That is really helpful @Joyce Goldenlily thank you for explaining that - I had never heard of doing it that way before. It can get quite windy here so I can see the verbena would need surrounding structures to protect it, as that long stem could potentially break.
It is very unlikely the stem will break, it is a very tough wiry plant but it may well rock in the wind and loosen the root ball so I would put 4 fine bamboo canes around the outside edge of the pot with 2-3 circles of string or raffia, tied to each of the canes, in a circle, not the plant. When you plant it out give it 3-4 thicker bamboo canes around the plant until it is established in a year or twos time.
It's wet cold they hate in particular, so good drainage is really helpful. When wet soil freezes, it's even worse, whereas a drier soil that gets frosted or frozen is easier for them to deal with. They're fine in west facing sites though. If the site has some shade, a good support helps to keep them upright, but that's best done with other planting if possible, or some sturdy twigs put in when they're growing, but before they get too big. The only ones that overwinter here are ones in raised beds with appropriate soil and drainage, and either right up against walls, or among other planting, to give them enough protection through winter. Even then, I can't reliably get them through most winters, so I take cuttings to keep inside as backup. That's an easy way to give you more stock ,and they take easily, so you could try that next year if you wanted. They don't self seed consistently here either, as the seed tends to just rot by the time they get to that stage of having viable seed. I occasionally get some in the gravel, but not many, and it's only been in the last couple of very mild winters that it's happened.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
When I take cuttings and they look like that, I take off the stem - between now and when it flowers in mid-summer, one way or another it's going to snap. They grow like the clappers when it warms up and those little shoots will get to 4-5ft by the summer and the plant will produce many more from the base.
I tuck my VB cuttings away somewhere very sheltered over winter. They're not growing atm, so don't need light. If you're not in a very chilly part of the country it'll be fine sheltered outdoors. And if you are, leave it in the garage until the worst of the weather is over - it won't need water. I rarely lose any over winter around here.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Brilliant @Fairygirl that is so helpful! I will really watch out for and avoid wet freeze. I would like it in that west bed if I can, and it will have some good protection there. Taking cuttings could be the best way to do it from next year onwards, just in case.
Ah interesting @Pete.8 that yours snapped. Wow I didn't realise they grow that much, that's pretty impressive.
It's not too chilly here but I will keep an eye on the forecasts. The garage could be a good spot then, and there is a window in there actually so not completely dark. Good to know it won't be needing water, stops me from giving it too much attention with the watering.
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They're fine in west facing sites though. If the site has some shade, a good support helps to keep them upright, but that's best done with other planting if possible, or some sturdy twigs put in when they're growing, but before they get too big.
The only ones that overwinter here are ones in raised beds with appropriate soil and drainage, and either right up against walls, or among other planting, to give them enough protection through winter. Even then, I can't reliably get them through most winters, so I take cuttings to keep inside as backup. That's an easy way to give you more stock ,and they take easily, so you could try that next year if you wanted.
They don't self seed consistently here either, as the seed tends to just rot by the time they get to that stage of having viable seed. I occasionally get some in the gravel, but not many, and it's only been in the last couple of very mild winters that it's happened.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They grow like the clappers when it warms up and those little shoots will get to 4-5ft by the summer and the plant will produce many more from the base.
I tuck my VB cuttings away somewhere very sheltered over winter.
They're not growing atm, so don't need light.
If you're not in a very chilly part of the country it'll be fine sheltered outdoors.
And if you are, leave it in the garage until the worst of the weather is over - it won't need water.
I rarely lose any over winter around here.
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
I too would take off the stem in your case, as you have good basal growth in the plant.