The next summer will surely come! It is up to us whether the garden can be decorated with a tuberose again. In late autumn, only the tuber remains - and it doesn't tolerate frost! This is how you offer her a feel-good environment.

The tuberose has to move indoors in winter

Tuberose has not developed frost hardiness

Originally a Mexican ornamental plant, the tuberose has a lot of beauty to offer, but no significant winter hardiness. Although, according to some suppliers, the plant should survive temperatures of -5 to -10 °C.

Our winter cold is not a challenge for the above-ground parts of the plant anyway, because they wither in autumn. In our latitudes, the flower bed is not a safe zone for the remaining tuber. Even mild winters are unfavourable, because wetness causes the tubers to rot.

The only alternative: dig up and hibernate

So that the tubers sprout healthy in the following year and you can admire their wonderful, fragrant flowers, you have to dig them up and overwinter indoors.

  • wait for it to wither first
  • Dig up onions before the first frost
  • be careful to avoid damage
  • leave to dry in an airy place
  • get rid of debris
  • then store frost-free at low temperatures
  • choose a dark and dry room
  • such as a garage or basement
  • Turn onions regularly

tips

A tuberose that has grown in a tub can thus be placed in winter quarters. Just remove the dead leaves. Only water the plant again when the first shoots appear in spring.

end of hibernation

When the hibernation can and may end depends on whether you want to plant the tubers directly in the bed or in the house. Late frosts can still occur outside until mid-May. If the weather is mild, planting can begin from the end of March and should ideally be completed by the end of April. With later plantings, it is not certain that the remaining growing season will be sufficient for lush flowering.

The tubers can be taken out of their winter quarters to a bright but not too warm place as early as February for propulsion. There they are allowed to sprout in flower pots with nutrient-rich, always moderately moist soil. However, they are not planted out until May or June.

Category:

Vegetable garden