Showing posts with label cold tolerant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cold tolerant. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Cold (Frost) Tolerant Herbs

Since a wintery blast has come a fair bit earlier than anticipated, I was not prepared enough to rescue my herbs for culinary delights. Usually, when I know the temperature is going to change so drastically, I try to cut back, dry and store what ever I can save out of my herbs.

Thankfully, this demonstrates how resilient many of them are.

Whether you grow them in a pot...
...or in the ground - parsley handles the freezing temps quite well.
Last nights temps dipped to -5°C. Burr!

So does my oregano. It still has firm foliage.


So does my thyme!

I have better luck with growing rosemary in pots, this one I shall take indoors for winter use. It's fine. I will however, expect some needle drop from the shock once indoors.

(Sorry, out of focus because my hands were freeeeeeezing!) And of course, mint. Going to enjoy a wonderful mint and red beet salad - the last of the season!
Needless to say, with all my procrastination, I am thankful for being able to harvest the last of our yummy herbs. The snow has also helped to insulate the last of the usable foliage.

Some others I have had success in harvesting after frost:

Lovage
Sage
Lemon Balm
Marjoram
Tarragon

Saturday, November 03, 2012

Cold (Frost) Tolerant Annuals

One aspect of gardening that needs to be addressed when planning and using annuals, is furthering annual flower time with the onset of early frost. Mid October and November is really tough. Some days it's so cold outside, you'd think it was December. Other days, it's warm as September.

Outside of blowing huge budgets by replanting your beds with Kale and Chrysanthemums, there are other cold tolerant selections to choose in the spring when designing with annuals. Autumn in the greater Toronto area has rather cold spurts to start off the season, and with these choices, you'll be able to extend that bloom just a bit longer.

Here is a few examples in my photo collection:

Sweet William

Snapdragons


Dusty Miller

Licorice Vine

Trailing Vinca

Geraniums

Nasturtium

Ageratum

Dragon Winged Begonia


Many choices:
  • Helichrysum petiolare - Licorice Vine
  • Bidens ferulifolia - Gold Spark Bidens
  • Ageratum houstonianum - Ageratum
  • Pelargoniums - All annual Geraniums
  • Senecio cineraria - Dusty Miller
  • Salvia farinacea 'victoria blue' - Victoria Blue Salvia
  • Dianthus barbatus - Sweet William
  • Tagetes patula - Marigolds
  • Salvia splendens - Red Salvias
  • Viola x wittrockiana - Icicle Pansy
  • Antirrhinum majus - Snap dragons
  • Tropaeolum majus - Nasturtium
  • Vinca major -Trailing Vinca
  • Calendula officinalis - Field or pot Marigold
  • Gazania longiscapa - Treasure Flower
  • Lobularia maritima -Sweet Allysum 
  • Begonia x dragon wing - Dragon Wing Begonia
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