This was the first year that I've wintered brugs over inground. I left my hardiest varieties outside, CG, Frosty Pink and Jamaica Yellow (I did take cuttings just in case). I mulched them well and inverted a clay pot over top of the stump. How do you know if they've made it through the winter? Do they send up new shoots like a peony or does new growth come back near the main stem? I'd cut mine back to about 6" and I know any above ground growth is quite dead. If they have made it when should I expect to see new growth? I'm in zone 7a, near Washington, DC.
Thanks,
Karyn
Wish I could help, but I've not had experience with over-wintering in the ground. I have had some that I thought died in the flower pots in the garage, but later shot up new sprouts near the old growth. I hope they come back for you. I wouldn't remove the mulch if there is any chance of frost yet. When that danger is gone, I would think it would be best to get the cover off so they could grow at will. I'm sure someone with experience will help out here.
My qt pot in garage that HAS woke up the soil temp is 54 degrees.My ones in yard the temps all vary and are in the 40s and not woke yet,but have a warm pocket in yard...and that one has a few shoots showing barely 2 inches and is 62.I imagine the metal roof helps this spot.I don't know how much my soil warms& cools but was 34 last night and was 74 yesterday.Its 44 right now.very sunny.
If a brug is in a raised bed it will come back sooner as the raised soil will warm faster.I know how to cheat warming soil too....black plastic on the ground.Zone denial has benfits.
I only had one come back ( Charles Grimaldi)after leaving it in a sheltered area in the ground ( read some foundation heat loss)once. The Stems I had cut off and laid over the crown and then piles leaves over top of had green shoots already when I opened the leaf pile up in late April but the crown and roots took until the end of June to sprout so I never tried it again. I only get 4 outdoor growing months here so I can't afford to have one of those months wasted.
Thanks for the info. I had no idea what to look for or when. I rooted the branches that I'd trimmed off inside so if they don't come back it won't be a complete loss. I planted some of the brugs in a protected area against a brick wall but the others were in the middle of the front yard with no protection except for what I covered them with.
Karyn
I have a couple sprouting that are in the ground, they are beside the deck so think they were more protected. Most of mine won't be sprouting untill April. I'm used to be zone 7 but now they say Zone 8.
OO I wish I was help but this was my first freeze with brugs as well. My frosty pink and my noid white are comming back but only right at the bottoms of the stalks. They are doing very well in spite of my "neglect" with the freeze and doing all the wrong things..LOL Im sure someone here will definately know whats going on..
HappY Gardening!
Karyn, I can't help you with this. I did leave one brug in the ground this year (as an experiment). I mulched it well with leaves, put a pot over it and a Wall of Water around it. Only time will tell if it lived through this horrible winter. If it lives, it will be a miracle!
Karyn, I grow all of my brugs in the yard. To be honest with you, you live to far north to grow them in the ground. I usually have one or two that does not make it and I live about 145 miles from the gulf im Ms.The weather has been in the 70's for about a week or so and the forcast is for middle 70's for awhile. I took the covers from mine yesterday, all but one had sprouted. If they haven't sprouted does not mean they are dead. If you can scratch them at ground level they will sprout if it is green. I cover mine with heavy plastic , them cover with dirt. I had left some cuttings when covered with dirt. I noticed that they to had sprouted. I pushed everthing to the side because I will probably have to cover again before April, but now they are getting sun and are growing
Hi Larry good to see you post, I will be down your way the 23rd at Clinton for the day. Maybe you can take off work and come and be with us. We are have'g a weeding party for one our our buddies that isn't able get her yard weeded this spring so we are meeting and doing it for her. People from Tn and La are also come'g, we will do anything to get together. LOL
Karyn, mine are beginning to sprout, also, but we have had a week of weather in the 70's with lots of sunshine. It will take a little heat to awaken them.
Ruth, I would love to do that. Will you e-mail me to remind me. I don't think I will ever forget the last time you came down. I still feel bad about it. Between my job driving me crazy and my kids, I can hardly remember anything. I am just two old to have 2 kids. When you were down, you probably saw Shelbie, who is 15. You did not see Tyler. April 15 he will be 10, three days later I will be 60. Are you coming to the plant and patio show at the trademart on the 16 of this month. I always go because I can always find something I have never seen. I always try to put one new plant a year in my yard.
Larry I know exactly how you feel! We have 3 kids, 13, 10 & 2. I'll be 44 next month and my husband is 50. It's absolutely exhausting. The older ones aren't difficult but the toddler completely drains both of us. Don't get me wrong, we wouldn't have it any other way but there's something to be said for having children when you are younger:)
Karyn
karyn, Everybody says it makes you young to have children my age. Well, thats fine and dandy, but they don't have to live with them. My 15 year old, Shelbie, is the sweetest kid anywhere. Now Tyler, is a whole new ballgame. He is the biggest heathen walking around. He has two things that make it difficult to deal with. There is nothing in the world he is afraid of and he has no concept of pain. People don't believe me when I tell them in 9 years I have never seen him cry. Both of them have a sense of humor that is off the wall, and had it since they were 3. When they were in day care, the lady told me you have the two funniest kids I have ever seen. I told her it gets old sometimes living in the house with two amature Don Rickles. My daughter gave me a valentine card she made at school. I showed it to the ladies at work. They were totally shocked. She wrote, Roses are red, violets are blue, the weather is cold and so are you. We go to Louisiana a lot, Tyler has a cajun man that I have to take him to see every year, He has no grandchildren and kind of adopted him. He feeds alligators on his boat in the swamp, He takes Tyler with him, Yep, he got bit by one. He said he had never seen a kid that tough. He did notcry either and this was when he was 5.
I'm getting a kick out of you guys sharing stories about the kiddos and being older parents. Our youngest son is having his first at age 39. I'm really anxious to see how he deals with it. He and his wife have been married 7 years and done pretty much as they please....now things will change. I'm sure it will be for the best. I'm glad I had mine when I was younger, though.
Jarie, We will be heading to Progresso Mexico in a few months, so don't laugh, remember you gave me your address. I am sure that Tyler will entertain you. Did you ever get photos I mailed? Seriously, looking foward to seeing your flowers. Tyler asked me the other night did I know how to get there? My cousion lived in Mission and McAllen for 16 years. I have been down there about 20 times. I can't wair to get to Arturros, I would drive just for food. It has been 12 years so I know things have changed. I hope the pottery shop is still there. I think we will stay away from Reynosa. Maybe you can give new rest. I will eat anything except the cabritto, if that is how you spell it. That is what my cousion always ate. It looked to much like a cat, matter of fact I have never seen a cat or dog on the streets. Larry
Am looking forward to meeting you and your family, Larry. Hopefully, by then there will be all sorts of brugs in bloom. Rosalie, Charles Grimaaldi, Dr. Seuss, Day Dreams, Ecudaor Pink and Creamsickle are at it again and soon Pink Beauty, Snow Cone and Forever Morr will be showing their stuff. Some of the top leaves of some of the brugs still look a bit rough, dried and brown.
As for Progreso, haven't been there all winter. Usually we dance at the Galeria, which has really taken on a new lok. You probably won't recognize the place much anymore. Lots of new stores/store fronts, etc. They are really sprucing the place up, much cleaner now, too.
Not sure which pottery place you're referring to but there are several places to buy nice Mexican pottery. El Disco has expanded quite a bit. We usually eat at Garcias and a couple of other places, can't recall the names now. Most of our Mexican food is enjoyed north of the border.
Jarie
Mission, TX
Rio Grande Valley
Zone 9
Current Topic - Outdoor brugs coming back in the spring
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I'm really anxious to see how he deals with it. He and his wife have been married 7 years and done pretty much as they please....now things will change. I'm sure it will be for the best. I'm glad I had mine when I was younger, though. 
