I'm not in a cold zone, but my understanding is you'll want some time for them to have roots established in ground before winter. Someone else will have to advise how early that would be.

2 gal containers on the deck for the summer should be quite fine as far as the minis thriving is concerned.

As for the 2' x 6' space, that depends on the mini. Some get pretty big and can take 3' x 3' by themselves easily, others get to 1'. It'd help to know the specific varieties in question. A little research on HelpMeFind might help also.

Suz

Hi Jan, we might be neighbors. I don't know which part of the OV you are in, but I am in the northern part. I, however, live on a ridge, so if you are actually down in the valley you will be a bit warmer.

I've never had luck growing my minis in the ground, so now grow them in pots exclusively. They are doing wonderfully now and I wish I had discovered this long ago. I keep them on my deck for the summer, then in late fall sink the pots to the rim in the vegetable garden. I then mulch with pine needles. I've used leaves, but like the pine needles better, and it seems the roses do too. In early spring I bring them up, give them a pruning, and put them into my unheated greenhouse to get an early start. My minis came through winter great and are currently full of buds. You can do it without the greenhouse, just wait a little longer before you bring them out of the ground.

If you do decide to plant them in the ground, I wouldn't do it until next spring. Giving them a full growing season in a pot will give them a much better start. I lost a lot of minis by planting them in the ground too soon. They start out a lot smaller, so give them some time.

I hope this helps. Good luck with your minis. Nor East is a good company to order from. Which ones are you getting?

Darleen

Here is a link that might be useful: Some of my minis

Hi Darleen. So good to hear from someone else in the OV. I was beginning to think that no one else in WV was interested in minis. Your advise sounds just like what I was hoping for. Thanks.

I'm down in the valley in the Parkersburg/Marietta area, so I do have a little warmer area but that means more humidity and more bs and fungus if not very careful.

A few years back, I had excellent luck w/minis in ground in the Clarksburg area, but would prefer to use containers this year for lack of time to work in the garden.

When this beautiful weather came so early, I couldn't wait for a catalog order to get started, so purchased 2 minis from local nursery. Childs Play and Hot Tamale. They weren't my first choices. but selection was limited for a few more weeks, in fact, this was the only nursery of four good ones in area that had minis yet. They look very healthy and are full of bud, but wouldn't you know, WV weather threw me a curve, so looks like they will spend the next few days living between the deck during the day and my bathtub at nite. lol

I am considering the Hall of Fame collection from Nor East and hoping that by the time they arrive, the weather will cooperate.

Thanks again for the advise and to all others who have been so helpful in answering my postings.

Yep, you're definitely warmer than us in that area. Marietta tomatoes and corn. Yum! :) You don't have us beat on the humidity/bs issue though. We have plenty of that.

If you got minis from a good local nursery they will no doubt be much bigger than what you will receive from Nor' East. Though they sometimes arrive in bloom and are very healthy, nice plants, they still will be very small, and I think it will be much better for them to spend at least a season in a pot. I took a look at their Hall of Fame collection and there are some really nice varieties in there. I had Cupcake at one time and really liked it. I've had Child's Play too and her blooms are great. I think you'll be happy with your choice.

You're right, the weather for the next few days at least isn't going to be good. We might even get some snow tomorrow night. Yuck! I'm glad mine are nice and cozy in the greenhouse. Darleen :)

I am Chicagoland and they are forecasting "november chill" the middle of next week!! What should I do with my miniature "sweet chariot" in a 10 inch container?

thanks