Since I am a total procrastinator I have planted them outside as late as August 11 . (I don't know why I remember that, I have a probably normal loss of memory at my age) That planting did fine, I've had very tiny plants make it thru the winter--even in a frozen seed flat on top of the ground. But my plants are old, close to species, mostly completely non evergreen, I have species crosses that disappear in fall above ground-- I thought one was dead one year and when I dug up the fans they looked like artichokes----completely dormant. Some are partly evergreen, I think Challenger and some altissma cultivars are part evergreen, there is one bicolor I think it's Caballero, that keeps it's leaves green until it freezes. I have started them inside under lights, but, these days I plant them late in October, outside and usually they grow. Again I am a bit crazy, I planted over 200 seeds of a rosea X unknown rosea in 2011. This is the second year they have bloomed, mostly yellow for some reason, tall, spidery and rather pretty. But, I never lined them out or separated the plants and I planted about 217 seeds. ( I found the envelope I had them in in .2011. I found it in a book, I'd been using it for a bookmark!) But frost can happen in May and September here and winters are not fun. I have no envy anymore of people with long growing seasons though, I just wait for Spring. Ido rather hate to see September come though.
totally dormant
totally dormant
