Tips for overwintering potted fruit(s)

DonnaMarieNJ · April 23, 2015

I don't know if this should go in the container or fruit area, so I am posting it under general

I would like some tips on overwintering my small fruit plants. I have a raspberry, dwarf key lime, and blueberry plant. All are young (i.e, 5 inches or so).

What do I do with them come fall? Since the seedlings and containers are small, I do not want to plant or leave them outdoors due to our extreme weather. I can do that when they are older and sturdier. Should they go in the unheated garage? In the basement? In a sunny window? Do I water often? Fertilize?

My main goal is to get them big enough to plant outdoors in a permanent container.

Thanks!

Donna

clkeiper · April 23, 2015

The dwarf key lime is tropical and you need to treat that as a house plant. The others need to be planted outside either in containers or in the ground, but if they are in containers make sure they don't dry out. That is the death knell for them.

BriAnDaren · April 24, 2015

Anything we grow in a container such as blueberry, blackberry, fig, plum and pear is overwintered in our attached, unheated garage. Once in a while we give them a drink of water.
Raspberries stay outside because we're in zone 5.

Daren

DonnaMarieNJ · July 1, 2015

I also have three young, but growing quickly, lemongrass plants. Since all three were small when I received them, I put them in one pot. The pot was somewhat small, and I can always transplant them if I need to.

My question is, do I just leave these outside during the (NJ) winter? Or bring them in like a tropical?

April 23, 2015	#1
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	Tips for overwintering potted fruit(s) I don't know if this should go in the container or fruit area, so I am posting it under general I would like some tips on overwintering my small fruit plants. I have a raspberry, dwarf key lime, and blueberry plant. All are young (i.e, 5 inches or so). What do I do with them come fall? Since the seedlings and containers are small, I do not want to plant or leave them outdoors due to our extreme weather. I can do that when they are older and sturdier. Should they go in the unheated garage? In the basement? In a sunny window? Do I water often? Fertilize? My main goal is to get them big enough to plant outdoors in a permanent container. Thanks! Donna __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

April 23, 2015	#2
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	The dwarf key lime is tropical and you need to treat that as a house plant. The others need to be planted outside either in containers or in the ground, but if they are in containers make sure they don't dry out. That is the death knell for them. __________________ carolyn k

July 1, 2015	#4
DonnaMarieNJ Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Northeast New Jersey Posts: 726	I also have three young, but growing quickly, lemongrass plants. Since all three were small when I received them, I put them in one pot. The pot was somewhat small, and I can always transplant them if I need to. My question is, do I just leave these outside during the (NJ) winter? Or bring them in like a tropical? __________________ DonnaMarieNJ I pay the mortgage, but my cats own the house!

April 24, 2015	#3
BriAnDaren Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 14	Anything we grow in a container such as blueberry, blackberry, fig, plum and pear is overwintered in our attached, unheated garage. Once in a while we give them a drink of water. Raspberries stay outside because we're in zone 5. Daren