Hosta info and advise.

Hi, my wife has mentioned that she likes hosta's and would like to see some in the garden. I have no experience with hosta's so was wondering if any of you had any info or advise on growing hosta's ?
Gazania

 

Slugs 'n snails like 'em, and if they're happy they'll spread (mine certainly have!). Good for partial shade too. That's all that I know though.

 

I like hostas aswell i have a few,wilkies are selling some cheap but it doesnt state what varieties they are in the mixed packed,as far as i know you need to spray them with garlic water to keep slugs away as they love munching them and the more sunnier location u pick the more watering theyl prefer but they are good in containers or in the ground,ive found them easy over the yrs its just the slugs they attract x

 

Hostas you stick them in the ground and they grow. Lots of varieties , very easy to grow . They will come back year after year, mine are just sprouting now . As Joolz said slugs love them , so I grow all mine in containers and use plenty of slug pellets . They are a good plant for a shadey spot. Again as above, Wilkos or similar will be stocking them around now , they are a great plant

 

I keep mine in pots with a copper tape band near the top of the pots. The only way slugs & snails have managed to get at them is if I've placed the pots too close to other plants. I usually bring the pots in during the winter, give them no attention at all and keep an eye out for the first signs of growth and then keep the soil reasonably damp but not too wet. Those I brought in started about 6 weeks ago and are now in full leaf (one already has a flower), those left out are just starting to come into leaf now. They are different varieties though so they wouldn't necessarily all show at the same time. My pots are quite deep and I think they do like a good depth of soil. Mine are equally happy in sun or shade, I tend to move them more into the shade when (if!) the weather is hot to prevent them drying out. I expect them to be in full leaf now right up until the end of the summer.

 

lots of info here:

http://www.hostaplants.co.uk/how_to_grow_hostas.htm

I normally buy them from Bowdens:
http://www.bowdenhostas.com/

 

.... and here is a comprehensive list of slug/snail resistant Hostas:

http://hostalibrary.org/misc/don/hosta_list_slrh.php

 

Hi all, and thanks for the info.
I will certainly try a few in pots then. I have lots of large plastic pots hanging about so I'll try some in them first.
Slugs ! I do remember spending every morning collecting them from the garden. The veg plot seemed to be their destination.
Now I have a smal Japanese type area done I might just add a boggy/damp area next to it. I played around with the idea last year. Hostas would certainly fit in there.
Gazania

 

hostajeff has a good variety on ebay....ive been filling my wish list with some http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/hostajeff/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686

 

I too have around 10 kinds of hosts in my garden!
I have sum and substance too, also have hosta big daddy
Hosta white feather and Halcyon blue are my favs.
They are cracking plants, easy to looks after and like the others say just get plenty of slug pellets down.
If I can grow them anyone can!

 

Wow Shiney, great looking hostas. Well worth putting in pots.
Gazania

 

I have a ton of them. And different varieties. Before you go out there and buy one or two. Get a book about them. Most do better with shade, there are a few that can tolerate sun.
First there is the shape of the hosta, vase shaped, flat out growing shape etc. Then there is the size, some can get so huge, I have a huge one that will get hip high and just as wide. Then there are the little ones good for tucking around small places, like baby bunting, small like the size of your hand at full adult. Then there are some fragrant ones. Then there are sold colored, or varigated. The solid yellows I like to tuck into the darker shade which pops out light. I like to complament solid color ones with varigated ones. There are some beautiful blues. Then there is the leaf shape, heart shaped, speer shaped, ruffle shapped etc. I don't put any in pots as I have the property. If you go on my thread redstar gardens, you can see lots of types there.
Slugs, really don't have much issue with them.
In general I find that they are one of the easiest plants to deal with.

 

My neighbour has some fabulous Hostas, she puts down slate-chippings (if that's the right word?) which she says the slugs can't navigate. Maybe she uses some slug pellets too, but her's always look munch-free !!