The rain never seems to last for very long - not like later in the season when it begins to pour in earnest, for months on end, and we are holed up in our houses like prisoners. Now, in October we can still enjoy the novelty of intermittent sprinkles mixed with sunshine. What the future months hold is anyones guess.
A quick look around the garden this morning makes me realize I have many more tender plants to bring in than I thought. As usual my tiny, six by nine foot greenhouse is full of plants that never got outside. These must either be planted, thrown out or squeezed into a corner to make room for the tender plants.
Last winter was unusually mild; one of my Brugmansia over-wintered in the ground. I will not take the same chance with it this winter. I will dig it up, cut it back, save the top and put it in vermiculite and hope it roots. I will then store the 'mother' plant in a deep container of fresh potting mix on the floor of the greenhouse. Right now it is in full bloom with huge pink bells.
The garden is full of tender plants that most people throw away, Pelargoniums, Fuchsias, Lantanas and Coleus. By giving them a trim and potting them up in fresh potting soil they can winter over in a sunny window, if you want to continue the show, or a frost free garage where they can go dormant for the winter. I would not recommend this for the Coleus, however. They need warmth. Amongst my venerable annuals is a five year old Lantana that I trim back to a framework of branches. In the Spring it sprouts fresh new growth. Every year it gets bigger and better.
The tender plants that go into my greenhouse, a rather primitive affair, are kept from freezing by the heat of a heat lamp. On the coldest winter day the temperature in my greenhouse can go down to 45 degrees or refrigerator temperatures. Plants that need the most warmth, like the Coleus, are grouped near the lamp and others, who don't mind the cold inhabit the far reaches of the greenhouse.
