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Any success with overwintering callas by planting deep in zone 6

5 years ago

I grow some really nice yellow calla lilies, but I dig them every year and store them in the basement, and then replant in spring. Does anyone have success by planting them (or ANY calla variety) extra deep (say one foot?) and then just leaving them in the ground over winter, in zone 6 (or colder)? They are strong growers, so I thought that being a foot deep wouldn't prevent them from making it above the soil in spring. Any ideas or thoughts welcome.

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Rockdale (RI Z6)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I have a yellow one planted on the south side of my house and it comes back every year. This is its 4th year. I got the bulb from Home Depot and its flower is yellow. But this year I have not seen its flower. Not sure if it is because of the hot and dry summer we get this year. Here are pics I take today.

Edit to add: I did not pay attention to how deep I planted it. But certainly not 1 foot. I got it from Home Depot and just planted it as an experiment. Can get from the store again if I lost it.
poaky1
5 years ago
Bill, I have a few that have come back for 3 years so far, they are in a raised bed, I had planted them about 8-10 inches deep, and most importantly I have mulched them at least 3 inches deep with coconut coir mulch. I got this mulch from "gardeners supply company" online, but, you can get it wherever you want, it is abit of a pain in the butt, you get it in a cube, you have to soak it in water until it expands, then you take it out of the water, and apply where you need it, but, if you use wood mulch, just apply it at least 3-4 inches thick, and it may be just as good as the coconut coir mulch, but, mine are mostly in shade, so they don't bloom there, sadly. But, anyway, the images above don't look like Calla lilies at all, so maybe they are another plant called a "Calla"?
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