Fight back!
We have been deceived into an early spring in Southern Ontario and, as expected, winter returned this week. Temperatures are forecasted to plunge to as low as -10C to – 12C depending on the locality.
Hepatica newly germinated seedlings.
The main reason I am writing this post is mainly related to the winter sowings. Unusual high temperatures over the past two weeks have caused few Hepatica seeds to break dormancy and start germinating. They are difficult to notice at first. Other species shoots may be just under the sowing mix ready to show up (including the 2 years old sowings).
Very low temperatures in this stage are fatal (and you may wonder later why there is no germination!).
So, those who just like me do not have a cold frame for sowings (close it and bundled it up) I advise to take all your sowing pots inside in a garage, or any other such locations (cold basement, cellar). If you don’t have a garage, bundle them with an old blanket, top it with a plastic tarp and keep close to the house (preferably in a sheltered corner).
All my boxes with sowings are in the garage (unheated) right now. Only the germinated pots have been placed under growing lights (in the garage).
Even if you do not have lights, it is preferably to keep the sowings in the dark for a few days than to let them freeze to death (only if there are signs of germination the lights are needed).
With no snow cover or just an inch of fluffy snow, the extreme cold will cause problems also for the new fresh growth/flowers of a few early species: the daffodils are in buds, Hellebores and few others, few Paeonia species are growing shoots, Aconitums, Delphinium fissum have new foliage….I also noticed the first signs of Jeffersonia diphylla and buds on various rockery species. Not to mention the Hepaticas: few in flower, more in flower buds stage and the Corydalis!
What can we do? Perennial plants will not die, but maybe we can continue to enjoy the flowers. Lay thermal blankets in sensitive areas, place reversed pots on top of peonies and Hellebores (preferably lined with microfleece). This method has worked for temperatures down to -7C in previous years. I even placed burlap leftovers I found in the shed in few spots; with a bit of snow, it may make a difference.
We can only hope. Fight back the cold!
