One year I left mine out as I was too tired (read: lazy) to pot them up. They handled the frost ok but once the ground froze up they rotted from the roots. I don't know what variety they are. They are blue with serrated edges and I have one that I brought over from vaca in bermuda that is smooth edged. I kept indoor babies of them all so I had to start over. G-luck, I'll be following your progess cuz it would be soooo nice to leave my four biguns outside year 'round.