Overwintering Gaillardia

Hello all,

In early September, I sowed a packet of Gaillardia Goblin seeds. I now have many young plants in medium-sized seed/cell trays (each one approx. 20 cm tall) in an unheated greenhouse. However, they look a little limp, and are beginning to get a few yellow leaves, despite having fairly substantial roots showing through the base of the trays.

Should I now pot them on into larger pots, or can I leave them over the winter in the seed trays? When is a good time to plant these in the garden?


Many thanks,
Rachael

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Rachael.

Hmmm, sorry, but September was not the ideal time to start these off. They are usually sown during spring or early summer and to be honest I don't know how much chance they've got of surviving. At this time of year they will suffer from the cold as well as lack of light.

So, to give them a chance I would re-pot them individually in 3in, 7/8cm pots in fresh compost and water them sparingly over winter, just enough to keep the soil damp and don't feed them. In a cold greenhouse they will need some protection, perhaps you can make a cloche/tent with bubble wrap to keep in any heat and allow light through, or get hold of a polystyrene tray to put the pots in. I think the likelihood is you will lose the leaves as natural dieback but don't worry, the rooted base of the plant will hopefully get through to next spring if they are kept frost free. If they survive and start to re-shoot next spring, leave it until the end of May early June to plant out.

 

Hi Sheal,

Many thanks for your reply - that's really helpful. I've just finished re-potting the strongest looking plants so fingers crossed! I may try keeping a couple of plants in a cool indoor room over winter - hopefully something will survive!

Kind regards,
Rachael

 

Hi Sheal,

Just to update you, the Gaillardia survived the winter! I left them in the unheated greenhouse without any additional protection, and thanks to the mild winter every plant has made it through. Additionally, the plants kept in the house are also doing well. Unfortunately they're now battling a greenfly invasion, but hopefully they'll make it into the garden in the summer.

Thanks for your help,
Rachael

 

Welcome to the forum Rachael. I'm glad to hear that your Gallairdia survived the winter - but in an unheated greenhouse- wow. Mine would never survive without heat as our lows can get to minus 30's and we are still going below freezing here for another week or so.

You must be in a warmer zone than I? I didn't see any location on your profile. Perhaps you can add that, pretty please? It helps us help each other when we know what weather conditions are being battled.

 

Hi CanadianLori!

Yes, I'm in the UK - we're only experiencing lows of around -3 which must have really helped their survival :-)

Rachael

 

It's great to hear the plants survived Rachael. If you spray them with some washing up liquid diluted in water that should deal with the greenfly or any other aphids that may give you a problem.

Photo's of them in bloom later on would be a bonus please.