Is it too late to plant my Hostas? No, in fact it’s a good time
Hostas can be planted at virtually any time of year.
Now is a great time to plant Hostas. They tend to grow best when planted in autumn. They still have time to put down fresh roots, whilst the soil is still warm, before going into dormancy. Get your Hostas in now, before it’s past the perfect date.
It is often recommended that you should plant Hostas about 6-8 weeks before the hottest days of summer or the first frost of winter, so that the plants have time to grow and produce a good root system before the harsher weather conditions.
So! When will we see the hottest days of summer and can we predict the first frost. The so called, profession weather people can’t get it right, so how can you be expected to know.
At Rewela Hostas, we plant, and pot up, all year round. We don’t know what the weather will bring or when, so we just need to make allowances for it.
The hot summer sun, when we actually get it, will scorch and dry out any non-established Hostas.
To help your Hosta survive, you can shade it, using netting, or a universal shade such as a garden brolly. Planting them in a more shaded area will also help.
Keeping the sun, or more importantly, the heat, from off your Hostas is just one element of it.
Hostas will normally suffer in the sun when the moisture from the leaves (transpiration) happens quicker than moisture can be taken in from beneath. This is why the more established Hosta will fair better in hot weather.
One way of trying to ensure this doesn’t happen is to keep them well watered. Do not let them dry out, especially the pots and containers. Having them with already established root systems will be a great help, so plant late summer to early autumn.
The frost is a different matter. Hostas, once established are very hardy plants. They get rid of all their foliage and become almost dormant, to protect themselves.
Newly planted Hostas are not established and need a bit of protection. Do not plant into frozen or frosty ground. Wait until there have been a few days of thaw and the soil or compost can be easily used.
If you have planted into the ground and then you get a frost give them a bit of protection for a few days. Any form of frost protection will probably do, from fleece to straw. Don’t leave it on, once not needed.
The earlier you plant them, the better. If you plant your Hostas and then there is a long wet or frozen spell, and the Hostas haven’t had chance to produce any new roots, it may well be that the Hostas will rot. This is more prevalent in poorly drained soil such as clay.
Any newly planted pots or containers can be moved to somewhere frost free or sheltered such as under low growing foliage, or maybe a cold greenhouse.
Be extra vigilant with miniature Hostas. These need that little more care & protection from the frost. They are only little fellas and need assistance.
I suggest that pots and containers of Hostas are not put into a garage or similar for the winter. Hostas need to have an element of frost on them to help grow well for the following year. Just as a cold shower, or plunge pool wakes us up, Hostas need the same.
It does not matter what time of year you plant Hostas, as long as we are prepared.
However, now is a fabulous time to plant Hostas. It gives them a better chance of survival than any other time of year. They still have a couple of months good growing before they start to go back for winter, so get them in now.
You can buy Hostas all year round. They can be sold with full foliage during the growing months, or with no foliage at all, during late Autumn to Spring.
Suppliers won’t send out frozen stock, so whenever you receive them, get them potted or planted.
If the ground is frozen when you receive your Hostas, then pot them up until the winter is over.
A small tip for bags of compost for your potted Hostas. If your compost freezes, you can’t use it. Put your compost in an area that won’t freeze. That way, you can pot up your Hostas readily.
So! The question! When is it too late to plant my Hostas?… the answer is never too late but be aware of extreme weather conditions.
Planting, at any time of the year is great. Some periods are usually better, but there is nothing to stop you planting at any time of year given the right conditions, and adapting if conditions change.
With a little luck with the winter weather, you can extend your planting season for another month or so, even after the first, early, frost.
This is great news for us as we send out our Hostas all year round, with the exception of extreme conditions. This means you can buy them, and plant them, whenever you like.
The best thing to do is get them planted, for a great display in the spring.
Happy Hosta collecting!
To learn more about Hostas, you may interested in reading : Grow and Maintain Hostas In Containers, Benefits of Companion Plants, What Are the Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Hostas?, Ways to Protect Your Hostas from Slugs and Snails and "Uncovering the Advantages of Bare Root Hostas:
Shop for Hostas HERE
John Plant
Rewela Hostas
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