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Overwintering herbaceous half-hardy salvias

borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
in Plants
I noticed that my salvias that survived the winter (a mixture of Mystic Spires and Victoriana) grew back much bigger and stronger than the ones I planted as plugs this year. Not surprising I suppose, but more importantly they coped much better with the drought.

The problem is less than half had survived the winter (even the mild one we had). The normal advice is to take cuttings, but I have a hopeless success ŕate - they either rot or dry out.

So I'm thinking this winter of digging them all up, potting them up and overwintering them in the frost-free greenhouse. Then planting them out next spring after the frosts.

Is there any reason why this shouldn't work? And should I water occasionally over winter?
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  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I think if you can keep them just damp (not soaking) while they're dormant they should be fine. When they start to grow in spring, ventilate well on fine days so it doesn't get too humid.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    A friend of mine does exactly as you suggest. @JennyJ mentioned just damp compost I agree damp to slightly dry.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JemulaJemula Posts: 196
    I dug up Salvia Love & Wishes last Autumn after cutting it back and overwintered it in a pot in my mini wooden greenhouse.  After replanting this Spring, it's now absolutely huge and has been in constant bloom for months.  I'll try the same again this year as, for some reason, cuttings of the "Wishes" series don't take for me, unlike other salvia types.  I'm sure others have better luck with such cuttings though.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Thanks everyone. Sounds like I have a plan then. It'll take up a lot of space (I have about 50 of them) but I think it will be worth it.
  • KeenOnGreenKeenOnGreen Posts: 1,831
    I used the above method for my non-hardy Salvia, but a few years ago I tried an easier technique, which also worked. In Autumn, I cut the plant hard to the ground, and covered it with a terracotta saucer (anything non-porous would work), to keep off the worst of the Winter wet/cold. I covered it was a layer of mulch first. I also did this with some Dahlia's too, and it saved me from having to dig them up and put them in the greenhouse.
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited September 2022
    I grow Salvia Greggi Blue Note and S Mirage Cherry Red. Last Autumn I just covered them with a thick mulch of compost. I didn't cut them back and they have been lovely again this year. I have taken some cuttings of both as they do get woody after a few years.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    The shrubby salvias, including Blue Note and Mirage Cherry Red, are reliably hardy for me both in the ground and in containers. I'm a bit further North than you @GardenerSuze , so I think the difference is in the soil - mine's sandy and well-drained despite lots of compost being added. I think it's wet feet in the cold that sometimes does for them rather than just cold.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    I agree, it's usually wet rather than cold that finishes them off. Well drained soil is a must.
     :) 
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    I do wonder if the dry winter helped. Years ago I would not have expected these salvias to survive outside in my soil. The border is south facing and fairly well drained. However the soil is clay with added compost and grit. We will see this winter. Whatever happens I will grow them again simply because they flower for such a long time and the colours are beautiful. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • ChezNousChezNous Posts: 40
    This is very interesting to me because for various reasons I have found myself with rather a lot of different types of salvias some in 9cm pots which are growing slowly and some pretty tiny plugs also doing ok so far outside. I was trying to research what to do that's best for Winter - whether to pot them on and keep them outside sheltered to plant out in Spring or plant them out before the frost arrives??? In fact I have the same question about other perennials that are currently 9cm and in 1/2/3 lt pots. I have space to keep them potted until next Spring but if I can actually plant them that would be good. Thanks
    Late to gardening .... @cheznousgarden
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