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| We just got this in at the nursery I am working at. This cultivar is reputed to be hardy in zone 5. Just curious to know how well it has done for others in my zone and if it has been totally hardy. I'm kind of debating weather or not to get one or not... While I've always wanted to try Alstroemeria, I am not entirely convinced by the fleshy apricot color (slightly wishy-washy, though it could be because it has been in our greenhouse and not exposed to real sunlight yet) of this particular cultivar, or the "reliably hardy in z5" comments, lol. Yeah, I have fallen for that line before ;-)
Anyhoo, wanted to know if anyone here grew and had actual experience with it it and what their general opinion was of it. Also, how do you think it stacks up against A. 'Sweet Laura', which I have read is also another cultivar stated to be hardy in z5 and possibly lower?
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Follow-Up Postings:
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| I've found all alstro's to be reliably hardy here on the border of 5a and 6b with just a little extra work. What I have done with mine is to cut off the stalks after frost kills them, throw a piece of styrofoam over the clump (I used to save packing foam from boxes, or you could cut up a sheet of foam insulation from the hardware store), and then put a mulch of leaves, at least 6", over the foam. They always made it through the winter that way, I never lost any to cold, although several times I would lose nearly an entire clump to voles that would tunnel under there and eat them -- fortunately a few sprigs always seem to survive. And, FWIW, I also have found them easy to overwinter in pots just by stopping water and drying them out in the fall, and then storing the whole pot dark and completely dry all winter in the basement at around 60 degrees. By the time spring rolls around, April, the pots always have the first thin white sprouts poking up. Put them out in the light, water, and viola, instant regrowth. I haven't every grown that particular one, I started with Sweet Laura and a couple of florist's potted ones and went from there. I think I actually like the dwarf types the best, as they are very free flowering and the mounding habit looks good with other perennials and annuals. |
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sat, Apr 28, 12 at 15:31
| wanted to know if anyone here grew and had actual experience with it it and what their general opinion was of it. ==>> so what.. WAG's arent good enough of you now??? lol ken ps: how about this.. if you have to ask.. then its not RELIABLY hardy ... and that is the key word .. if you want to play the zone pushing game.. then all the power to ya.. but sooner or later.. z5 will have a z4 winter.. and you will have 'reliably' lost it ... |
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- Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on Sun, Apr 29, 12 at 12:39
| -denninmi, thank YOU for the information. I will be sure to do a generous mulching/plant in a sheltered spot if I end up getting one. -Ken, so basically you have NO experience with the hardy Alstroemerias??? Why comment then?? |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Apr 29, 12 at 19:24
| Dont grow it myself - Alstroemeria can be extremely weedy in my area - but Walters Gardens, located in Michigan, has been trialing it for several years and they seem to think it's great. I'd assume if hardy in MI, it'll be hardy for you in Spokane, Chris :-) |
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- Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on Sun, Apr 29, 12 at 20:40
| -Pam, that is good info, thanks! I didn't know it had been trialed for so long in a similar zone- that does make me feel better about giving it a whirl then, lol! CMK |
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- Posted by christinmk z5b eastern WA (My Page) on Mon, Jun 18, 12 at 21:45
| I couldn't help myself. After debating it for awhile I decided to get one. The color seems a bit darker out of the greenhouse by the way. Will comment next year on weather or not it makes it! |
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