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Chrysantemums - I think I made a big mistake!

jpbragatti92867jpbragatti92867 Posts: 12
in Plants
Hi everyone,
This is the first year I'm trying to grow chrysantemums, and I think I made a mistake.
I bought 5 Chrysanthemum 'Pip Salmon' from Sarah Raven, and planted them out in May, in a raised bed.
However, I was reading about it now, and apparently since it's a late-flowering variety, I should have kept them in pots instead, and should bring them in during autumn.
They have grown really tall (about 1.5m) and haven't bloomed yet.
Should I leave them where they are, outside in the raised bed, and dig them up after flowering? Or should I leave them during the whole winter and just put some mulch? Or dig them up now?
(I'm in Hertfordshire by the way)
Thank you so much!

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I think it will largely depend on the weather.
    If we don't get a hard frost then they should be ok outside until after flowering. Then you can move them somewhere frost-free for the worst of winter.
    But if we do get a significant frost, that may kill them.

    I had a few in the garden that survived for several years (they were the type that just get to about 18").
    Then last Dec we had a massive snowfall and they didn't appear this spring.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • jpbragatti92867jpbragatti92867 Posts: 12
    Pete.8 said:
    I think it will largely depend on the weather.
    If we don't get a hard frost then they should be ok outside until after flowering. Then you can move them somewhere frost-free for the worst of winter.
    But if we do get a significant frost, that may kill them.

    I had a few in the garden that survived for several years (they were the type that just get to about 18").
    Then last Dec we had a massive snowfall and they didn't appear this spring.
    Thank you, so did you use to just leave yours outside during winter and they still came back? (except for last year)
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Yes, they were in a sheltered position for about 4-5 years and grew well - until last winter.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • didywdidyw Posts: 3,573
    I had a couple of lovely chrysanths that I left out and they were fine for a few years - until last winter.  They simply didn't appear again this year.  Also lost a few other things.  C'est la vie - life's too short to be digging things up to keep them protected over winter.  I don't lift my dahlias either!  
    Gardening in East Suffolk on dry sandy soil.
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