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Penstemon question

CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
in Problem solving
I planted some penstemon seeds last year and they grew well enough, quite happy little plants. Only small though so I decided to keep potted over winter, to plant out this year at some point. I have an established penstemon that is fine outdoors in winter so I figured they are fairly tough.  I put them in a kind of cold frame, unheated but next to my house and I put some sheep wool over it when it was very cold. Anyway, I'm fairly sure they're all dead now. How should I keep them over winter if I try again this year? In the house?? I don't have a greenhouse. 

Posts

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    No GH then I would keep them in the house.  You could take cuttings from your main plant, a bit later on though, and root them in a glass of water. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    The main plant is a rubbish colour unfortunately @Lyn 😆 - I bought it before it flowered. But I'll try keeping them indoors if I sow more seeds!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    The ones you have in your 'cold frame' may not have died.
    Try knocking one out and have a look at the roots, they may have just died back over winter. If there's some whiteish roots they may be ok.
    Worth a look before doing anything drastic.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    Thanks @Pete.8 yes I will keep a bit of hope for them, they could surprise me yet!
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    They're pretty tough, I love penstemons but I've always bought them potted on - it's usually a case of "ooh now.. I probably need that.." as I pass. 😄
  • CrazybeeladyCrazybeelady Posts: 778
    I'm a bit like that too @Slow-worm though I'm really trying to rein it in, and grow my own instead but god it's a slow process!
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