Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill

Cooler-zone gardeners are discovering that with a little wintertime care, plants that have long been considered "annuals" can thrive for years. These plants - including geraniums, gladioli, dahlias, begonias, rosemary, lavender, snapdragons, and even impatiens - aren't annuals at all. Rather, they are tender perennials. They aren't hardy enough to survive winter on their own, but they can be moved indoors during the cold months and then returned to the garden in spring. Many are even more beautiful in their second and third years! Bulbs in the Basement, Geraniums on the Windowsill is the first comprehensive resource on the care and maintenance of tender plants. In this zone-defying guide, you'll find simple techniques for overwintering, along with 160 detailed plant profiles that include individualized advice for overwintering and indoor care. With this practical guide, you can enjoy your favorite plants year after year, no matter where you live!


For 18 years, Alice and Brian McGowan owned and operated Blue Meadow Farm, a specialty nursery that was well known for its selection of unusual tender plants. Brian is now the assistant director of horticulture at Wave Hill and Alice is a freelance garden writer. The couple lives in Hyde Park, New York.


For 18 years, Alice and Brian McGowan owned and operated Blue Meadow Farm, a specialty nursery that was well known for its selection of unusual tender plants. Brian is now the assistant director of horticulture at Wave Hill and Alice is a freelance garden writer. The couple lives in Hyde Park, New York.
A Little History



Gardening with Tenders

  What Is a Tender Perennial?

  Container Combinations

  Choosing a Container

  Soils

  In the Garden
Overwintering Your Plants

  Overwintering 101

  The Importance of Temperature

  Setting Up Your Site

  Preventing Pest Problems

  Specific Pests and Diseases

  Spring: The Transition
The Tender Palette

  How to Use This Guide

  Plant Lists
Suggested Reading

Resources

Celsius Conversion Chart

Acknowledgments

Index
Tender Plants for Hardy Perennial Gardens
Enjoy many of your favorite plants season after season by bringing them indoors for the winter. Plant by plant and step by step, the McGowans show you how to rescue more than 160 tender perennials from the killing cold. With a little indoor care, your plants will be healthy and ready for repeat appearances in the garden come spring.
- Garden outside your zone
- Save money
- Transform "annuals" into perennials
- Expand your plant palette
- Enjoy favorite plants year after year
What is a tender perennial? Every perennial is hardy in its native climate, but many cannot survive winter temperatures in colder zones. If a particular perennial acts more like an annual in your garden, it's a tender perennial to you.
"This is a neat, easy-to-read manual, with full-color pictures of some of the most popular tender perennials" – The Sunday Journal Sentinel