Will They Live?
For the past few years I’ve been growing artichokes. Since we live in a cold climate, I grow the varieties that produce in one season. This means I only get one large choke per plants, sometimes the season is long enough for them to produce a few smaller chokes.
This year, I planted 6 plants. Two of them didn’t produce chokes this summer, but the plants are lush and look very healthy. I decided to try to overwinter them to see if they will produce next summer.
After much thought of how to do it, I decided a fiber cement pot turned upside would be the best option. I was going to buy straw to stuff them with, but realized I have a ready supply of oak leaves. I also used this method to protect my acanthus in hopes that it will bloom in a few years.
What frost/freeze protection methods do you utilize in your garden for tender plants?
Filed under Around the Garden | Comments (2)
I have always used straw as mulch, but lately I’ve noticed a ridiculous amount of slugs and snails, so this last year I mulch very deeply with compost and woodchips and used planters like you have. Worked fine. But mostly I just shifted to not growing anything that needed too much protection. I’m a lazy gardener like that. The only bed I really coddle now is the asparagus bed. I’ll get spears out of that 20 foot bed if it’s the last thing I do!!
to Lindsey @ BigBearFarmstead's comment
I planted 2 plants in the spring. Both grew very little but one did begin to produce. It was around 2 inches wide when the frost hit. I am going to try what you are doing in hopes that next year I can get a jump on the growing season!
to Jodiana's comment