What plants can survive the winter frost?

hello932

Hi

I know its just the beginning of summer right now but my thoughts rest with the really cold winter we had last year. With that in mind what plants can survive in winter frost conditions?

can i assume the following-

-that perennials can survive frost only to grow again in spring and that annuals will be killed off by the frost?

-that tomatoes and strawberries will have to be moved indoors to survive?

-that blueberries, green grapes and broad beans can survive the frost outside?

-if annuals are moved indoor during the frost season and maintained over the winter, that these annuals can again thrive and grow again over the following warmer spring and summer?

looksee

Yes, perennials survive and annuals die off.

Tomatoes are grown every year from seed - they are annuals. Strawberries will be ok outside.

Blueberries are perennials, grapes should be ok, but not entirely sure, you might have to put fleece on them, broad beans are annuals.

Its not worth bringing annuals indoors except possibly pelargonums (the pink and red geraniums on sale now). There may be one or two others, what were you thinking of?

fodda

Any and all weeds;)

hello932

looksee wrote: »

Yes, perennials survive and annuals die off.

Tomatoes are grown every year from seed - they are annuals. Strawberries will be ok outside.

Blueberries are perennials, grapes should be ok, but not entirely sure, you might have to put fleece on them, broad beans are annuals.

Its not worth bringing annuals indoors except possibly pelargonums (the pink and red geraniums on sale now). There may be one or two others, what were you thinking of?

but why do annuals die off every year-is is due to frost/cold?

If i were to grow annuals permanently indoors like tomatoes would these tomatoes survive indefinitely? or would i have to start from seeds again with totally new plants?

looksee

The plants are 'designed' to reseed themselves each year (unless they are F1 hybrids), in this climate they would get sad and straggly, and probably die anyway if you kept them. Light matters as well as warmth. People grow them from seed every year, though some like poppies and nasturtiums will seed themselves (with great enthusiasm, you only ever need buy one packet of nasturtiums and you will have them for ever).

Polynomial

Not trying to sow confusion, but you also have "biennials", like Wallflowers that you plant (or grow from seed) in one year and they flower the following year. They will generally survive a typical winter. You could try to keep them going for a third year, but they won't look good.

kylith

My Dicentra (Dutchman's breeches) survived the frost quite happily, as did the deadnettles, some ornamental grasses, helebores, what I call the Lazarus Rose (It hasn't flowered in at least a decade, but the damned thing won't die.

I think my cyclamen bought the farm though.

looksee

I have had both a parsley plant and a pelargonum last outdoors for several winters. Eventually they did die, but the pelargonum was huge - the size of a small bush - before the winter finally claimed it.

The reason for growing from seed every year is because usually you get better plants and better flowers. Annuals that survive from one year to the next usually look scruffy the following year, sometimes they will be improved by trimming them, but generally its not worth it.

And part of the entertainment of gardening is choosing and sowing the new flower seeds and potting them on, and swapping them with friends, and seeing them grow. It means you can start 'gardening' - reading catalogues - in January and think of summer days to come. Hopefully

Biennials often survive for a few years, but again the plants sometimes get straggly and they die off completely eventually.

hello932

With regards to fruit and vegetables is the general norm that produce that grows underground is safe from frost and that produce that grows above the soil not safe from frost? so things like pototoes, carrots and garlic would be safe but straweberries and tomatoes not safe?

Nabber

I left most of my plants out doors for the winter. That winter really tested them. All of them survived. I cut down my tomatoes before winter comes. So the ones left I expected to survive anyways (Strawberry, spinach, radish, cabbage) Any plant native to Ireland should be fine.

looksee

hello932 wrote: »

With regards to fruit and vegetables is the general norm that produce that grows underground is safe from frost and that produce that grows above the soil not safe from frost? so things like pototoes, carrots and garlic would be safe but straweberries and tomatoes not safe?

No, you can't take that as a general rule at all. Strawberries are hardy and will survive the frost, as will raspberries, gooseberries, currants. Leeks, brussels sprouts, cabbage will be ok too. Potatoes should be lifted as should carrots and many other roots, though parsnips are better after a frost. Many of the roots would need to be lifted and stored in a (just) frost proof area. Garlic and onions would be harvested too.

As we have said, tomatoes are annuals and will only last the one year.

Mothman

And broad beans can be sowed in Autumn (perhaps variety specific) to over winter as small plants

hello932

With existing annuals can you somehow collect the seeds from the flowers and then grow these again and again?

Like for tomatoes I have Aisla Craig see http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Vegetable+Seeds/Tomato+Ailsa+Craig+Seeds+180850.htm . Instead of buying these could i harvest some seeds from my own tomatoes-would these actually grow?

Where do broad bean seeds come from-are they what happens when you leave the pod of beans on the stalk too long?

Mothman

Broad beans are a particular type of Bean of which the beans are ate, very different from Runner or French beans of which typically the young pod is ate. The tatse of Broad Bean is somewhat an acquired taste with many folk not liking them.

looksee

hello932 wrote: »

With existing annuals can you somehow collect the seeds from the flowers and then grow these again and again?

Like for tomatoes I have Aisla Craig see http://www.suttons.co.uk/Shop/Vegetable+Seeds/Tomato+Ailsa+Craig+Seeds+180850.htm . Instead of buying these could i harvest some seeds from my own tomatoes-would these actually grow?

Where do broad bean seeds come from-are they what happens when you leave the pod of beans on the stalk too long?

This is a fairly complex area and you might be better to find a website on saving seed. However, briefly, some annuals will seed themselves (in this climate), and you can certainly save the seed. Its a bit trial and error, but you have to wait until the seed is turning colour and catch it just before the seedhead bursts, but not too soon or they will not be ready.

Some plants you can cut off the heads when they are just about ready to go, out them in a paper bag (not plastic) in a warm spot and wait for them to shed their seeds.

Some things like poppy are very easy, just wait untill the head is dry, cut them and hang them upside down in a paper bag and give them a shake. The seeds will fall out like pepper pots.

Beans you harvest by leaving the beans on the plant to dry, the seeds inside are what you plant, regardless of what type they are. Be aware though that if you leave seeds to mature the plant will stop producing, so wait until the end of the season.

The big problem arises with the more specialised plants - F1 and now (I think) F2 hybrids (flowers and veg). A lot of money and time has gone into breeding these plants and they are not about to let you reproduce them for nothing! They are more or less sterile and are propogated from cuttings or using minute bits of plant - I have forgotten the name of that process. You will get either nothing, or random plants that are nothing like the parent.