France in Focus

How do you overwinter your geraniums, please? I’m in the Pas de Calais where we do get sharp frosts and cold stretches.

I cut mine back, let them dry off and put them in a shed that has a little light. I don't water them and in later spring when it's warmed up, I trim any leggy bits before putting them out again.
The main thing is to keep them out of ground and air frosts. Here on the north coast of Brittany, some people leave them out all year, but on a sheltered window sill (shutters shut at night). We don't get much frost here ....

We do the same as Blaze but we put them in the garage. First Winter doing this here in the Dordogne. So, we'll see.

Does anyone take them out of their pots, clean them off and keep them in a cool dry place?

tagh wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:06 pm Does anyone take them out of their pots, clean them off and keep them in a cool dry place?

Never have. Seems like a lot of unnecessary steps.

tagh wrote: ↑Thu Oct 19, 2023 6:06 pm Does anyone take them out of their pots, clean them off and keep them in a cool dry place?

No, never bothered before over-wintering. Sometimes I've repotted just before putting them out in late spring.

As someone that has done thousands of them. treat like Dahlias, cut stem right back take out of pot and let it dry then put under the staging, pot up in spring, take cuttings and either pot up or plant out after all risk of frost has gone, as taught by the parks and cemeteries dept.

Spectrum wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:08 am treat like Dahlias,

Noted, Spectrum. As for Dahlias, one popped up in our garden (we'd never noticed it before) so will do as you mention. It's been stunning this year, so will get some more.

Blaze wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 10:00 am

Spectrum wrote: ↑Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:08 am treat like Dahlias,

Noted, Spectrum. As for Dahlias, one popped up in our garden (we'd never noticed it before) so will do as you mention. It's been stunning this year, so will get some more.

Also learnt how to dig a grave, not as easy as it first appears, especially with a family grave

Thank you Spectrum, very clear