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Frozen solid container planting - question of frost drought?

rebeccasophia5555555rebeccasophia5555555 Posts: 15
in Plants
Hi All.
Feel a bit a silly asking this. But - I have some large metal containers all planted up with tulips in a lasagne. On the top are wallflowers and some small kale plants for top dressing.

Over the past few weeks in North Yorkshire (as with everywhere) it has been basically thick with snow and sub zero every single day. Today with a bit of snow melting at last I can see that the wallflowers and red kale have died (so sad!) owing to drought with the frost being so severe for so long.

The soil itself is like concrete -awful.

Do you guys think that the bulbs inside the compost will be ok? I know Tulips are very hardy but am worried that this really long blast of cold weather and the fact that they are in pots rather than the ground -will have ruined them owing to drought?

Any advice much appreciated!!!!
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The tulips will be fine. Sub zero conditions aren't a problem for them - it's wet cold that does for them, so with pots, it helps to keep them against a wall in wet areas, or even under some shelter for winter. 
    It isn't usually a good idea to have other planting on top of them though, especially planting that requires more moisture. Metal containers are always trickier for plants too, so it would be better to choose something else for the wallflowers and kale in future. I'd be surprised if the wallflowers were dead though, so don't hurry to get rid of those. 

    Snow is an insulator though, so that isn't a problem  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I agree - don't be too hasty with the wallflowers and kale - they may look dead, but wait until the temps recover and you may be pleasantly surprised

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • rebeccasophia5555555rebeccasophia5555555 Posts: 15
    Okay thanks both! That's great to hear - fingers crossed! Maybe I'll give the wallflowers and kale a water this week if it doesn't rain. 
    I planted up the surface after reading a few books about container planting - one by Sarah Raven. The authors don't mentioned the moisture issue. This gardening malarky seems to be so contradictory sometimes!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's more a question of putting appropriate planting together. Tulips don't appreciate being soaked all the time, so it would be better to have plants which like similar conditions if you have anything on top of them. Aubretia, Arabis or alpine Phlox for instance. They can access enough moisture from the air through winter. 

    Nothing should really need watered at this time of year anyway, even in a drier area of the country.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Cambridgerose12Cambridgerose12 Posts: 1,134
    I'd advise not watering in a frost period--it will freeze and kill your plants. Just leave them be. There are different survival mechanisms for hardy plants, and one is to remove water from their cells so these are not killed by ice crystals. This is what makes some plants appear to 'wilt' in cold spells. They perk up again afterwards. (Some other plants use antifreeze; plants are fascinating...).
  • rebeccasophia5555555rebeccasophia5555555 Posts: 15
    @Cambridgerose12 - I was thinking of watering 'this coming week' as it is due to be a balmy 10C all week with no night frosts at all thank goodness. But I see it's going to rain actually so no need.

    @Fairygirl - was just following the advice of Monty on this very website! Who along with other key figures seem to plant hardy annuals such as pansies, cerinthe, violets, erysiums and kale etc. He mentions not to let the pansies dry out. Such contrariness. sigh. 

    Link - 
    https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-plant-a-multi-layered-pot-of-bulbs/
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Once the weather warms up, l would scrape away the top inch (old school) of compost in a couple of areas and see how damp it is lower down. The top can crust over, particularly in cold icy weather, but you might be surprised just how moist it is beneath  :)
  • rebeccasophia5555555rebeccasophia5555555 Posts: 15
    Awesome idea thank you @AnniD :)
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I hardly ever water pots of bulbs in the winter ... certainly haven't watered mine this winter since I planted them.  :)

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • rebeccasophia5555555rebeccasophia5555555 Posts: 15
    thanks @Dovefromabove - I will hold off the watering for sure! 
    So excited about a forecasted 14'C next Saturday I could cry hahah.
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