Do you overwinter coleus or sweet potato vines

shihtzumom Pearisburg, VA(Zone 7a) Sep 16, 2011

We are having a cold spell which makes me think of losing the beautiful annuals. I have overwintered sweet potato vines by keeping the 'potato' in soil in the basement.

Does anyone have techniques for overwintering such annuals?
Kathy

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risingcreek sun city, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 20, 2011

sorry i dont have any, just wanted to let you know i am going to try what you do with my sweet potato vine.
kc

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KayJones Lee's Summit, MO(Zone 6a) Oct 06, 2011

The sweet potato is a tuber, so just let it go dormant in a cool, dark area and bring it outdoors into the light in April. The Coleus can be kept growing in water, as cuttings, until May, then planted up.

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revclaus (Judith) Denver, CO(Zone 5b) Oct 16, 2011

Just take coleus cuttings and keep cutting them back over the winter. Put them on a windowsill somewhere. I do this every year with the ones I want to keep. They do really well and all you have to do in the spring is plant your best cuttings and they'll grow again next year -- a never ending supply of beautiful coleus! Edited to say: they root easily in either water or potting soil.

This message was edited Oct 16, 2011 10:35 AM

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cindyeo Duxbury, MA(Zone 7a) Nov 06, 2011

yes, I also overwinter coleus, sweet potato, fuchsia, diamond frost euphorbia and I've done petunias in the past, not this winter. I take several cuttings from each plant, pull off the bottom couple of leaves, stick in soil, then keep in a sunny window, or under grow lights and keep slightly moist. They will root in a couple weeks. Sometimes a couple die, but most of them root nicely. I did try keeping the tuber from the sweet potato vine last winter, but this summer when I replanted it, it never grew. Luckily I had also kept a few cuttings. This entire pot is several years old, I just keep a few cuttings and replant every spring. There are probably 3 plants of each - coleus limelight, fuchsia, maybe Billy Green, can't remember, bought from WFF a few years ago, and dragonwing begonia