The forget-me-not is a native, hardy plant. It is used to cold winters and easily survives periods of severe frost. Winter protection is only advisable for freshly planted perennials or care in pots.
Forget-me-nots are native to us and used to cold winters
The forget-me-not is hardy
Even severe frost cannot harm the forget-me-not outdoors. The popular spring flower is hardy and does not require any special winter protection. However, there are a few exceptions where it makes sense to protect against frost.
When is winter protection necessary?
Forget-me-not is usually kept as a biennial plant. Sowing takes place in the first year, followed by flowering in the second year. Sowing should be done by July so that the young forget-me-nots can be planted out by autumn.
If the perennial is sown too late, it can also be transplanted later. It does not have enough time to develop roots and foliage and is not fully hardy.
In this case, you should protect the forget-me-not from excessive frost in winter with a covering of leaves or brushwood. A cover with fir branches is also possible.
Overwinter forget-me-nots in pots
If you grow forget-me-nots in tubs on the balcony or terrace, winter protection is always required. You can overwinter the pots in a frost-free but very cool place, such as a cold greenhouse. A basement is suitable if it is bright enough there. Hibernation in a warm room, however, is not possible.
If you do not have a greenhouse or there is not enough space in the basement, you can also winter forget-me-nots outside. The forget-me-not survives the winter in the pot if you protect it sufficiently from frost:
- Place bucket on styrofoam or wood
- Wrap pot with bubble wrap
- Cover plants with foliage
Place the pot in a sheltered corner on the balcony or patio. Make sure the soil doesn't dry out completely. On frost-free days, you can water the forget-me-not once in a while.
tips
Forget-me-not is an ideal children's plant. It's easy to grow, almost always blooming, and it's completely non-toxic.