Eucomis

Last post 28-10-2012 8:35 PM by MagicSeeds48. 7 replies.

• 23/10/2012 05:07 PM
  MagicSeeds48 Location: Joined on: 14 Oct 2012 Posts: 15	Reply | Contact Hil. Anybody know what I should do with Eucomis. I think it is a tender plant. Do I bare root it and wrap it in straw or paper like dahlia tubers....or do i dig them up and put them in pots in the shed? My house isn't big enough to have many plants over wintered inside. I live in London with a Sth West aspect garden.

• 23/10/2012 05:35 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 4,547	Reply | Contact I've not actually grown this myself but I think in your area it might be OK left in the ground and covered with mulch. Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 23/10/2012 07:29 PM

  In reply to

  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 501

  Reply | Contact Phot's-Moll is right, in London I would expect eucomis to go through the winter with no problem. Mine have come up every year for the last five years with minimal protection in a moderately-sheltered garden in Berkshire, 100m above sea level. You could give extra protection with a layer of straw or garden compost, or with a cloche. A stone, brick, or tile - anything you have available really - will help. Mine increase every year in the ground with no special measures. Alex

• 23/10/2012 10:09 PM	In reply to
  MagicSeeds48 Location: Joined on: 14 Oct 2012 Posts: 15	Reply | Contact Thank you for your replies. Will the leaves die away completely....or will I mulch it whilst it still has leaves. The flower heads are still on the plant...should these be cut off?

• 24/10/2012 10:20 PM

  In reply to

  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 501

  Reply | Contact The leaves will die back. You can remove them, and the old flowerheads, when they begin to look a mess. I'm not in a hurry with mine - when the leaves die back I'll clear away the remains of leaves and flowers, and mulch them either then or after a frost. But they've been through recent winters without any special protection, so I don't worry too much. In the same winters I've lost cannas, salvias, tetrapanax,and agastache, all of which have been protected, while the eucomis have come through without any special measures. (Not sure if that proves anything!) Cheers, Alex

• 25/10/2012 11:31 PM	In reply to
  MagicSeeds48 Location: Joined on: 14 Oct 2012 Posts: 15	Reply | Contact Thanks a mil. I will stop worrying about them now :)

• 27/10/2012 02:16 PM	In reply to
  AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 501	Reply | Contact On Gardener's World last night, Monty Don's advice about eucomis was very different from what I said. Good stuff on overwintering various plants. He's in a colder part of the country so has to take more protective measures than people in towns and cities in the south of England. Alex

• 28/10/2012 08:35 PM	In reply to
  MagicSeeds48 Location: Joined on: 14 Oct 2012 Posts: 15	Reply | Contact Thankyou... Yes, I watched that with interest.... I might just sit the winter out and fleece up two out of three....as an experiment! Thanks for giving me the heads-up. Cheers!