Why Perfect a Neglected Winter Garden
Why a post on how to perfect a neglected winter garden? Let’s face it, the holiday season can be busy. Perhaps you intended to clean up your garden this winter, but children, work, and household tasks left it neglected again. Maybe some plants were left outside because you couldn’t fit more into your house when a cold snap visited. Or maybe you ran out of old sheets and blankets because you have “too many” plants. (I would never say such a thing, but someone in your life might.)
How Summer All-Star Plants Fared
Feel free to take a look at the best plants to neglect during Florida summers here. The all-star list is below, along with how they fare in cold-snaps (i.e., below freezing temperatures).
Monstera Deliciosa
Although the monstera deliciosa thrives well in poor soil with little water in the summer, it needs a bit of help in the winter. A sheet or blanket over the stem and foliage will suffice when temperatures drop below freezing. As you can see in the picture below, leaves that were not covered died. Leaves and fruit that were covered survived.
Jewels of Opar
Jewels of Opar (Talinum paniculatum) can thrive on little water and tolerate full sun during Florida summers. However, they do not tolerate temperatures below freezing unless covered with a sheet or blanket.
Seminole Pumpkin
Seminole pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata) can be forgotten and still take over an entire yard. However, the vines will not survive a freeze. Their sprawling nature makes covering difficult, although any covered portion of the vine will live. Bonus- any pumpkins on the vine will survive and can be eaten. Consider using them for pumpkin soup!
Thai Sweet Basil
Although Thai sweet basil (ocimum basilicum) is not an annual in tropical conditions, all plants die when temperatures drop below freezing. No problem though, they easily self-seed for the next year. You can also choose where to replant by harvesting the seed pods (see photo below).
Fig
My yard hosts brown turkey figs trees. Although they will easily survive uncovered, any figs will die and fall off the tree.
Plant All-Stars of the Neglected Winter Garden
Strawberry Tree
Although this shrub (muntingia calabura) is a bit picky in the summer (i.e., it needs regular watering), it is low maintenance in the winter. No covering required in mild frost conditions (i.e., upper 20’s). The strawberry tree will resume flowering when temperatures warm slightly.
Dragon fruit
Dragon fruit (hylocereus undatus) will appreciate a thin cover such as a sheet in mild frost conditions, but require little maintenance otherwise. They will happily climb nearly any surface and take over your yard. Of note, flowers (in the spring/summer) may need to be hand-pollinated, making dragon fruit potentially higher-maintenance than the other winter all-stars.
Peaches and Nectarines
Although peaches and nectarines do not fare well without sufficient water during the summer, they will bounce back in the winter or spring if not too neglected. Both require a certain amount of chill hours (varies by variety) in order to fruit. After a cold snap, these plants are quick to sprout new leaves and flowers. Fruit on the below nectarines will be ready by spring.
Plants that Will Certainly Die
Banana
There are bananas that can survive a frost, but most common varieties sold in Florida will not. Any uncovered bananas in my yard die, year after year, but those planted in the ground come back in the spring. Among the deceased are several apple bananas, cavendishes, and gros michels. I keep some in large pots to take indoors during the worst cold. You can do the same, if you like your living room to look tropical.
We have moved! If you’d like to purchase any of our fresh produce, you can find us at the Orange City, IA farmer’s market this summer (2023). We plan to have fresh vegetables, fruits, mushrooms, and herbs available this season. We’ll also be selling extra produce at our road market stand in Alton. Feel free to reach out if you’re looking for anything in particular! We can be reached at [email protected].
What are your favorite easy or low maintenance winter plants? Do you have other secrets to perfect a neglected winter garden? Feel free to post below!
