When it comes to planting hardy plants, Rosmarie Lohnes of Helping Nature Heal of Bridgewater said gardeners can be successful with native or heritage plants with the right conditions, nourishment and protection.

 Forsythia, potentilla, spirea, hollyhocks, lavender, rugosa rose, lady's mantle and hostas are all plants that are known to grow well in Lunenburg County's climate.

 "The local heritage plants are my first choice, always," said Ms Lohnes. "The older established nurseries will have many of these kinds of plants. ... These are plants that have lived here for hundreds of years. They came with the Europeans when they first settled this area. They have adapted to our climate and our wind and winters. The plants have actually changed so that they can live here and succeed."

 However, just planting heritage species in the ground won't guarantee success. Ms Lohnes said the first rule of gardening is to know the location so the right plant gets the right conditions for optimal growth.

 "Oftentimes I see folks trying to put hybrid tea roses on the cold, windy side of their property. That's not going to work no matter how much love and patience you give it," said Ms Lohnes, noting that researching the plants' qualities and matching those qualities to a suitable location will ensure the best success. She said one property can have many microclimates and the differences in temperatures and sun exposure can vary depending on the slope of the land and its proximity to the ocean.

 "Paying attention to your own space is really important," said Ms Lohnes. She said to make note during the year of where the sun lies, wind blows and snow drifts. All of those conditions can contribute to successful plant section.

 "There is a gazillion plants out there and you can find any plant that is going to work in any space and with fairly low maintenance ... it will thrive if you match it properly. If you don't match it, nothing is going to work," she said. "You can have a lovely tea rose in the warm and sunny section of your yard and really give it very little care and attention and it can be as hardy as the rugosa rose on a cold ocean-wind-swept area."

 In addition to matching the plant to the right conditions, Ms Lohnes said keeping a plant hardy also means nourishing the soil with manure at least a couple of times during the season and mulching to provide soil protection.

 "If the plant is constantly being weathered by environmental issues of wind and rain then it won't be hardy even if it is the toughest rugosa," she noted.

 Ms Lohnes said protecting the plants during the winter is also an important aspect to keeping plants hardy during their growing season. She said if plants are allowed to go through a constant freeze/thaw cycle, the plant will lose hardiness.

 For vegetables, however, Ms Lohnes said that kale is a hardy plant for this area. She said it goes dormant over the winter and returns in the spring. As well, parsnip, turnip and carrots can be left to winter in the ground and harvested the following spring.

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 She also suggested planting another crop of lettuce and onions in September. She said the cold-loving plants will continue to produce until the heavy frost comes. That season can be extended beyond the frost with cold frames.

 Even though tomatoes tend to like the heat, Ms Lohnes said varieties such as the Scotia and Wentzell tomatoes are more tolerant of the local climate. As well, herbs such as parsley and cilantro are hardy plants that reseed themselves and return the next year.

 Ms Lohnes said plants, however, are not naturally hardy. She said providing plants with what they need to survive and thrive is what makes a hardy plant.

posted on 07/12/11