Ruth2/12/03 5:45

"Franz Heymann" wrote in message
...
"Ruth" wrote in message
om...
Hello there

I have a couple of nice pineapple sage plants but from what I have
read they will need some frost protection. I am wondering whether
anyone has any suggestions as to what they can be insulated with -
will I have to go and buy some horticultural fleece (which I haven't
used before) or is there something that might do just as well?

Any suggestions would be very handy!

Kindest regards

Bubble plastic packing material, but take it off during the day.

Cheers Franz!

All the best

Ruth

Bubble wrap will produce condensation and that, in itself, could rot your
plants. I would suggest you dig your plants up, put them in pots of
well-drained compost, keep them frost free in a greenhouse or conservatory
with a just-above-freezing heater and as dry rooted as makes no difference
and then pop them out again next year once frosts have passed, bring them in
again next winter etc. Why take them out of their pots, really? Let them be
an ornamental feature and then protect them each year.
If you *really* want to faff around with bubble wrap, I would suggest that
you *might* find that you're wasting your time anyway. Wet, cold soil that
is not sharply drained may well kill them anyway. These are herbs and like
all herbs of Med origin need dry feet, not our cold, wet, English winters.
Even in the Med, they grow on stony soils that are sharply drained in wet
winters.
Your choice, of course but more people lose Salvias, Lavandulas (some)
Rosmarinus (some) and other such plants through wet roots than through
anything else, depending on location. For the more tender species, the
frost will simply be the coup de grace when combined with the perpetually
wet roots.
We know that we can over-winter Salvia involucrata in a bed beside the house
wall but we also know that we cannot over-winter Salvia confertiflora. We
have to re-plant that every year but it's worth it because it flowers late
and is a lovely colour. I'd suggest the rule is "if in doubt, don't risk
it" and always, always to remember that cold, perpetually wet soil will kill
many such plants and that no amount of wrap or fleece will alter that.
We know that friends of ours can grow Rosemary 'Severn Seas' at Salcombe but
that we are taking a risk with it here. Trial and expensive error, I'm
afraid. If you don't want to take the risk, pot them up, bring them in etc.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the 'x' to email me)