Me too Carrie. I've just planted out some Ecinachea "White Swan" that had about 2" of growth. So I am wondering the same thing - will it over winter OK? And our first frost is earlier here, late October.

I had some last year that overwintered fine being sown in September. Mine have two leaves now. I'll be planting them out just as soon as I can walk again. I won't be fertilizing them. And give them good drainage. They'll stay pretty small all winter and take off like rockets in the spring.

{{gwi:427806}}

Now correct me if I am wrong - but don't Echinacea coneflowers die down in the winter?

Mine do and that's where I seem to have a problem figuring out how strong those roots could be once the frost hits the tiny leaves.

Carrie

The ones I had last year did not. Now the ones I had established in the garden from purchased plants disappeared. That's why I have coneflowers where I didn't want them.

So, you think that these small plants will last throughout our winter? In other words, mine only have two sets of leaves - so I guess by November they should be quite a big bigger... well, this should be interesting and way too easy if it works and we get blooms Spring 2010...

Carrie

One of mine bloomed this year. Magnus. No, two bloomed. I forgot about the one I moved. One did not, but it's put out some amazing greenery in the past few weeks even with no rain. I hope to divide it over and over this winter. ;)

I'm hoping that by starting them this early, they'll form a crown. The leaves may be small, but under the soil, there's a LOT of roots.

Usually if a perennial is truly hardy in your zone it doesnÂt matter how old they are when winter comes.

Two different years IÂve dug up Echinacea to give away but the person never got there to pick them up. The plants sit in a blue grocery bag (with or without dirt completely covering their roots) on top of the ground all through winter, patiently waiting to be planted in the spring. IÂve had pots with babies sitting on a bench 1.5 feet off the ground all winter that survived with no problem.

The only thing I find iffy in my yard are the mums. Several years they all come back and then one spring most are wiped out. But Echinacea, no problems!

Great info - thanks

Carrie

Carrie - Plant the Coneflowers (Echinacea) out. They should be just fine. My coneflowers produce seedlings all spring/summer/fall from seed dropped the previous fall/winter. I dig them up all summer and into fall and either replant, give-away, or compost. They are very tough little seedlings. I don't bother winter-sowing coneflowers unless it's a variety I don't have since they love to re-seed and spread in my gardens. They really can take over an area.

Sandy

I've never had one reseed of a coneflower - at least I don't recall - so that's wonderful information, sandy - thanks everyone

I will be planting them out very soon. thanks

Carrie

Just watch out for bunnies! Bunnies ate all of my little white swan coneflower seedlings.

Luckily, I put the seedlings in my fenced, holding bed. Sure wish my husband would build me another one - it comes in so handy.

Thanks for the reminder, though

Carrie

Can she put some terracotta pots over her seedlings to protect them from the winter elements or do they need the light?