going into dormancy real wet ... and the roots freezing into an ice cube ...

oh ... do you have complete snow cover all winter .... this blanket of insulation would be important ... i mean really.. if you usually have 2 feet of snow.. your 12 inches of raised soil.. will be quite moot ....

the usual key with perennials is.. get them dormant.. and keep them dormant all winter ... bare soil in winter.. can thaw and freeze all winter long.. and plants have little sense of humor about that.. especially if the soil is only 12 inches deep ... in other words.. the roots go in and out of dormancy ...

though we can bandy about all kinds of variables.. and how to deal with them.. the bottom line will probably come down to you just experimenting.. and finding out how it all works in your garden ...

what caused you to raise the soil 12 inches????

ken

ps: the way you phrased it.. i wonder if you already have the plants .. and if not.. where are you going to get them ... if you use a local nursery ... one would hope they would sell plants proper for your area and winter ... if you are thinking about mail order.. well that adds a whole other level of difficulty in choosing the right plants ...
jklms thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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Perennials in zone 3 raised beds?

Comments (4)

gardenweed_z6a

laceyvail 6A, WV

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Paul MI

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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