Hardy cyclamen, etc.

[Diane Whitehead]

The current discussion about hardiness and frozen soils has explained
something to me. I don't get frozen soil (in the 60 years I have been
aware of such matters, our soil has frozen a few inches deep three times).
It takes a long time for our soil to warm up, though, and heat-loving
vegetables are rarely productive.  I think this explains why my arisaemas
are more successful in pots.  I had thought lack of success in the garden
was due to my dry sandy soil, but there is a greater chance for the plants
to dry out in a pot.  Now I think that the arisaemas are responding to the
greater warmth of the soil in the pots.  Maybe raised beds would work
well.

Similarly, I have a lot of snowdrops that I dug from my grandmother's
garden last spring.  Most were planted in the ground and are not yet
showing.  Some are still in pots, outside in a shady spot, and have leaves
and flower buds.I guess the warmer soil in the pots has forced the
snowdrops.

Oh, I'm remembering more!  I bought a lot of potted lilies, back before
deer discovered my garden.  Some I planted in holes layered with compost
and fertilizer, following the instructions given by the lily seller.  The
ones I didn't get planted did far better in their pots of composted fir
bark than the ones in the garden.

Maybe I should leave the trees in the ground and grow everything else in
pots!

Diane Whitehead Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
maritime zone 8
cool mediterranean climate (dry summer, rainy winter - 68 cm annually)
sandy soil